Back to life, back to reality. Traveling and skiing on all of these film and photo projects can really seem like a dreamworld when I am in the throws of all of the action taking place. During that part of my skiing career I am consistently overwhelmed by the magic of the epics and unexpected experiences that rule over the nature of that work. So much adrenaline and appreciation is wrapped up into that aspect of my life that everything else takes on a whole different vibe when the snow melt returns me to the more day-to-day nature of the behind the scenes roles of my lifestyle. As an adventurer, I thrive on the ups and downs of the variety in my unique career. Returning from the Freeheellife Films Alaska shoot I found myself exhausted and nerve racked from not only an epic trip, but a long and action packed season all around. The high octane nature of these adventures takes a toll on me that usual results in three days of coming back down to earth to heal not only my body, but my mindset. I gotta say, my nerves were shot. Operating day in and day out in dangerous terrain and avalanche conditions is an emotional and stressful roller coaster of the highest highs and scariest lows. Good and bad decisions happen all the time in any efforts, and ours is no different. We simply have both dire and gloriously beautiful consequences. Living in that kind of spectrum of high and low takes a toll that requires recovery and support.
^Recovery and support are abundant from these two. My wife, Christine, and pup, Murphy, are my two favorite girls. They provide me both the recovery and the moral support I need. I need them with me behind the scenes in order to be able to make the entertaining adventure stories that happen in front of the lenses possible. Everything is connected and nothing happens without influences. They are a good one.
^Her chill vibe is contagious...
^...and smoothes out my mindset like glassy water.
^These two always are able to bring me back down to earth just like I really need them too.
^The more safe and mundane view from my night job at Delta Airlines is a welcome relief to the high octane consequences of my day job. Here I operate around jet engines, heavy machinery, and heights. Yet, it is still much safer and less stressful than my skiing adventures.
^"Planes come in, planes go out, and we work them." This quote from an old timer at Delta is a comforting reality of the job. Here I simply show up, do a job, and go home. There are no avalanches at the airport, just jet engines and heavy machinery. I will take that merely relative safety and enjoy it.
^Planes going out, and me punching out with very few words. Head down, mouth shut, and simply doing as I am told is a welcome reality after skiing off two avalanches in one day in my other job. Most folks despise the boring nature of hourly work, but for me this job is perfect. Flight benefits and some good old fashioned boring stability. The exact prescription to complement my high octane winter work.
^Spring also brings about the office work that is the integral other part of my adventurous career. The stories that we make need to be told, and that requires doing the documentation work to tell them. That takes a lot of behind the scenes effort that is not as glorious as what shows up on the screens and pages, but no less important. Again, I enjoy these efforts because laboring from a mobile office like this one I set up on my back porch is a welcome change. Again, no rocks or avalanches here, and my four legged sleepy assistant is good company. I guess I am just thankful and enjoying how calm, relaxing, and all around good it feels to be home alive and healthy after another adrenaline driven epic of the highs and lows of another wild winter in the mountains.
