ABOUT MEI was introduced to outdoor recreation through the Boy Scouts of America, Willistown Troop 78. I nearly missed out on this monumentally influential part of my life because I only joined Cub Scouts (the predecessor to Boy Scouts) in order to make wooden cars to race at the Pinewood Derby. I have had an interest in designing and creating objects for as long as I can remember, and now I try to combine these two passions for the benefit of those in pursuit of the unique fulfillment that lies outside.
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"Ticket In"
An individuals "ticket in" to the outdoors can be any of a number of things, but it is always a formative experience that opens ones eyes to possibilities previously unknown.
My ticket in was a weekend backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in November of 2010. As a confident, energetic 11 year old child with his first backpack and a pair of gen 1 Merrel Moab's, I got my first taste of what it was like to be in the backcountry. This was not a structured, developed summer camp, nor a day at the park. This was the most natural, free, and adventurous experience I had had up to that point in my life.
And I hated it.
I was under-prepared; my bag was too heavy, my clothing too cold, the food too unsatisfying, the ground too rocky, even under the snow, the days too long, and the daylight too short. My boots and water froze solid in the night, and waking up to go the bathroom in the cold and dark was very uncomfortable. It was after this experience that I had two options: 1.) Seek comfort at all times and avoid going into the backcountry, or 2.) Buckle down, study, learn from my mistakes, embrace challenges, and put into practice the skills and knowledge that turn a strange, hostile landscape into lifetime of growth and gratification.
I chose the latter.
My ticket in was a weekend backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in November of 2010. As a confident, energetic 11 year old child with his first backpack and a pair of gen 1 Merrel Moab's, I got my first taste of what it was like to be in the backcountry. This was not a structured, developed summer camp, nor a day at the park. This was the most natural, free, and adventurous experience I had had up to that point in my life.
And I hated it.
I was under-prepared; my bag was too heavy, my clothing too cold, the food too unsatisfying, the ground too rocky, even under the snow, the days too long, and the daylight too short. My boots and water froze solid in the night, and waking up to go the bathroom in the cold and dark was very uncomfortable. It was after this experience that I had two options: 1.) Seek comfort at all times and avoid going into the backcountry, or 2.) Buckle down, study, learn from my mistakes, embrace challenges, and put into practice the skills and knowledge that turn a strange, hostile landscape into lifetime of growth and gratification.
I chose the latter.