From childhood

I committed myself to a life of adventure!
Fifty years further, it is time to share my tale.

After a life of adventure;

Tales from the other side:

Periodically my thoughts wander back to the glory days. My mind's gaze meanders backward in time like a stream in reverse, flowing backwards over the rocky sum of my adventures, way up back to the headwaters. With all that has passed, it feels appropriate to share a hard-earned perspective that it took me so many years to possess. After all, I really cannot do much else now. Age and illness have taken their toll as the decades steadily clicked by. I always knew it was a race against time, so I did not waste much of it and thus my adventures are many. Adventure takes time and time is all that we really have on this amazing little planet earth.

I like to think that my investment of time and money into seeking adventure was worth it. Even with a negative financial ROI, I'd pay my way again. But, for most of the people I knew, the price was far too high. The types of adventure I purchased cost me much more than just lost time working to "get ahead" or being useful at home. Sure, chores were postponed or never done at my home and opportunities to impress the boss with weekend or late-night work were often missed. Instead of children, we had pets. Instead of leverageing career-mobility to acellerate advancement, I chose the slow lane to slug it out in my preffered location for twenty years. Then a big change to another preffered location for another ten. Rather then move into management, I stuck with my trade to protect my weekends. So yes, the price was high but my wish now is to share these tales of adventure for those who might be weighing their own balance of adventure against the demands of modern life. All souls host some spirit for adventure after all. So, this then, is how I managed to "r0am" mild and wild. Perhaps it will help you decide how much adventure you can afford.

The fact is that our experiences on this planet are unique. Each of us will confront a different set of opportunities, social conditions and constraints. Each of us originate from unique geographic locations and inherit a fixed circumstance at birth which cannot be easily changed. With that said, any comparison of one life to another is senseless. For you, everything might be different, but I suggest that your challenge will be the same - how to use your time, what to prioritize in your life. In my humble opinion, it is not the beginning nor the end which matter, it is only the journey between. This story, my story, is the journey of an American male born in 60's timeframe of middle-class parents within the upper American mid-west. The times of my r0aming was good -- no war or social upheaval. At least so far anyway. It will be up to you, to write your story. I hope it too, is one full of adventure!

Summit of Mt. Tyndall 2012

Now I have grown older and become physically unsound. Although I can no longer enjoy the intensity of adventure of the years past, I find my memories a rich source of enjoyment to me now. As such, I wish to share my experiences pursuing exploration and adventure within the northern hemisphere with those who might follow. All I ask is to use any insight you might derive to move forward more expeditiously in your own pursuits. I'm trying to give back and to share the wealth, if you will. After all, in somewhat of a fatal sense, we are all going to a similar ending. But before all that, you should relish the voyage.

Within the pages of this site you will find how I approached the challenges of the pursuit of adventure. I plan to share pictures and video which I have collected, either by myself or from those who have accompanied me. In addition, where I feel it appropriate, I will also share animations which I have designed to illustrate various aspects of my pursuit of adventure.

As for terminology, broadly speaking there are two types of adventure: Mild adventure, which most anyone can do and Wild adventure which is more intense and not for everyone. I designate these two types of adventure as "r0ammild" and "r0amwild". Most of the r0ammild adventure will take place in the front-country. That is road/auto accessible and with "camp" being hotels, cabins, a parking lot or pay campgrounds. The second designation, r0amwild, is more physical and intense and builds on the r0ammild experince. This sort of adventure is usually beyond the front-country, out in the back-country where non-motorized hiking/biking/climbing etc. and self-supported overnight stay may as well be required. The mild skills help you position yourself for wild activity. In addition, the risk to life and limb is also significantly enhanced on the wild side.

The years have gone by quickly and now I see that my remaining time on this planet is not without limit. I feel compelled to share what I have to whoever might benefit, before moving on into my next, other worldly dimensions.

North
Growing Up

As a child, my parents, uncle and grandparents -- shaped my life in ways hard to understand. A path was shown to me. Allow me to explain...

Midwest
Young Adult

After highschool it started getting serious fast. This is how I played it...

West
Mature Adult

Yeah... I know, getting older. Don't worry though, it won't ever happen to you!