2025: A Year in Review

The year began as they have for the past five years, ski patrolling at Mt. Rose. A slow start to winter made resort skiing only possible thanks to artificial snowmaking, but we finally started to get some weather in February and ended up with a solid snowpack by closing day. I spent the winter living between the Toyota Siesta and Shannon’s many dog-sitting gigs. After some moseying about in the spring, I started working as a rope-access tech repairing wind turbine blades. I left that job in August to be able to spend the fall with Shannon as her support crew on a variety of hikes across the west.

I met her at White Pass, Washington and then spent time together in Yakima, Bellingham, the North Cascades, Glacier National Park, the Wind River Range, Leadville, Gunnison, Central New Mexico, Southern Arizona and the Sierra Nevada, ending the season in her hometown of Lodi, WI. Shannon spent most of the winter in Wisconsin while I went back to Mt. Rose for another winter on skis. After we round out this season living on Mt. Rose, the only known agenda item for the summer is an attempt at the Great Divide Trail in British Columbia. The rest is unknown which is both scary and exciting!

Best of 2025 Tunes

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Eric enjoys some long awaited snow while on an avalanche mitgation route. | Mt. Rose Ski Area, NV 2/13/25

One of our patrollers, Schroder, gets evacuated from Northwest chairlift after the haul rope was blown off of the sheave assembly during a strong wind event. | Mt. Rose Ski Area, NV 2/14/25

Niccolo and Matt enjoy some quality time in the Siesta after a day of skiing in the Eastern Sierra. | Long Valley Caldera, CA 5/29/25

The cooking and cleaning space in the Toyota Siesta, my home for two years now. | Ruby Mountains, NV 6/6/25

In addition to three-zone interior lighting, flood lights were added to the tailgate for outdoor festivities. A momentary switch was installed to allow for tailgate egress from the inside. | Ruby Mountains, NV 6/6/25

A 2" Traxda lift kit was installed in the front and rear and could not have been done without my good friend Andrew's expertise. AirLift airbags were added to the rear coil springs to pick up the slack from the weight of the build. Larger than stock Michellin Cross Climate 2 tires were mounted that are also legal snow tires. The lift and tires bring ground clearance up to 9", more than enough for unplowed streets and dirt roads! | Vedauwoo Climbing Area, Buford, WY 6/7/25

Shannon and Squiller enjoy some cozy coffee time in my hotel room while on a wind turbine job that was conveniently close to Shannon's family in Wisconsin. | Oshkosh, WI 6/24/25

A stunning view from on-blade at Saddleback Wind Farm. | Carthage, ME 7/30/25

My supervisor John while taking a break from work on the blade. | Carthage, ME 8/1/25

Ryon and Chris get acquainted with our dinner. | Bethel, ME 8/3/25

Shannon enjoys the cooling waters of the pristine Mica Lake. | Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 8/23/25

Shannon strolls through a meadow with Mt. Kaiwhat and the North Cascades in the background on a beautiful afternoon. | Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 8/23/25

Shannon gazes in awe at some old growth forest. | Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 8/24/25

The view east from the Miners Ridge Fire Lookout. | Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 8/24/25

Cloudy Peak as seen from Suiattle Pass on the PCT. | Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 8/24/25

Shannon enjoys lunch while hitching into Glacier National Park. | East Glacier, MT 9/2/25

Shannon fords Red Eagle Creek while making up miles that were closed due to some dead cows when we did the CDT in 2022. | Glacier National Park, MT 9/2/25

Shannon grabs one last swig of water before arriving in camp for the night. | Glacier National Park, MT 9/2/25

Shannon makes her way down from Triple Divide Pass, above which waters part to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. | Glacier National Park, MT 9/3/25

Bjorn gives us a tour of his workshop while setting up my new Cinchi fanny pack. | Leadville, CO 9/17/25

Shannon, Zoe and Bjorn as we say goodbye after a short visit to America's highest city. | Leadville, CO 9/17/25

Shannon and Lebowski enjoy some brewskis and the sunet over Hartman Rocks. | Gunnison, CO 9/17/25

Shannon washes some carrots in the grocery store parking lot. | Show Low, AZ 9/21/25

Shannon goes over one of her many lists after arriving in Arizona. | Superior, AZ 9/21/25

A walk with Niccolo in Rancho San Rafael Park on a quick trip to the Sierra. | Reno, NV 9/26/25

Niccolo tries out my prized Peugeot bicycle. | Reno, NV 10/1/25

One of many cornfields on the Ice Age Trail. | Madison, WI 10/10/25

Squiller enjoys the comfort of a shallow sand burial. | Nags Head, NC 10/24/25

Shannon poses in the Mountains to Sea Trail terminus marker. | Jockeys Ridge State Park, NC 10/24/25

Squiller enjoys sunset on the dunes of Jockeys Ridge State Park. | Nags Head, NC 10/24/25

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They just love each other so much! | Jockeys Ridge State Park, NC 10/24/25

Shannon poses on the dunes. | Jockeys Ridge State Park, NC 10/24/25

Two majestic creatures enjoying sunset over the water. | Jockeys Ridge State Park, NC 10/24/25

Attack! | Nags Head, NC 10/26/25

Eric rescues Matt from a chairlift during our annual rope rescue training week. | Mt. Rose Ski Area, NV 11/6/25

Opening day at Mt. Rose! Pictured are some of my best friends in the world, Bruce, Meri, Zoe and Eric. | Mt. Rose Ski Area, NV 11/21/25

Finally all of those pesky kids are off the playground! | Lodi, WI 11/27/25

Squiller takes his first slide ride in the town park. | Lodi, WI 11/27/25

Griff graduates with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada Reno wearing some homemade chords. | Reno, NV 12/6/25

Matt takes a picture of the Ruby Mountains before we taught an avalanche rescue class for local first responders. | Lamoille, NV 12/9/25

Jacob takes a bite of his first loaf of sourdough at sunset while Griff watches jealously. | 12/18/25 Reno, NV

Gabriel, Dad and Mom pose while hiking on a trip home for Christmas. | Kirtland, OH 12/23/25

Gabriel, engaged in the age-old sport of seeing who can throw a snowball the farthest. | Kirtland, OH 12/23/25

Jacob skins up Rose Knob on the first tour of the new year. | Mt. Rose Wilderness, NV 1/8/26