Over the course of the weekend I had to put my dive and teaching skills on display, to be evaluated and critiqued by two well respected dive professionals. They would assign everyone a list of skills with unknown problems that needed to be remediated. We had to perform demonstration quality skills to showcase our knowledge [...]
Category: Work
We work where you vacation!
Magic Time
The first day of the IDC Instructor Development Course, we all met in the classroom. I promptly went to the back of the classroom and selected a table in the corner. Why I do this, I do not know It's not about control but more about being tucked away hidden from the gaze of the [...]
IDC, The friends you get, not the ones you choose!
For the past 11 days, I have been eating, sleeping, breathing dive instruction. I am in the midst of my IDC, Instructor Development Course. For two weeks we train to learn how to instruct new divers. We learn from a Course Director and his role is to guide us through the process and exams. [...]
Fish are for Bears
Picture it: a one month long road trip, just me & Steve, camping in the North American wilderness, putting our newly acquired fly fishing skills to use in the serene landscapes of the West, staying as far away from people as possible. That's the dream, right? Our Subaru Outback we purchased for this exact circumstance [...]
Denali 2020: Summer of the Bear
Summer of the Bear. Summer of turning 30. Summer of death by mosquito. Summer of fly fishing. Summer of jewelry making. Finished by fall colors and blueberry picking. Not a bad way to pass the Summer of Covid. Hi ho, hi ho, It's off to work we go.... Gotta get those hiking legs back in [...]
Learning to Fly Fish
This unique year of 2020 has had its challenges, sure, but it has actually given us a great opportunity for more time to learn a new skill! Our summer in Denali has been a lovely summer, and I'll be writing about that soon as the season winds down (already?!). The biggest difference in this season [...]
Fuzzy Animals ‘n Covid Curveball
Here we go! 1500 miles to Denali We made it to the official start of the World Famous Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Dawson Creek is an industrial type of town, a little grey during this cloudy day and closed-down season. We fueled up, took the obligatory photo in front of the sign, [...]
5,000 miles from the Keys to Denali
Florida Sea BaseDenali Backcountry Lodge Ah, the privilege of working in beautiful locations on opposite ends of the spectrum, and country! It's just over 5,000 miles to drive a straight run from Islamorada, Florida to Denali National Park, Alaska. Then add in some side adventures, and a lay-over in Illinois, and our time and distance [...]
Sailing through Covid in the Keys
2019 Recap: Doggies of Alaska
A few days after sleeping through yet another New Year's ball drop, we were on our way to the Great White North for a lovely little foray into backcountry Alaska to get the Winterlake Lodge & their dogs ready for the winter tour season. We packed some Army duffels, which fit our snowshoes quite well, [...]
The Gypsy Itch - Travel Blog 