[Music] my teacher one day borrowed all of his
my teacher one day borrowed all of his
my teacher one day borrowed all of his kids in a circle and one by one she
kids in a circle and one by one she
kids in a circle and one by one she began to ask us that wonderful life
began to ask us that wonderful life
began to ask us that wonderful life question what do you want to be when you
question what do you want to be when you
question what do you want to be when you grow up and there are firefighters and
grow up and there are firefighters and
grow up and there are firefighters and policemen one boy wanted to be a plumber
policemen one boy wanted to be a plumber
policemen one boy wanted to be a plumber just like his dad and one girl wanted to
just like his dad and one girl wanted to
just like his dad and one girl wanted to be a urologist now I didn’t know what
be a urologist now I didn’t know what
be a urologist now I didn’t know what urology even was in first grade nor
urology even was in first grade nor
urology even was in first grade nor can’t even pronounce it so finally the
can’t even pronounce it so finally the
can’t even pronounce it so finally the teacher came to me Sean what do you want
teacher came to me Sean what do you want
teacher came to me Sean what do you want to be when you grow up I was still
to be when you grow up I was still
to be when you grow up I was still trying to figure out what are you wrong
trying to figure out what are you wrong
trying to figure out what are you wrong is just wrong and I was so interested in
is just wrong and I was so interested in
is just wrong and I was so interested in everyone else’s answers I really wasn’t
everyone else’s answers I really wasn’t
everyone else’s answers I really wasn’t thinking of mine and so I said the first
thinking of mine and so I said the first
thinking of mine and so I said the first thing that came to my head I want to be
thing that came to my head I want to be
thing that came to my head I want to be a Canadian farmer why the nationality I
a Canadian farmer why the nationality I
a Canadian farmer why the nationality I have no idea but the farmer point part
have no idea but the farmer point part
have no idea but the farmer point part I’m starting to understand more and more
I’m starting to understand more and more
I’m starting to understand more and more I enjoy nature
I enjoy nature
I enjoy nature I loved open space I love to grow
I loved open space I love to grow
I loved open space I love to grow something and to watch it grow and 20
something and to watch it grow and 20
something and to watch it grow and 20 years later I found myself with the same
years later I found myself with the same
years later I found myself with the same question this time being asked by my
question this time being asked by my
question this time being asked by my college professor and what he was trying
college professor and what he was trying
college professor and what he was trying to figure out was what was my specialty
to figure out was what was my specialty
to figure out was what was my specialty going to be in my degree of anthropology
going to be in my degree of anthropology
going to be in my degree of anthropology and sadly Canadian farmer wasn’t a
and sadly Canadian farmer wasn’t a
and sadly Canadian farmer wasn’t a choice and I didn’t know I didn’t know I
choice and I didn’t know I didn’t know I
choice and I didn’t know I didn’t know I didn’t know where I was going what I was
didn’t know where I was going what I was
didn’t know where I was going what I was doing who I was you know the usual
doing who I was you know the usual
doing who I was you know the usual college experience I was lost and I was
college experience I was lost and I was
college experience I was lost and I was disappointed and that I was lost and so
disappointed and that I was lost and so
disappointed and that I was lost and so I did what most people do when they get
I did what most people do when they get
I did what most people do when they get upset or flustered I went out for a walk
upset or flustered I went out for a walk
upset or flustered I went out for a walk but mine was about six months long
but mine was about six months long
but mine was about six months long I ended up hiking the Appalachian Trail
I ended up hiking the Appalachian Trail
I ended up hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2012 season one and it was wonderful
in 2012 season one and it was wonderful
in 2012 season one and it was wonderful but when I came back I found that I was
but when I came back I found that I was
but when I came back I found that I was still lost and so four years after that
still lost and so four years after that
still lost and so four years after that I kind of liked it I’ll do another one
I kind of liked it I’ll do another one
I kind of liked it I’ll do another one but this time I’ll do the console divide
but this time I’ll do the console divide
but this time I’ll do the console divide trail a trail that extends from the
trail a trail that extends from the
trail a trail that extends from the northern border of Mexico all the way to
northern border of Mexico all the way to
northern border of Mexico all the way to the southern border of Canada right
the southern border of Canada right
the southern border of Canada right along the spines of the Rockies 3,100
along the spines of the Rockies 3,100
along the spines of the Rockies 3,100 miles so in April of last year I started
miles so in April of last year I started
miles so in April of last year I started at the border of Mexico in the Chihuahua
at the border of Mexico in the Chihuahua
at the border of Mexico in the Chihuahua desert and the desert is an interesting
desert and the desert is an interesting
desert and the desert is an interesting thing it’s kind of like the beach but
thing it’s kind of like the beach but
thing it’s kind of like the beach but with less water and more like pokey
with less water and more like pokey
with less water and more like pokey plants that just want to like hurt you
plants that just want to like hurt you
plants that just want to like hurt you and kill you all the time and every day
and kill you all the time and every day
and kill you all the time and every day for five months in two weeks I would
for five months in two weeks I would
for five months in two weeks I would walk I’d walk at first twelve miles then
walk I’d walk at first twelve miles then
walk I’d walk at first twelve miles then 15 then I got up to 20 and 25 and one
15 then I got up to 20 and 25 and one
15 then I got up to 20 and 25 and one day I even did a thirty mile and when
day I even did a thirty mile and when
day I even did a thirty mile and when you’re walking through this beautiful
you’re walking through this beautiful
you’re walking through this beautiful immersion of nature it feels like you’re
immersion of nature it feels like you’re
immersion of nature it feels like you’re in a living art museum a living gallery
in a living art museum a living gallery
in a living art museum a living gallery you can’t just fly through the Louvre
you can’t just fly through the Louvre
you can’t just fly through the Louvre and say oh I saw the Lu that was that
and say oh I saw the Lu that was that
and say oh I saw the Lu that was that done now you have to take your time you
done now you have to take your time you
done now you have to take your time you have to look at each piece one by one
have to look at each piece one by one
have to look at each piece one by one look at the brushstrokes of gratitude
look at the brushstrokes of gratitude
look at the brushstrokes of gratitude for the painter find inspiration and
for the painter find inspiration and
for the painter find inspiration and there’s something to say being able to
there’s something to say being able to
there’s something to say being able to walk on a summit for two or three days
walk on a summit for two or three days
walk on a summit for two or three days and seeing the same mountain in the
and seeing the same mountain in the
and seeing the same mountain in the horizon and watch it change colors
horizon and watch it change colors
horizon and watch it change colors throughout the day it’s magical
throughout the day it’s magical
throughout the day it’s magical absolutely magical
absolutely magical
absolutely magical but with anything in nature it is a
but with anything in nature it is a
but with anything in nature it is a double-edged sword there is beauty but
double-edged sword there is beauty but
double-edged sword there is beauty but there’s also danger scary moments its
there’s also danger scary moments its
there’s also danger scary moments its nature just what happens and one of
nature just what happens and one of
nature just what happens and one of those times I was about 1,400 miles into
those times I was about 1,400 miles into
those times I was about 1,400 miles into the journey and I was in northern
the journey and I was in northern
the journey and I was in northern Colorado about 80 miles south of a place
Colorado about 80 miles south of a place
Colorado about 80 miles south of a place called a whammy Basin a massive flat old
called a whammy Basin a massive flat old
called a whammy Basin a massive flat old that’s part of the divide and I was
that’s part of the divide and I was
that’s part of the divide and I was really looking forward to something flat
really looking forward to something flat
really looking forward to something flat and in Colorado every day at 3 or 4
and in Colorado every day at 3 or 4
and in Colorado every day at 3 or 4 o’clock like clockwork
o’clock like clockwork
o’clock like clockwork especially during the summer there’s
especially during the summer there’s
especially during the summer there’s these storms that roll up from the
these storms that roll up from the
these storms that roll up from the mountains it’s the weather engine that
mountains it’s the weather engine that
mountains it’s the weather engine that drives the monsoon season throughout New
drives the monsoon season throughout New
drives the monsoon season throughout New Mexico getting all the water and these
Mexico getting all the water and these
Mexico getting all the water and these storms are spectacular
storms are spectacular
storms are spectacular they’re beautiful when you’re down in
they’re beautiful when you’re down in
they’re beautiful when you’re down in the valley and you’re on a porch with a
the valley and you’re on a porch with a
the valley and you’re on a porch with a beer looking at it from a hundred miles
beer looking at it from a hundred miles
beer looking at it from a hundred miles away but then when you’re up there at
away but then when you’re up there at
away but then when you’re up there at 13,000 400 feet it’s terrifying
13,000 400 feet it’s terrifying
13,000 400 feet it’s terrifying absolutely terrifying and one day I was
absolutely terrifying and one day I was
absolutely terrifying and one day I was climbing a summit I thought I could make
climbing a summit I thought I could make
climbing a summit I thought I could make it I could make it the clouds are still
it I could make it the clouds are still
it I could make it the clouds are still far away enough I can make it and I only
far away enough I can make it and I only
far away enough I can make it and I only had three quarters of a mile left to get
had three quarters of a mile left to get
had three quarters of a mile left to get to the top of the summer and so I
to the top of the summer and so I
to the top of the summer and so I decided to make it but I didn’t make it
decided to make it but I didn’t make it
decided to make it but I didn’t make it the storm came and as I was going up the
the storm came and as I was going up the
the storm came and as I was going up the summit the next thing I realized was
summit the next thing I realized was
summit the next thing I realized was that this beautiful panorama that was
that this beautiful panorama that was
that this beautiful panorama that was all around me this Vista of the world
all around me this Vista of the world
all around me this Vista of the world had instantly turned to white I was in a
had instantly turned to white I was in a
had instantly turned to white I was in a cloud I was stuck in a cloud and that
cloud I was stuck in a cloud and that
cloud I was stuck in a cloud and that white turned to gray and that gray
white turned to gray and that gray
white turned to gray and that gray turned to this pitch blackness and the
turned to this pitch blackness and the
turned to this pitch blackness and the temperature dropped and all above me all
temperature dropped and all above me all
temperature dropped and all above me all I heard was static going above my head
I heard was static going above my head
I heard was static going above my head and hail started to come down
and hail started to come down
and hail started to come down and I was terrified because on my back I
and I was terrified because on my back I
and I was terrified because on my back I had this ice axes metal ice act which
had this ice axes metal ice act which
had this ice axes metal ice act which was working just like a lightning rod
was working just like a lightning rod
was working just like a lightning rod and then right below my ice axe there
and then right below my ice axe there
and then right below my ice axe there was also this little like gas tank for
was also this little like gas tank for
was also this little like gas tank for cooking so I was an explosive lightning
cooking so I was an explosive lightning
cooking so I was an explosive lightning rod it was horrible and I wanted to run
rod it was horrible and I wanted to run
rod it was horrible and I wanted to run but you can’t run up there you are on a
but you can’t run up there you are on a
but you can’t run up there you are on a tight rope of rocks you’re on a
tight rope of rocks you’re on a
tight rope of rocks you’re on a Ridgeline and so I did the only thing
Ridgeline and so I did the only thing
Ridgeline and so I did the only thing that I could do do Dave
that I could do do Dave
that I could do do Dave Harry Bellefonte about 12 songs later I
Harry Bellefonte about 12 songs later I
Harry Bellefonte about 12 songs later I found myself in a lower ground in a
found myself in a lower ground in a
found myself in a lower ground in a saddle that had few trees and tree line
saddle that had few trees and tree line
saddle that had few trees and tree line and that was one of the nicest nights I
and that was one of the nicest nights I
and that was one of the nicest nights I ever had
ever had
ever had it was wonderful great sleep by the time
it was wonderful great sleep by the time
it was wonderful great sleep by the time I did get to the Wyoming Basin I was
I did get to the Wyoming Basin I was
I did get to the Wyoming Basin I was starting to get a little done with the
starting to get a little done with the
starting to get a little done with the entire adventure thing I wanted to come
entire adventure thing I wanted to come
entire adventure thing I wanted to come home and I wanted to come home safe and
home and I wanted to come home safe and
home and I wanted to come home safe and I thought well you know by the time I
I thought well you know by the time I
I thought well you know by the time I get to Yellowstone which is just a few
get to Yellowstone which is just a few
get to Yellowstone which is just a few more hundred miles away you take a train
more hundred miles away you take a train
more hundred miles away you take a train go home and everyone would be happy and
go home and everyone would be happy and
go home and everyone would be happy and one day there was a thirty mile section
one day there was a thirty mile section
one day there was a thirty mile section that only had one water source and that
that only had one water source and that
that only had one water source and that water source was called Mormon Springs
water source was called Mormon Springs
water source was called Mormon Springs one of the very few springs in the wimey
one of the very few springs in the wimey
one of the very few springs in the wimey Basin that was not sailing it was
Basin that was not sailing it was
Basin that was not sailing it was insulting to the taste in that morning I
insulting to the taste in that morning I
insulting to the taste in that morning I ended up walking started around 5:30 in
ended up walking started around 5:30 in
ended up walking started around 5:30 in the morning and walked to the spring and
the morning and walked to the spring and
the morning and walked to the spring and the Mormon spring was actually a pit
the Mormon spring was actually a pit
the Mormon spring was actually a pit stop if you will to the Mormons who were
stop if you will to the Mormons who were
stop if you will to the Mormons who were immigrating west to Salt Lake City it
immigrating west to Salt Lake City it
immigrating west to Salt Lake City it was also a water source – for the Pony
was also a water source – for the Pony
was also a water source – for the Pony Express and I was kneeling down and I
Express and I was kneeling down and I
Express and I was kneeling down and I had my little sippy cup to scoop water
had my little sippy cup to scoop water
had my little sippy cup to scoop water out of the spring and had to brush away
out of the spring and had to brush away
out of the spring and had to brush away all the little floaties and
all the little floaties and
all the little floaties and well that’s what you give on the show
well that’s what you give on the show
well that’s what you give on the show you have to give like things that are
you have to give like things that are
you have to give like things that are floating on the water really cute names
floating on the water really cute names
floating on the water really cute names because if not it’s not appetizing like
because if not it’s not appetizing like
because if not it’s not appetizing like dead bugs and like cow poop you know
dead bugs and like cow poop you know
dead bugs and like cow poop you know just doesn’t sound good
just doesn’t sound good
just doesn’t sound good and then God forbid bloaty’s I’ll let
and then God forbid bloaty’s I’ll let
and then God forbid bloaty’s I’ll let your imagination go on that one what a
your imagination go on that one what a
your imagination go on that one what a blow D is and I’m brushing everything
blow D is and I’m brushing everything
blow D is and I’m brushing everything away and I hear it and I look up and in
away and I hear it and I look up and in
away and I hear it and I look up and in front of me is a herd of wild mustang
front of me is a herd of wild mustang
front of me is a herd of wild mustang running from the horizon from the Rising
running from the horizon from the Rising
running from the horizon from the Rising Sun of the east the dusk glistening up
Sun of the east the dusk glistening up
Sun of the east the dusk glistening up hitting it shining and behind me there
hitting it shining and behind me there
hitting it shining and behind me there were antelope deer and a few cows
were antelope deer and a few cows
were antelope deer and a few cows there’s always counts and I was that
there’s always counts and I was that
there’s always counts and I was that moment but I felt like I was an America
moment but I felt like I was an America
moment but I felt like I was an America I was in an American Oasis and that
I was in an American Oasis and that
I was in an American Oasis and that moment gave me the energy the momentum
moment gave me the energy the momentum
moment gave me the energy the momentum to continue on I felt a part of it now
to continue on I felt a part of it now
to continue on I felt a part of it now to do something like this you can’t just
to do something like this you can’t just
to do something like this you can’t just do it all on your own with your own grit
do it all on your own with your own grit
do it all on your own with your own grit you have to have others you have to have
you have to have others you have to have
you have to have others you have to have friends and family at home to be sitting
friends and family at home to be sitting
friends and family at home to be sitting you packages letters and you know little
you packages letters and you know little
you packages letters and you know little notes like you got and then also too you
notes like you got and then also too you
notes like you got and then also too you need help from people along the way and
need help from people along the way and
need help from people along the way and the trail world recall this trail magic
the trail world recall this trail magic
the trail world recall this trail magic the trail magic can be anything can be
the trail magic can be anything can be
the trail magic can be anything can be someone giving a ride into town from a
someone giving a ride into town from a
someone giving a ride into town from a mountain pass and you thought lightning
mountain pass and you thought lightning
mountain pass and you thought lightning was scared try hitchhiking
and one of those moments that I really
and one of those moments that I really became dependent on people was I was
became dependent on people was I was
became dependent on people was I was going through a section called the Wind
going through a section called the Wind
going through a section called the Wind River Range one of the most beautiful
River Range one of the most beautiful
River Range one of the most beautiful places on this planet it is spectacular
places on this planet it is spectacular
places on this planet it is spectacular it is a mountain range that runs to the
it is a mountain range that runs to the
it is a mountain range that runs to the southeast of Yellowstone part of the
southeast of Yellowstone part of the
southeast of Yellowstone part of the massive volcanic caldera and over the
massive volcanic caldera and over the
massive volcanic caldera and over the millennia has been carved by glaciers
millennia has been carved by glaciers
millennia has been carved by glaciers and ice and it’s just spectacular
and ice and it’s just spectacular
and ice and it’s just spectacular absolutely spectacular but it’s also
absolutely spectacular but it’s also
absolutely spectacular but it’s also very rugged as well as isolated it’s
very rugged as well as isolated it’s
very rugged as well as isolated it’s there’s isolation to it it’s wilderness
there’s isolation to it it’s wilderness
there’s isolation to it it’s wilderness and so you really don’t see that many
and so you really don’t see that many
and so you really don’t see that many people out there my trail section for
people out there my trail section for
people out there my trail section for that what I thought was about a hundred
that what I thought was about a hundred
that what I thought was about a hundred and twenty miles roughly and so I packed
and twenty miles roughly and so I packed
and twenty miles roughly and so I packed roughly oh seven six days worth of food
roughly oh seven six days worth of food
roughly oh seven six days worth of food and my backpack but also too I had heard
and my backpack but also too I had heard
and my backpack but also too I had heard I was going into grizzly country and so
I was going into grizzly country and so
I was going into grizzly country and so for not wanting to see a grizzly I ended
for not wanting to see a grizzly I ended
for not wanting to see a grizzly I ended up packing out as well a massive bear
up packing out as well a massive bear
up packing out as well a massive bear bear and what a bear barrel is it is
bear and what a bear barrel is it is
bear and what a bear barrel is it is this kind of barrel contraption with
this kind of barrel contraption with
this kind of barrel contraption with this weird lid that you can never really
this weird lid that you can never really
this weird lid that you can never really fit on just right and you shove all your
fit on just right and you shove all your
fit on just right and you shove all your food in there and this thing weighs a
food in there and this thing weighs a
food in there and this thing weighs a ton
ton
ton it’s miserable but when the bear does
it’s miserable but when the bear does
it’s miserable but when the bear does get it he’s rolling around with that
get it he’s rolling around with that
get it he’s rolling around with that instead of with you and your tent so
instead of with you and your tent so
instead of with you and your tent so that’s why I got this thing and in about
that’s why I got this thing and in about
that’s why I got this thing and in about four days of me walking north I found
four days of me walking north I found
four days of me walking north I found that I had greatly underestimated not
that I had greatly underestimated not
that I had greatly underestimated not only my distance it wasn’t a hundred and
only my distance it wasn’t a hundred and
only my distance it wasn’t a hundred and twenty miles it was nearly a hundred and
twenty miles it was nearly a hundred and
twenty miles it was nearly a hundred and ninety miles and I’d also to greatly
ninety miles and I’d also to greatly
ninety miles and I’d also to greatly under missed underestimated the terrain
under missed underestimated the terrain
under missed underestimated the terrain I was no longer in this flat Basin
I was no longer in this flat Basin
I was no longer in this flat Basin making twenty five miles a day I was now
making twenty five miles a day I was now
making twenty five miles a day I was now in the mountains only able to do 14:13
in the mountains only able to do 14:13
in the mountains only able to do 14:13 that was it I wasn’t going very fast
and so by day five I found myself with a
and so by day five I found myself with a bear barrel full of just wrappers it was
bear barrel full of just wrappers it was
bear barrel full of just wrappers it was completely empty I was out of food and I
completely empty I was out of food and I
completely empty I was out of food and I still had a whole lot more to go to get
still had a whole lot more to go to get
still had a whole lot more to go to get to the boy first day was okay I was a
to the boy first day was okay I was a
to the boy first day was okay I was a little hungry but everything was fine I
little hungry but everything was fine I
little hungry but everything was fine I had an extra pack of Skittles that every
had an extra pack of Skittles that every
had an extra pack of Skittles that every single time I was going up an incline or
single time I was going up an incline or
single time I was going up an incline or a mountain or a summit or a past I would
a mountain or a summit or a past I would
a mountain or a summit or a past I would just eat one or two skittles just to
just eat one or two skittles just to
just eat one or two skittles just to kind of get my blood sugar up and I was
kind of get my blood sugar up and I was
kind of get my blood sugar up and I was able to get over it and I also had one
able to get over it and I also had one
able to get over it and I also had one emergency ration pack of ramen noodles
emergency ration pack of ramen noodles
emergency ration pack of ramen noodles just one by a two things were getting
just one by a two things were getting
just one by a two things were getting scary I was starting to get nervous and
scary I was starting to get nervous and
scary I was starting to get nervous and I thought I was going to have to drop
I thought I was going to have to drop
I thought I was going to have to drop off to lower ground to get to a town but
off to lower ground to get to a town but
off to lower ground to get to a town but even the closest town was still 5060
even the closest town was still 5060
even the closest town was still 5060 miles away by day three I was terrified
miles away by day three I was terrified
miles away by day three I was terrified and thankfully as I was walking I came
and thankfully as I was walking I came
and thankfully as I was walking I came across not only a man on horseback but
across not only a man on horseback but
across not only a man on horseback but also a hiker they gave me resupply
also a hiker they gave me resupply
also a hiker they gave me resupply resupplied my food as well as gave me a
resupplied my food as well as gave me a
resupplied my food as well as gave me a beautiful jar of peanut butter but
beautiful jar of peanut butter but
beautiful jar of peanut butter but that’s not what they only gave me two I
that’s not what they only gave me two I
that’s not what they only gave me two I also found out she this horrible bear
also found out she this horrible bear
also found out she this horrible bear barrel that I was cursing at the top of
barrel that I was cursing at the top of
barrel that I was cursing at the top of it was a frying pan the lid I could have
it was a frying pan the lid I could have
it was a frying pan the lid I could have been eating fish that entire time and I
been eating fish that entire time and I
been eating fish that entire time and I had no idea but that was the most
had no idea but that was the most
had no idea but that was the most delicious jar of peanut butter I ever
delicious jar of peanut butter I ever
delicious jar of peanut butter I ever had and without that I could have never
had and without that I could have never
had and without that I could have never made it what is this all about I’m still
made it what is this all about I’m still
made it what is this all about I’m still trying to figure that one out but what I
trying to figure that one out but what I
trying to figure that one out but what I do know is that I’m no longer asking
do know is that I’m no longer asking
do know is that I’m no longer asking myself what do I want to be but I’m now
myself what do I want to be but I’m now
myself what do I want to be but I’m now asking myself who do I want to become
asking myself who do I want to become
asking myself who do I want to become life is a trail it doesn’t end when you
life is a trail it doesn’t end when you
life is a trail it doesn’t end when you get to the northern terminus it doesn’t
get to the northern terminus it doesn’t
get to the northern terminus it doesn’t end when you come home it continues and
end when you come home it continues and
end when you come home it continues and for me in my life it is not the
for me in my life it is not the
for me in my life it is not the destination it is the journey an
destination it is the journey an
destination it is the journey an adventure with a handful of skills thank
adventure with a handful of skills thank
adventure with a handful of skills thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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