Winter warms my core; spring opens doors; fall is spent where the leaves are changing; and my summers are filled with glaciated volcanic excursions. I stand for happiness and nothing less. To be happy is to be free. I am inspired by dramatic landscapes and epic adventures. You’ll find me where the hike ends and the ascent begins. The higher the elevation the better. I afford all of my travels through waitressing and bartending. Currently, I’m chasing my goal to ski every month of 2016. Up until April 2nd, I had skied every week since December 1st 2015: on the daily if I wasn’t taking a weekend hiatus to the desert. I spent my first few months of the year in the Wasatch National Forest at Alta in Utah. I spent the month of May chasing the ends of winter on a glacier in Alaska. This summer I explored central Oregon’s Cascade volcanic range: hiking to summits in approach shoes with skis on my back. I had a blast piecing melting patches of snow together in order to shred el volcán. August 10th was my last day of summer skiing in North America before heading south to Argentina and Chile. I lived in mountain huts for a month outside of Bariloche, Argentina. Refugio Frey and Jakob were my refuges only descending to the city to resupply my food and shower. In Chile, I competed in a free-ride competition, slept above 13,000 ft in The Andes, and stood on the edge of a volcanic crater to peak at the lava inside! That's right, I saw the earth's splashing, red magma: dream come true! I've had fun documenting my journey this year on my new Sony A6300 mirrorless camera. This year, I have made a point to formally educate myself in mountain safety and travel basics. I have earned certifications as well as witnessed or heard (triggering none personally) over 60 avalanches. Most of these were natural wet slides observed in Alaska while camping on the glacier. I am currently in Colorado at the International Snow Science Workshop where theory and practice in the world of avalanche research are meshed. This winter I will be in Utah chasing dry, supportable powder and continuing my hands-on education in the mountains.