MY STORY
I come from a diverse background of earth sciences, geography, nature connection, adventure programs, mindfulness, and somatic psychotherapy. I grew up and currently reside in Santa Cruz, CA and appreciate the opportunity to explore into the unknown beyond the home town bubble. I am drawn to spending time outdoors, either in solitude or with family and friends, and trying something new. I've traveled throughout the West Coast for most of my life, I've lived in a van for 3.5 months throughout New Zealand, backpacked through Chile and Patagonia, adventured as a consultant into larger watersheds of west slopes of Sierra Nevada, boated California's favorite whitewater rivers and through the Grand Canyon. I worked at a local environmental consulting firm for 6 years and have since committed fully to my professional role as guide and facilitator and a committed Father to my son.
My own Rites of Passage began to unfold in Winter 2014 when, following the birth of my son, I experienced a series of painful events in about 6 months time: I fractured my femur, got laid-off upon my return to work, started a long divorce process, got a 60-day notice at my home. Wow, I felt lost in my home town. This process tested me to deeply question and simplify what I am passionate about, which supported me to be completely real with myself and to face life with unwaivering resiliency, compassion, and authenticity. This was the story of a man who stepped into the wild to discover who he was and what he lived for.
During this process, I was able to find perspective and support as a volunteer guide and facilitator for Project Great Outdoors taking at-risk youth on white water rafting adventures on the South Fork American River. In 2014, I was trained in a Somatic Ecotherapy and Wilderness Quest apprenticeship program at Wilderness Reflections. I completed a 2 year long comprehensive training in the Hakomi Method, a mindful and experiential psychotherapy, to deepen this skillset in mind-body connection and to bring it all together.
In 2022 I became a personal trainer through NASM, a level 1 nutrition coach through Precision Nutrition and certified by United Endurance Sports Academy (UESCA) as an Ultrarunning Coach. It is this unique blend and understanding of the reward associated with enduring challenging events and having a system of professional skillsets that bring the services at Threshold Adventures so alive.
EDUCATION
M.S. Coastal Watershed Science and Policy
2010 CSU Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA
B.S. Earth Sciences (emphasis in Ocean Sciences)
2005 UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Hakomi Method Comprehensive Training; Hakomi Institute of California 2015-2016
Somatic Ecopsychology & Wilderness Guide Apprenticeship Program; Wilderness Reflections 2014
Head Facilitator Training; Project Great Outdoors 2013
Basic and Advanced Whitewater Guide Training; Project Great Outdoors 2011
CERTIFICATIONS
Wilderness First Responder (WFR); Wilderness Medicine Training Center; current
Basic first aid and CPR, Red Cross; current
CPT NASM
Level 1 Nutrition Coach
UESCA Ultrarunning Coach