Hey you found us!
Welcome to Packsniffer your outdoor knowledge outfitter. My name is Mike and I’m here to show you the ropes of what this site is all about.
First, you gotta know this is a family blog (it’s primarily written for myself and my daughters). Thus, there are many topics to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds but they are all designed with the growth of kids and families in mind. In short, this site’s purpose is to pass on experience and knowledge. Why hiking and boating focused? Trail culture is a “family-first” lifestyle like no other. Moreover, people from all walks of life come together to assist, feed and care for its members without inhibition or prejudice. As such, it’s a true practice of our faith. Its beautiful, its easy and its practically free to experience. In fact, for many with struggling real-life families, trail families become the community they’ve never had. We are here to help you grow and complete your journey.
At Packsniffer you’ll find how-to’s, travel reports, gear reviews, wisdom and wit to help inspire you to get outdoors. Likewise, we hope to help you get your family outdoors and to add meaning and excitement to your life. You just have to step outside and meet people who God puts in front of you along the way. It’s our job to help show you its never too late to blast through whatever is holding you back and take those first steps toward being a part of the best family you could imagine. Furthermore, that all starts here with us.
Finally, it might help to know where our inspiration has come from:
My History
I am an outdoor adventure traveler who has been to 4 continents and spent a majority of my life seeking adventure in the corners of the globe. My faith is my bedrock and I’ve always believed in the power of watching a beautiful sunset, after sustained difficulty, as a force to make meaningful change in my life. As a result, I’ve hiked the long trails, climbed some of the highest mountains, ski’d, sailed and kayaked my way across the earth.
In 2016, I was involved in a climbing accident while mountaineering in Pitkin County Colorado with my brother. I required air rescue by our armed forces from the High Altitude Aviation Training Site and spent the next year of my life rehabbing. It is an event that would forever reshape my life. I fell and by only God’s hand am I still alive. The gratitude of that is not lost.
Since my fateful day, I’ve become a husband and a father of two lovely girls. They are precious to me, and I strive to be their hero. Each day I awake desiring to teach them the meaning of life and to avoid my mistakes. Each day I awake to suffer through lingering pains from my fall, and each day I desire to get back out on the trail where I belong…and in essence to bring them with me.
Out of that accident an idea for this blog was born. It allows me to live an outdoor lifestyle vicariously through the internet and strive to inspire my children to be who they were created to be. Finally, it allows me to pass on the knowledge, lessons and skills I’ve learned to others, especially to my children….To teach them trail culture and to make them mighty.
I am a husband and dad-hero. I’m a packsniffer.
Packsniffer n. Someone who likes to eat, breath and constantly hang around backpackers though they rarely themselves ever hike….especially on the internet.