KAF Adventures – “The Power to Actualize Potential”

Team KAF

With KAF Adventures, I feel valued, loved, and respected as an employee, as a peer, as a friend and as part of the community.  

KAF Community Climb

For me, there were 2 distinct “starts” to the 2014 summer season at KAF Adventures, which were both very powerful.

Smith Rock

The first “start” revolved around a community event, at which the KAF community was invited to climb at Smith Rock, Oregon. After the community event the KAF staff, their significant others, and a few more people gathered in a house, to get to know each other better, and to enjoy fellowship. The high point of the evening was when we took time for “intention setting”. We shared with one another what we wanted to see/do/be more intentional about over the next 6 months. We were listened to, respected, and encouraged by one another. It was a beautiful way to bring a group of people together and to support one another. Those intentions will be revisited at the end of the season.

Smith Rock

Staff Training

The second “start” was staff training. The team got together at the office, went over logistics for the season, met new staff, and then took off to be in the mountains. We hiked over dirt, rock, snow and ice, camped and cooked in the snow, and attempted to summit a beautiful peak in WA. A few days together, sharing meals, sharing a tent with people I had just met, being roped together, and enjoying the wilderness was AMAZING!

Staff Training - Going up

Staff Training - up!

It has been clear to me from the beginning, that KAF Adventures values community, teaching, and being outside. The very meaning of the name, “the power to actualize potential”, speaks loud and is obviously a driving force in what we do.

"Dream it. Do it."

Staff Training - We made it out!

Thank you KAF Adventures!

Back in America – Who am I, where am I, and what do I see?

Family photo before my departure to India

After about 8 months of traveling and living out of a backpack, I returned to America from Europe and India - for at least the immediate future.  Part of me expected the adventure to die down a little. It didn't. I was mistaken.  Learning continues, and adventure and the exploration is endless, so long as you make it so. Not to mention, I keep meeting awesome people!

Back in America - Welcome Home!

I was able to surprise my mother for her birthday.  It took some time for her to realize that the 130 pound stick of a man was not just an apparition, and that it was really her long lost son. The smiles and long and sincere hugs were the most wonderful things I could have wished for.

Mom and I :)

I was able to surprise my fiancé (a little late) for our 3 year anniversary.  Attend the Koester’s Annual Chinese New Year Celebration. Play in the snow with loved ones. Play in the mountains with loved ones. And then start the journey of taking people outside in a safe way; a Wilderness First Responder class, and an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course.

Smith Rock - Oregon

Snow Caves -Washington

After a mere 2 months in America, the next big journey began; a season of learning and instructing with KAF Adventures!

KAF Adventures - Community Climb 

India - A wild, eye opening, wonderful experience - I am forever changed, and forever grateful.

After three months in India, I feel I saw more than I could have ever imagined.  Being with the Dalai Lama as he spoke, overnight trains, a Camel Safari in the Thar Dessert, Trekking in the Himalayas and sleeping in mountain huts, Camel Fare, Babas and chillums, hitchhiking, forts, temples, markets, overnight shared sleeper buses, swimming in the Arabian Sea, Laccadive Sea and Bay of Bengal, backwater boat rides, 10 days of silent mediation at a Vipassana facility, two weeks at a Sivananda Yoga ashram, bouldering in Hampi (and researching for KAF Adventures), sleeping in a Sikh temple, staying with locals and sharing meals with those I met along the way, being part of the Auroville community, every type of transportation imaginable, bribes, fevers, throw-up, beaches, Churches, festival galore, never a dull moment.

Fellow Himalaya Hikers 

Mountain Hut

Camel Safari Guide

One of the sleeping accommodations I chose for myself

Great colors at the market

A tasty breakfast

A nice sunrise at Mamallapuram

Auroville - Matrimandir

I came to think that India is immune to noise. I started to become this way after some time.

I sat in silent mediation for 10 days, without human interaction, without reading, writing or speaking at all. Staying in my small room at night by myself – Vipassana – Earth shattering!

I contributed to a society by volunteering my time. Helping with reforestation, gardening, etc. - Aurovillle - An amazing township, with so many volunteers, and pockets of “gift societies”. Beautiful.

Yoga a few hours a day. Karma yoga. 2 meals per day. Spiritual lectures - Sivananda Yoga Ashram – I was sore. I was part of the little ashram. I was “home”.

So many experiences. So many emotions. So many beautiful souls. I am lucky! I am forever changed, and forever grateful.

Am I famous?

It might be my striking good looks, my incredible resemblance to Ryan Gosling, my amazingly white skin, or something completely different, but I must be famous. 

Whether seated or standing, walking or running, inevitably an Indian man or boy, usually in a group will ask to take my photo or a photo with me. I've taken photos with people at temples, lakes, restaurants, hotels, on hikes, while eating, while journaling, on the side of the road, on the beach, you name it. I've taken pictures with anywhere from 1 to 20 people. It gets pretty crazy when the crowd keeps growing and growing. It gets exhausting when I shake everyone's hand after each photo. It is hilarious as one person rotates into the picture and has the next friend take another picture with a different camera. 

The first 100 or so photos were fun and flattering.  The next 100 or so became slightly less enjoyable. It got easier to ignore people, or laugh, smile, wave and continue on my way, hoping not to seem too rude. But after the wave of flattery, then slight irritation, the next wave was the best.  Embracing, putting my arms around, picking up kids, making goofy faces, and smiling as big as I could ultimately made the picture taking experience one of all around happiness and humor. It also led to many new friendships and has left me with fond memories.

I haven't asked yet, but there must be some sort of a nation wide contest of who can get the most pictures with different white guys.