Fan vs. Wild!

This is what I submitted to Fan vs. Wild
My most extreme adventure may be a surprise to you, as the setting for it is more of a concrete jungle. As I pondered over which one of my many adventures I was going to choose, I decided that although I’ve travelled to many places around the world and done a lot of exciting and unusual things this was the adventure that I’ve grown the most from and was able to serve other people the most. I lived in Russia for two years of my life, not only serving the people but also serving the Lord. I lived amongst the native people and had to learn their culture and language which is an adventure in itself. I was able to give back to them by doing hundreds of service projects, everything from gardening, to picking up trash, and even teaching English in many public schools and Universities. In Russia every day is a struggle to survive, the water is rancid, the streets are dangerous, and the winters are frigid. In every episode Bear is thrown into a foreign and hostile environment, I think if I can survive in Russia, I can survive anywhere you decided to throw me.
Cut down to fit the 500 character rule:
My adventure takes place in a concrete jungle.I’ve done a lot of exciting things, but this was the adventure I’ve grown the most from.I lived in Russia for 2 years serving the people and the Lord.I learned their culture and language.I was able to give back to them by doing hundreds of service projects, everything from farming to teaching English.In Russia every day is a struggle to survive, the water is rancid, the streets are dangerous, and the winters are frigid.It was a foreign and hostile environment, if I can survive in Russia, I can survive anywhere.
I love the outdoors! I live life as if everything is an adventure. I’ve grown up living from one extreme sport to the next. I love to feel the rush of adrenaline and then the awesome feeling of accomplishment after you’ve conquered the fear and anxiety of facing that challenge. I think I should be chosen to be the Fan vs. Wild because I embrace the thrill of adventure just as Bear does. I am the biggest fan of Bear. Please take the time to look over my blog and I think you’ll see why I should be chosen.

I’m a huge fan of Bear Grylls. I’ve read his book, “The Kid Who Climbed Everest” and am currently reading “Man vs. Wild Survival Techniques from the most dangerous places on Earth”. I’ve seen every episode Man vs. Wild, and many, more than once. I’ve even watched Bear on “Escape to the Legion.” I’m looking forward to “Worst Case Scenario.” I enjoy reading about everything he has done and what he’s overcome in his life. I like to read all his little quotes about life. They help me look at this big adventure we call life in a totally different perspective.

As I stared up at the massive rock wall I knew that I could conquer this climb. With every crack and crevasse I saw, it was almost as if the wall was taunting me to see if I could get to the top. This is why I was here. I had grown up with a love for the outdoors and had been into scouting as far back as I can remember. Now was my chance to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” I was one of the few that made it to the top on that specific route. I was also one of the youngest boys there. When I was younger everything was an adventure, and I’ve tried to live that way ever since.
From that first day at Boy Scout Camp I couldn’t get enough of the outdoors and as I grew older I developed a love for extreme sports. I grew up attached to a bike, everywhere I went I would ride my bike; I loved the wind blowing through my hair and the pure joy of having that freedom. I started racing BMX, and then went on to riding Mountain bikes; I’ve recently picked up road bikes. And will be doing a 500 mile ride to benefit the charity called The Central Asia Institute. (See my other post for more details). I can still remember that Christmas morning, when I opened one of my presents to find a Snowboard! I’ve been riding the powder (pow) ever since. I think without scouting I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things I’ve done in my life. I’ve rappelled off of arches, down waterfalls, and even out of trees 200 ft. plus high. I worked at a Boy Scout camp in the mountains of Northern California for three summers, with no or little pay just for the adventurous lifestyle. When I was too young to be a climbing instructor, I found a new love for rowing and sailboats. I am now in the BYU Sailing Club. I also enjoy canoeing, and kayaking. And in the summer we raft and tube down the river as much as possible. I continued climbing and still love to boulder as much as I can. I have recently developed a love for canyoneering; I took a course on it and have been hooked (literally) ever since. I love rapping down into the huge slot canyons and through the cool water of the awesome Utah landscape. Hiking has always been a major part of my life, I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon, Angels Landing, Mt. Timpanogoes, and Mt. Shasta, just to name a few. While scouting has played an important role in my life, I have also been able to help others in need. I completed my Eagle Scout with over 30 merit badges. This is one of scouting’s highest honors awarded and requires hours of service. I was thankful to be able to give back to the community.

This past summer me and a bunch of friends went to Havasupai. Havasupai is an oasis on an Indian reservation in the Grand Canyon. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The towering blue green waterfalls are an amazing site to see. They are perfect to jump off of as well. Our journey started long before the sun had risen and we continued to hike long into the scorching hot sun. As we came over that final hill and saw this huge waterfall cascading over this indescribable rock formation, I understood the saying, “Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Naturally we all dove into cool refreshing water. We stayed for 4 days, battling the squirrels for food and drinking from a natural spring. We hiked all day every day. On one of the hikes we followed the river for hours it was amazing, I didn’t feel like I was anywhere close to the hot deserts of Arizona. It’s interesting to see what a little water can do in even the most hostile environments. We will be going back this summer as well. On our way out we left later in the day so that the sun wouldn’t cook us alive, but didn’t account for the last 2 miles that were extremely steep switchbacks. Everyone in our group ran out of water, I gained a greater understanding of our dependency on something that is so abundant in some places but so very scarce in others. The wonders of this Earth are something that no one should take for granted. You can see pictures of my adventure in the slide show titled, “Havasupai”.

This summer a few of my close friends and I are going to do a fundraiser for a charity. We will be doing a bike ride for the CAI. The Central Asia Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was founded by Gregg Mortenson out of Bozeman, Montana. During his attempt to climb K2, Gregg was separated from his climbing group and became lost. After 70 days on the mountain and in an exhausted and weakened state he stumbled into a small Pakistani village. He was nursed back to health by the tribal leaders. To repay their hospitality Gregg promised to return someday and build a school for the small community. From that first small school in Korphe, his idea of promoting peace through education in a war torn area of the world has taken root. Since 1996 the CAI has built 131 schools, educating more than 58,000 students (mostly girls). The CAI works closely with the Shura, or Afghan tribal leaders to establish and build these schools. This allows temporal security as well as provides future support for the schools.
We are going to ride our bicycles from Salt Lake City Utah to Las Vegas Nevada! Our journey will take us over 500 miles through the rural portions of Utah and into the blazing desert sun of Nevada. We will ride six consecutive days from May 17th – May 22nd with planned stops in Mt. Pleasant, Richfield, Panguitch, St. George, Logandale, and finally Las Vegas. How might this help you ask? Well, we are gathering both public and private sponsors who pledge to donate monetary contributions to the CAI for each mile we ride (the total will be about 500). These sponsors will be notified upon our completion via email or letter, whichever they prefer, containing pictures and a complete account of our adventures. At this time we would encourage them to honor their pledge and donate the agreed upon amount directly to the CAI, via the CAI website using the donation code we provide. In the end everybody wins; we get a healthy dose of exercise, they get the satisfaction of helping others (not to mention a nice tax write off), and the Afghani and Pakistani girls will get the priceless gift of an education.
Why did we choose the CAI?

• We feel that this is a legitimate, meaningful, organization that uses its funding appropriately. Just take a look at their 990 form. They have used their donations extremely well.
• They focus on educating girls. Girls tend to remain in the community and pass their enhanced knowledge to the next generation whereas educated boys tend to move the urban areas leaving the rural community without educated individuals. Thus, as Mortenson suggests, educating girls has more of a lasting benefit for the community.
• As college students we recognize the importance of education. Each of us has been given the great gift and opportunity of receiving an education. We feel the moral responsibility to pass that along to others the same opportunity.

We have currently raised over 5000 dollars and continue to receive donations