I am a pretty typical guy with a love of the outdoors like so many others. My crowning achievement is actually being a dad. Which is why I started this quest to begin with. 

 

8 years in the Marine Corps had provided me with some solid survival basics but also a healthy dose of anxiety. I began searching for ways to deal with my anxiety as well as connect with my daughter. Naturally when her and I began exploring the world outside I was greeted by, (Spoiler alert) more anxiety! The what ifs of being outside got crazy for me, especially when she was in tow. So I made it my mission to learn as much as possible about surviving outside and being able to keep us safe. As it turns out being outside also eased the worries of every day life and the hook was set. I have traded worry for a thirst for knowledge and the courage to brave situations I would have completely avoided previously. This was all of course just an added bonus. My daughter loved being outside! It was a connection I was surprised and excited by.

​

​

"Why are you doing this?"

​

"Why do you feel you need to show people a video of you hiking, or cooking lunch by a fire?"

​

"What is the goal here?"

​

These are just some of the questions I field often in my short time doing this. What would make me happy? What is my goal? Learning enough to some day be able to teach people these skills, and dare I say, have a place for them to do it. Some day JP Outdoors will be a place for folks to go and learn these skills and escape the stresses of every day life. A place where people learn to deal with modern anxieties. For now...you have to watch me make smores on YouTube..

​

All joking aside what I found was that I am drawn to the sometimes different worlds of bushcrafting and hiking. Which led me here and to develop my personals brands tag #hikekraft