March Madness

Whoa, the last 10 days of this month has been crazy! it has definably snuck up on me for sure. Only 1 week till i leave on my trip and so much to be done! have spent most of the day sorting out visas, taxs, truck removal and applying for jobs.
last week has been i had a week of having fun before the grind ahead, catching up with alot of people before they leave..
So heading south next wend/thurs to start the work to campervan mod, and take a break to catch the final weekend at schweitzer Ski hill in North Idaho and visit some friends while im out there.
The fun begins, keep posted everyone.. the next few months are gonna be amazing!
xo

It's Time, The Time is Now!

Dreaming, is what i did today.. Had a revelation.
It's time to leave this place, it's time to leave Rossland for a wile.
I have got sucked into the bubble for the past three years, my mind was blocked to everything outside of the kootenays. There is so much more to see out there and ive got explore bigger and better things, See the world!

A Summer OF Good!

After spending the arvo with carm and her landing an awesome summer job camp on the island working with troubled teens, it make me think.. Before i came back to Canada in november i attended a few info sessions for working at summer camps in the states. I wanted to work for a camp to do it for the kids, to pass on my knowledge and experiences.
So im going to try my hardest to find a job at a camp anywhere across canada instead of going tree planting, it's not about the money anymore, its about the people.. something that i needed to be reminded about.
There are people out there that are alot less privileged than you and i, but i want to make a difference in these youthful years i have ahead and this is defiantly a great way i want to start. For alot of these kids summer camp is an escape from a bunch of different things and to inspire them and show them that anything is possible!

Im going to attach a little thing i wrote about me for my applications, its the first draft..

A little About Me:
At age 19, unsure of what I wanted to study at university I left Australia on an adventure of self discovery, exploration and learning. To break away from the normal routines of living in big city and get out into the Canadian wilderness.
Meeting the most amazing people in my travels along the way, learning invaluable life lessons through experiences and seeing some of the most amazing places that make this country so beautiful.

I have spent the most part of the past three years in British Columbia, in a small community in the Kootenays. I have worked at a small ski hill for the past three seasons and during the summer worked at a golf course on the maintenance team. This summer I decided that I wanted to make a difference, not just work to continue my travels but to help out other people and share my knowledge and experience with others.

Outdoor adventure has always been a big passion of mine. Spent this past summer camping at hot springs throughout BC, Hiking Mountains and glaziers and swimming and kayaking in many of the lakes and rivers in the area. I am a very motivated, outgoing and fun loving individual that loves new challenges.

I feel that life is too short to just wait around for great things to happen, you have to get out there and make a difference and love every second of it. Because in the end sharing experiences and inspiring others is the greatest thing you can ever give and it feels great!

I am Samuel Gallus and I would love to work for you at your summer camp!

Layout Innovation and Downsizing

Ahh.. im off on a sick day today with pretty bad case of what i think is bronchitis, been pretty much coughing out a lung all day ekk.
So have be doing a bunch more research on layouts for my campervan and tackling the issues of downsizing alot of stuff which will mean thrift store donations for sure.
Ill put up some pictures of what im liking for my conversion at the moment.

Fuel Pump Replacement + Name Ideas

Speaking with brian today, he picked up the ford and did some work on it at the shop.
Got her purring like a cat by replacing the fuel pump. He said it was good to go for the road worthy when crossing the boarder and insuring it up here in BC.
Was thinking about some names for the van, it has to be a she and it will directly affect the artwork that i get on the exterior.. maybe something piratie, lady ...
i want to put a dark toned artwork on it to not make it too obvious and alittle inconspicuous.

This is some of my buddy Anders artwork he did on his mates van...

Vegetarian Ventures

Over the past few months, i have been putting alot of thought into the ideas of less waste, green living and vegetarian living . My housemates waste heaps of really good food, and its frustrates me more and more every week. I have decided to become a vegetarian for first a trial to see if my body can handle it, and secondly after watching a documentary Food Inc. It outlines the way they treat the animals that they breed to slaughter to put on your supermarket shelves.
I have made one exception, i will eat meat if i hunt it myself and prepare it or if i know where it has come from and house it was treated during its life. Im going hunting this april for turkey season, which will be my first experience hunting wild game. I think this will grow on me, im going to do a whole lot more research about animal cruelty.
Open your Mind, Open your heart!


"Whether we like limitations and obstacles or not, they take us out of our comfort zone, out of what we are used to and we are forced to grow. We can fight it or we can go with it. But if we choose the path of acceptance, it can open our eyes to the hidden doors of opportunity and we come to realize that instead of being on the brink of disaster, we are actually on the verge of a miracle."

Thanks Carm for the quote.

Hourglass Demise

As the hourglass of the season is ticking down, i find myself reflecting on the season that was/is/has been the best of my life so far. Not in respects of powder and snow but in the individuals that have made it such a pleasure, my job and working with my canadian father figure steve teaching me so many great skills. All the lifies what a awesome bunch of people all alittle different in there quirky ways and the stories of how they ended up at this fabulous little town and ski hill.
To commemorate and accept that time is ticking down for this season, Kyle, Darrel and Myself hiked up robbie to drop hourglass.. we took the low road up cutting fresh tracks along the way, with the 10cm that fell yesterday ontop of the crust things weren't looking good for snow quality. After 45 min we summited the top and it was a complete white out, With kyle and darrels knowledge of the run we gear up and rode the chute.
Snow was alright on the sides but due to the dryness of pow it was easy to cut through to the hard pack ice below, run had a bunch of fun features along it definitely one to be hit again next snowfall.
I ended up missing the skin out track and had to hike out of the gully to paradise, we called it a day on robbie and set tracks for the base.

-Hourglass - this time last year, photo from kootenay skier-

Mustache March and Fresh Pow

March the month of fun in the sun and beers on the ski hill deck, and quite a few on the slopes too. Less than a month to go until the hill is closed.. its going to be another sad year of people leaving, and some that i won't see for ages but the summer is ahead and it's going to be an awesome one in that.
Trace to 3 cm were forecasted last night. Awoke to the report saying 3cm fresh, wasn't too motivated to get up there for first thing so had abit of a sleep in til 10.
Got up there is hear that it had been snowing all morning and we had 6cm by now, after the regular rounds at the base with my brown sugar maple oatmeal and chocolate rum balls i hit the hill. Dropped Saras Chute first then cambodia/needles founds some more really nice cliffs down there too, also fist tracks woot!
Met up with timmy and boys for a few runs in the arvo, headed up to the Coolers. Dropped second chute to field of pow pow, by then we had 10cm fresh dry kootenay pow, which sluffed forever it seemed on the 50deg slopes.
Did two more runs in the same area, dropping the golden charlotte cliff bottom right went top heavy on the landing and went over the tip.. so deep though! epic.
Overall epic day that came pretty much out of no where, keep it up snow all we need is another 7 - 10 tonight and it will seem bottomless tomorrow.
Vegan mondays tonight with Carm, looks like some amazing indian eggplant dish, another great additions to the awesome list of things we have made.
Thanks again Ullr!! Bring on more pow pow!

Old Post - Dec 6 09

What is happiness?, for everyone it means something different, there is no right or wrong answer..
for some it means owning a house and raising a beautiful family, others traveling the world visiting the most amazing landmarks and have breath taking experiences in mother natures own wonderland.
For you who know me well, or have looked at my photos i am the second one...
Setting out on a journey with your friends, with a peak in the distance the goal, losing all sense of time and just live in the moment. It's just you and your friends out here, not another sole for miles, you close eyes and feel the tall, dark but lively forrest swaying with the wind around you. With the fruits of nature waiting for the picking, an abundance of huckleberries the size of dimes that feed human and animal alike. Wandering seemly along a winding path until emerging into an ancient rock field, looking over the Monashee Mountains as you climb, home to some of the best Cat Skiing in North America. Looking up towards the summit the goal is insight, as the wind becomes stronger with every step. Seeing the last trace of winter still on the north aspects, bringing back timeless memories spend backcountry snowboarding on this mountain. Closing in on the top looking down the chutes to your right as you climb, nothing but avalanche destruction, tree's spilt like matchsticks, the rocky 50 degree slope formed by an ancient volcano millions of years ago crumbling year by year.
As you summit this great mountain, looking up a the great canadian flag flapping furiously in the alpine air. taking a deep breath as embracing the 360 degrees view that i call home, this for me is true happiness, being in the mountains, far from the bustling cities. Life slows down, you have time to think, time to embrace.. To be grateful, the great friends here and across the sea. I sit on top of the mountain and think about it all, Peace, Tranquility, Quality of Life, Friends, Family, Snow...
I am home among the mountains and it's where i be forever.. Let the sunset shimmer Red overlooking Rossland, Fate brought me here, and it will move me on one day too.

Budget

I have been doing alot a research into what im going to need and how much its going to cost, have a rough idea. Im properly missing a few stuff but i think i have the main items. This is what ive come up with.

BUDGET:

Electrical -

- 1 X deep cycle battery $100
- 600 - 1000w Converter + charger $150
- Switch for battery/main power $30
- Isolator $80
- Fuse and holder $10
- 4 Gauge Wire $30
-----
$400

Electrical Wiring Page

Kitchen -

- Propane Stove $70
- Hose and adapter $40
- Propane T $30
- 3 Way Fridge (used) $150
- Bowl for sink $5
- Water Pump $30
- Water/Grey Water tanks $30
- Hoses, Mics $30
- Housing, Finish Material $80
----
$475

Bedding -

- Material for base $150
- Air Bed $60
- Bedding $0
----
$210
----
Total - $1085

These are just the basics, future additions include
- entertainment system
- another deep cycle battery
- insulation for canadian winter
- winter tires

Ford Ecoline - The Beginning

So i bought a Ford Ecoline from my mechanic and adoped US parents Brian and Kathy, There friend is selling it for a steal, Only $500!! It has done a fair few miles but not to worried about putting some work into for that price.
It is staying down in the states until i finish work at the ski hill and i can start the conversion for the start of the tree planting season.

I have found a layout i want to follow and make some different modifications to it, which include a refrigerator and more storage + a snowboard rack! I have a deadline of less than two months now, has to be complete by end of April! Alot of hard work and searching around is on the books, Which includes selling/getting rid of my Chevy Blazer truck that is no longer running.

Layout here!