Ski Season thus far....

As I sit in my bed after working my second 2 hour shift on a day that I should have worked all day I realize that if Garmisch and the surrounding areas don't get a ridiculous amount of snow very quickly the ski season will be over just as quickly as it has come. It doesn't help that is has been raining for the last two days with no signs of slowing down and as an insult to injuries the rivers hasn't gone up at all. I'm already starting to drift off and plan out my steps for coming back stateside at the end of April or as early March due to the low snow and low crowds that have been coming in lately. Looks like I might have to start getting more job applications in because it's looking like the move could be earlier than later...
-Owen

December Update

It is the first time in a long time that I have felt too sick to get out of bed so I might as well use this time away from work to update my stagnate blog. 

When I last wrote I was in Seattle visiting friends and family in November. The Reason for me being stateside whover was solely for the purpose of getting hired back in Germany for a ski instructing job with the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. Now I'm back in Germany and have just survived my first month of ski instructing and am actually really enjoying it. Some kids are easier than others but by the end of the day everyone is throwing up high fives and asking if they really have to stop skiing. If I finish the day with everyone happy and asking their parents of they can go "just one more time" I feel like I have done a good job.

New Years this year was just at rowdy as previous ones but this year stated with the first three fireworks almost taking out an entire gluewein stand in the center of Garmisch. A few people saw me holding the end of a bottle rocket pointed at the sky and gave it a go. The problem was the little knitted gloves they were wearing... the wooden stick got stuck on the gloves and ended up dropping the final bang that should be let loose 100 feet in the air right at the feet of 150 old people sipping gluewein. It wouldn't have seemed so intentional if it hadn't happened two times...well it was a good time anyways. After all the fireworks everyone ended up in Pub 33 enjoying the night with friends.

The next couple weeks look like more of the same (ski instructing) but I hope that the rivers around here will rise a little bit so I can get some kayaking in before I head back to the PNW for what I hope to be one rowdy summer. 

-Owen

Thanksgiving and back in Garmisch

I'm sitting at the airport heading back to Germany after a pretty fun two weeks visiting friends and family and even making some new friends.

After getting the basic stuff done for my new ski instructing job back in Germany I got out on the river. I found a boat on professor paddle, a Pacific North West whitewater group and after that met up with a guy that I had been told to meet up with from a friends in Switzerland. It turned out to be a great kayak on the Skykomish with pretty nice juicy flows.

I rolled once on boulder drop not knowing what to expect and dealing with an unfamiliar boat but all and all it was a great escape from bouncing between relatives and I can't wait to get back out kayaking in the PNW. Spring will be amazing!!

After that I headed out to Spokane to surprise my grandma and visit with my aunt and uncle whom I haven't seen in quite a few years. We had a big thanksgiving meal at my aunt and uncles house and watched some tv which was actually very relaxing.

The next day we drove back to Seattle and I got ready to fly and no I'm sitting in the airport.

Good times but I'm looking forward to winter in Garmisch and some fresh tracks...hopefully I can squeeze a hut trip in there too!!

-Owen

Brandenburger- The Kaiserklamm

The past weekend I finally got the chance to check out the Kaiserklamm on Brandenburger in Austria as well as every other section on that river. It turned out to be one of the best days of the years and some of my best paddling. I felt super good even though this river happens to be my first class V river so that felt awesome and with only one roll I can't complain! I got one picture from someone in the group that was on the walkway along the side of the canyon but unfortunetly no gopro because I had just sold it so I could buy the newest one. Oh well. Here is the picture as well as someone elses gopro! I'm almost not even visible in the furthest upper right corner. Enjoy,
Owen

Quick Stateside Trip

It looks like I will be headed stateside for a quick two week trip due to a hiring process that is beyond me but it will be fun to catch up with relatives and friends, introduce myself to possible employers for spring, and last but not least....get a little boating in. I have alveady lined up a few things that I need to get done pertaining to the job back here in GAP but beyond I have a wide open schedule. I have been trying to sell my old kayak to compensate for the flight and a few purchases so hopefully that happens because it will make life a little easier. I have already lined up a boat and paddle for me to use for one or two days so that could be fun to get out on the Skykomish and Snowqualmie with some local boaters to check it out!
On Wednesday I went out kayaking on the Loisach only to rip out my neck gasket so promptly sent in my dry top to Kayak Acedademy in Seattle and they are going to do the repair as I'm packing bags and getting stuff finished up over here. Hopefully when I arrive it is all finished up and ready to hit the water!!
-Owen

October update

This summer has been a good one full of kayaking with a little climbing thrown in on the super low water days. I got away to Switzerland for a week for a kayak instructors course which was a great and I ended up getting level 2 kayak instructor so thats good! I actaully just got a new boat (Pyranha Burn) that is in excellent condition and hopefully will be abe to make back a bit of money when I sell my old one for around 500 Euros.

Currently I'm working hard on getting another job in Garmisch before my current one expires on January 26 but its turning out to be a tough process. I should be interviewing for a hotel job sometime in the next week and I'm working out the kinks of getting hired as a ski instructor for the Edelweiss. I guess they only hire from the states for that job so I actually might have to fly to the states before I can get hired for a job that is less than a km from my house. I hope everything works out but if not I guess I will be back in the states (probably Washington or Montana) by the end of January which would be okay too as long as I have some money saved up to reapeat the job search process. Hope all turns out okay!!
-Owen

Gabela in Garmisch

Last week I got the chance to hang out with Gabela, a good friend from colorado that finally made it out to Europe. We had a great time hanging out and Garmisch and even got to climb the Alpspitze and Zugspitze as well as some fun sport routes in Oberammergau. Here are some pictures from her visit!
-Owen