Winter Whereabouts of KAC Staff!

22 Jan Winter Whereabouts of KAC Staff!

“If employees have a strong base of unchanging bedrock values, they are better equipped to weather any storm… When both employer and employee know that they share a foundation of basic values, such as the four transcendent values of truth, beauty, goodness and unity, along with the aligned values of respect, integrity, trustworthiness, then they can move forward together with some measure of confidence despite tremendous change.”
-If Aristotle Ran General Motors

Last year’s record breaking season kept the 2015 Keweenaw Adventure Company (KAC) Crew truly on their toes, demonstrating their impressive team work and passion. In fact, on Trip Advisor KAC ranked with the highest percentage of Excellent reviews among its competitors throughout the UP and northern Wisconsin, exhibiting just how much our close-knit crew embodied the Grateful Dead’s concept of “a close group of people living together, working together, and welcoming the larger community to share their experiences with them.”

So what’s our lively and exciting crew up to during the off-season?
Here’s a quick glance at winter time whereabouts:

Ryan Boushee moved back to his hometown of East Grand Forks, MN for the winter where he’s working at his local bike shop. Aside from going to school and trying to ride bikes in the snow, he’s catching as many turns as he can with the snowboard!!

Liz Martin — OUT WEST AND BACK AGAIN WITH 1 TENT, 1 CAR, 2 HUMANS, 2 SLEEPING BAGS, TONS OF FOOD, AN OPEN ROAD, AND ADVENTUROUS JOY REACHING 6 NATIONAL PARKS IN 2 WEEKS.

 

Parker Fiore — I am happy to say that after my accident in October, I have healed quite well and have been spending most of my spare time riding my fat bike and dreaming up which trail bike to get on when the dirt comes back this spring. Living in Marquette gives me great access to a fantastic snowbike trail network and community. On the extremely cold days I try and play my drum set as much as I can. Thankfully enjoying time with family for the holidays and getting together with friends too of course.

JJ Ferrington finished his Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management program at NMU and has started his internship at the outdoor ice skating rink at the Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. Aside from snowboarding on “The Greatest Snow on Earth” he is learning how to drive a Zamboni and how to maintain and ice rink in varying outdoor conditions. Although he loves the snow and ice, he can’t wait to be back on liquid water with a paddle in his hands.

Emily Hinsa — This winter I’m working at Mount Ripley in the ticket office for my second season. When I’m not at work I’ve been teaching myself to knit socks and writing short stories. Once we have some more snow I plan to get back on my skis. I want to try skiing at Swedetown trails this year instead of just the Michigan Tech trails. I’m also still learning to downhill ski and hopefully will get to go snowshoeing at least once. I’ve been fixing my sauna so I can use that soon as well.

Dan Weirsgalla — Now that the season has changed and the ground is frozen I can be found skiing the slopes of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, while working as a ski technician.

Sam & Shelby have an array of play and work during the off-season. Festive holidays (starting with Halloween!) followed by travels with ski time for Sam and horseback for Shelby. An American Outdoor Association Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah and some city slicker time in Chicago, too… Other then that, we’re at home-sweet-home in the Harbor anxiously awaiting the 2016 summer season ahead!