My Life As Ryanintheus

We visit beautiful places, then they visit us for the rest of our lives... Aussie in Seattle | Dad | Traveler | Skier | Climber | CEO Ryanintheus LLC | Full blog at ryanintheus.com

[ryanintheus]

Today is a day that will forever remind us of how complex the world is. Humans have so much potential, but we have so far to go to truly realize that potential. We fight and kill each because of differences that in the end don't mean a damn thing. For some reason this pic seemed suitable for today. We are good at creating suffering for ourselves and for the earth and this smoke is testament to that. When are we going to get it together? What will be the event that will make us realize we're getting it terribly wrong? Today is a day that should remind us that love, not hate is the answer. That fighting each other is pointless. That it only creates more suffering. I look forward to time where we stop killing each other, when we love the earth and take off it and each other. Who's on board with that crazy concept? . #bugaboos #cmhheli #sponsored (at CMH Bugaboos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnmw4oYHM7E/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=q66wx5tuv7ui

[ryanintheus]

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I don't even recognize the reflection I see in it. Our faces can show so much if we actually look at them. Changes in our lives can add up quickly and we wear them on our faces for all except for ourselves usually to see. With all that we have going on it's easy to forget to spend time with ourselves and spend time working on ourselves. I stop reading books that nourish my mind, stop seeing friends that warm my heart, stop going to the gym or yoga to feed my muscles and maintain my fitness, or I stop getting outside which balances my energy. One by one, as life gets busier these important elements drop off and we end up seeing a person in the mirror that doesn't resemble the person we think we are. One of the keys to preventing this that I've found is setting boundaries at work that limit the amount of overtime/nights/weekends that I'm willing to sacrifice of my precious time. When I do this, and I benefit from doing all of these things I find I'm measurably more productive and motivated at work and happier outside of work. I've said before we should work to live, not live to work! A while back I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw. I set some boundaries at work, stopped drinking so regularly and I started to really focus on my list of nourishing things. I went from a size 32 to a 29 waist and I haven't felt better in years, my work life blossomed and opportunities started coming my way. I have a new motto now. A good life is loving your reflection. Hope you love yours! 🙏 . #banff #morainelake (at Moraine Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkM0EphhHG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ki46k5sdlwc3

[ryanintheus]

One of the things I love about Instagram/Social Media is the connections and friendships I've made through it. A perfect example of a friendship made and amazing things coming from that is my friendship with the incredible @powdermatt. Matt is the most humble guy I know but he's also an inspiration. I don't know when we got connected but he's the type of person who can make anyone feel good, in person, over social, wherever. He's also incredibly inquisitive so he is always asking questions and trying to learn from the people he meets. His positivity and energy is contagious. So when he asked me to join him and one of Canada's best travel writers, @timjohnsontravels on a trip to the Bugaboos with @cmh_heli I literally jumped at the chance. Having the opportunity to experience these beautiful mountains by foot and helicopter was a no brainer, but getting to spend time with these two guys was the icing on the cake. Let me ask you, who would you like to go on a trip like this with that you follow on Instagram? Tag people who inspire you, motivate you, who you'd like to learn from, people with awesome photography, whatever. Tag some folks and say why you'd want to adventure with them. Who knows maybe you'll get the chance if you put it out there! . #cmhheli #bugaboos #sponsored (at CMH Bugaboos) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnU1Y0KhkGV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1orfv30hdhbc7

[ryanintheus]

Wouldn't it be great to have one of these to fly us around everywhere? One of the most exhilarating things I've experienced this year was catching the "bus", taking the "taxi", or jumping on the "bird", whatever we called it, it was so much fun. There's something about being picked up from your lodge and being dropped off on a mountain side or top that feels like you're on some kind of bad ass mission. The little boy in me completely geeked out flying around in this helicopter for three days. The process is this. We'd rendezvous on a mountain top, create a line of bags which our guides crouched next to, and we'd all huddle about 8 feet away while the helicopter comes up the valley, rides the air steam to come up over your position and then it drops perfectly down between us and the bags, giving the impression it was basically landing on top of usc it's blades doing their best tio blow us away. We open the doors, jump in, put on our seatbelts and within seconds we were up, diving off the mountain top heading down the valley bellow, just like it's doing in this shot. You can't help but be pumped. Tons of credit needs to go to our pilot. This guy was incredible. Of course in the winter he's landing on snow covered mountains dropping off skiers and picking them up at the bottom. I'd love to do that! But in summer he lands on rock or grass, leaving us to hike along the mountain tops or to descend into valleys to investigate lakes, flowers and rivers. You might think getting a "lift" to the top is taking it easy. You are wrong. On one of the days we did Dave's Death March (optional, not everyone has to hike line this, they have levels for all types of hikers). Our legendary guide who's been with @cmh_heli for 40 years led us on a 12 mile, 3600 feet elevation gain hike around the mountain tops, going up and down all day, taking in breathtaking views along the way. For anyone thinking thinking heli hiking is not challenging, let me introduce you to Dave! 😉⛰🚁💨 . #cmhheli #bugaboos #sponsored (at CMH Bugaboos) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnIBSnZhRdY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cnkohqeetcyb

[ryanintheus]

The Bugaboos. What can I say about the experience I had there with @cmh_heli? First off it was a lesson in not getting what you want, but getting what you need! What I wanted was perfect blue sky and sunshine so I could shoot one of the most dramatic skylines in North America. The Bugaboos has been a dream of mine ever since I watched @alohagail hike and climb them a couple of years ago. To get the chance to shoot and hike them and be dropped off by helicopter to remote places around them sounded literally like a dream come true. What I got was smoke. Smoke. More smoke! But. What I really got was a lesson in letting go of what I was attached to, accepting the situation, and embracing the experience of just being there. Sure I still shot a fair number of pics, but I knew very few of my shots would be useable, but instead I really focused in on the experience. The smell off the helicopter, the rush of air as it came in on a mountain top to pick us up, the beautiful high fields full of flowers, the solitude of a ridge line walk, the dedication and professionalism of our mountain guides, the awe of watching our pilot surf the air streams as he slid off a mountain top, the great conversations with other guests and getting to know their unique and interesting stories, taking mental pictures of each beautiful scene, I could go on and on. This is one of the scenes that blew me away in person, this pic, taken from the helicopter just didn't do it justice. Sunset over the Bugaboos, the #cmhheli lodge bottom right, "The Tooth" top left cutting it's image against the colored sky and fighting the smoke for attention. How can you not love this place, I can't wait to go back! . #bugaboos #sponsored (at CMH Bugaboos) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnC1TZ8huPQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1aqzzcg0woeby

[ryanintheus]

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Recently I had the pleasure off spending a fun filled weekend with friends in the Tacoma area discovering a few of the wonders of the area. We visited the beautiful Gig Harbor for a dusk cruise spotting Sea Lions and then some great food; caught the Gondola up @CrystalMountain and hiked down the scenic mountain side where I normally ski in winter, and did a great yoga class at the base; we caught a brilliant sunrise at Sunrise, Mt Rainier; and paddle boarded right in the heart of Tacoma. This was all part of @tacomasports #MountainCitySea campaign promoting the incredible diversity of the area and yes while this was a #sponsored experience for me I truly had a wonderful time. With the help of my good friend and talented videographer @ColinAC (Tenacious Ventures) we created this video to share the experience with you all. Big thanks to the #TacomaSports team, to @Kolbyjack, @bridgetbaeth and @emilyruth253 at @JayRayAdsPR and the folks who made this so much fun and shared this adventure with me: @bertymandagie, @themandagies, @emilymandagie and @luckyalexandra. #TacomaWA #GigHarbor #MtRainier @visitrainier @mountrainiernps (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm4fYsyhXZ9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=x4de6k4oxmvj

[ryanintheus]

Last week I had the wonderful experience of joining my friends @powdermatt and @timjohnsontravels in the stunningly beautiful Bugaboos, which are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada. We were hosted by the incredible @cmh_heli crew in their amazing lodge. In winter these guys have a really sweet heli-skiing operation and in the summer a really fun heli-hiking operation that we got to enjoy. There's nothing quite like being dropped off and picked up by a helicopter each day in one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world! The scenery as you would expect was the highlight despite the smokes best efforts to ruin the views. With the helicopter we were able to get right up amongst it to enjoy some amazing views like this one. I can't recommend this experience to you guys more. It's incredible. . #cmhheli #bugaboos #sponsored (at CMH Bugaboos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm19wacB04S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15chxh667nlhz

[ryanintheus]

This summer has been incredible, so many adventures and more to come. What has become evident to me in my journey through the summer is how my perception of being a mid forties single person has changed. If I'm being really honest, when I separated from my ex wife five years ago I did so thinking I'd find myself a relationship that fulfilled me pretty quickly. I arrogantly thought it wouldn't be that hard. How very wrong I was, and how grateful I am that it hasn't been. It's taken all these years to really land in a place where I don't need a relationship to plug holes that I had in my life. This summer I've had such an awesome time and while I've dated I haven't needed to be in a relationship, instead I'm in a really happy place, enjoying my life and ready to choose a partner when it feels right. This is because for the past year and a half I've really worked hard on plugging those holes myself. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect and there's plenty of work to be done, but it's those subtle shifts that you can look back on with the perspective of time that you realize were small but ever so important. So while I'd had formerly made an agreement with myself that success for me at 44 would include a committed, long term relationship, that agreement has given way to a new agreement that I can be fulfilled and happy at 44 without that element in my life. It might all seem obvious and it probably is but those agreements we make based on what society expects are hard to dislodge at the core of our belief systems. So this awesome summer rolls on and tomorrow I'm off on another adventure in Canada... More on that very soon! 😉 . #pnw #pnwlife (at Blanca Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmcOTWtByM5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k5cabauvzkn8

[ryanintheus]

So I was pretty happy when I took this pic of this little guy on Mt Rainier with Mt Adams in the background but not as happy as I am today! Today I get to see @PearlJam for the first time and this Aussie is pretty damn excited. Why did you ask? Well I was a true grunge fan in the early 90's, complete with past my shoulder hair and a perfect soul patch and although I loved Pearl Jam I didn't get to see them because I grew up in Perth, Australia and they very rarely made it to the west coast. This was a real pain for a long time so we missed out on seeing a lot of great bands. But there's something perfect about seeing them at Safeco Field tonight here in Seattle, their home, and now my home. Tonight is going to be a celebration of the incredible relationship between this band and this city and I'm like a kid about to walk into a candy store with $100 in my pocket. It's really cool to see and feel the excitement about these concerts. Grunge is a part of the fabric of this city and of course sadly Pearl Jam is the last of the big bands standing. I can't wait. Let's turn back the clock tonight Seattle! (at Mount Rainier National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmPMDozBbbC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bm030jz2qyw8

[ryanintheus]

One of the most difficult things in life as a parent is navigating how and where you spend your time and energy. Implicitly you want to do everything you can for your child or children which can easily consume your life. Many people have made comment to me about all the travel I do and how I balance that with my work and parenting and let's not forget also some me time to stay healthy and cultivate and take care of friends and family. Oh and of course also in my case to try and date and have energy to ultimately build a relationship again at some stage. It's a lot! My situation as a single dad fifty percent of the time allows me fifty percent of my time to focus on my life, parents who are full-time patents don't get that, especially if they are full-time single parents. Props to you folk for sure! So I have some time, and essentially what it comes down to is time management and prioritizing doing what I love to do both with and without my daughter. I take my daughter on about a third of my big trips which is an amazing investment in our relationship and building incredible memories we cherish. The rest of my trips are taken around my parenting schedule. I could easily not do these extra trips but what I've learned is if I'm happy and nourished I'm a better parent. Sometimes I over do it and take on too much, but I always make sure I remember that these trips feed me, they energize my life and that means I feel great, sometimes a little tired, but the spark that is me, is fed. My thought is if my daughter can see that spark in me she will learn to nourish herself as well and not rely on anyone else to do that. I'm constantly aware that she's watching me. She's asks questions about everything I do and the choices I make. I need to be living my best life in order to set her up to do the same. Sometimes it's a lot, but it's worth it. I've never been a fan of losing yourself and your life to parenting. I can't see how children learn to truly embrace life that way. Fingers crossed I'm doing it right but at least I know we're both happy and we already have a ton of incredible memories together! (at Redwood National and State Parks (NPS)) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmMv7Ndn6up/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vql0jxvhbmkt

[ryanintheus]

Change your perception and change your world... Perception is a really interesting element of life to me. Our perceptions shape how we digest the world, it's a lens that is unique to every one of us. As we move through life, if we're open to it, we can have big shifts in our consciousness that alters that lens and thus our experience of the world. Isn't that fascinating? It's the reason I've always loved this quote from Aldous Huxley... "There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception." And possibly why I love the band The Doors so much because this quote was the inspiration for the name of the band and their music. I've always been hungry to learn and experience new things so as to challenge my perceptions and ultimately alter them. Thus I have wandered through life opening as many doors as I can. It's impossible to walk through all the doors, but I like the idea of moving through as many as possible because if we could walk through all the doors we might become completely aware, cleansed of the filter of own perceptions altogether, free to see the world as it truly is... "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." William Blake I love this shot because it's a different perspective we don't normally see, like walking through one of those doors. I took it recently on a trip with @tacomasports hiking on the beautiful @crystalmountain. Changing your perspective can help change perception. 😉 #TacomaSports #TacomaWA #MountainCitySea #sponsored (at Crystal Mountain Resort)

[ryanintheus]

I think one of the best qualities you can cultivate in yourself is the ability to be open to change and unforeseen opportunities. As human's I think we like to think we know what's going to happen. We pick a destination or outcome, pick our path to get there and we try our best to ignore everything that comes up along that path that might change our destination. The issue I have when I find myself doing this is how do I know the outcome I've selected is actually the best outcome for me? And what if I am missing a whole new and better outcome by ignoring the opportunities that arise along the path? As is so often the case I find parallels between my experiences in my professional life and my time in nature. I've really enjoyed running my own business over the past year and had planned to focus exclusively on that for the foreseeable future but one of my clients offered me an incredible role that shifted my mindset completely. After much thought I've decided to deviate from the path I thought I wanted and I'm excited to share that I've decided to split my time between my company and the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at @realogicssir (Realogics Sotheby's International Realty)! For the past nine months I've been their Executive Advisor, supporting the company with business and marketing strategy so I know how wonderful this company is and I'm thrilled to take a leadership role with them. The culture of innovation and collaboration was simply to enticing not to be a part of. Similarly I got up at 3:30am one day last week to shoot a magical sunrise on Mt Rainer only to find that my favorite shots were actually in the other direction. After quickly bagging the Rainier shot I followed a path on a hunch until I got this incredible view and was able to capture this beautiful mountain scene flooded with brilliant morning light. It might be strange but this is one of my favorite shots ever. So not a bad week, two great experiences, two different environments, both not part of my original plan. There's a lesson in there somewhere! 🤔 . Thanks to @tacomasports for the trip! #MountainCitySea #TacomaSports #TacomaWA #MountRainier #sponsored (at Mount Rainier National Park)

[ryanintheus]

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited by @tacomasports to experience some of the amazing places in and around Tacoma as part of their #MountainCitySea campaign. That campaign name is definitely true to form as we boated around Gig Harbor, hiked around Crystal Mountain and paddle boarded in the heart of Tacoma. But the jewel in the crown is absolutely the incredibly beautiful Mt Rainier! We got up at 3:30 to travel to the place called Sunrise (also aptly named) to catch this spectacular sunrise on Rainer, something I'll remember for a long, long time. It actually reminded me that I need to get my butt out of bed earlier more often because that light was something else. If you haven't experienced this mountain at all I couldn't recommend it more to you. She has a power and a beauty somehow unique to her. Those who've been I'm sure will agree! ⛰ . #TacomaSports #TacomaWA #MountRainier #sponsored (at Mount Rainier National Park)

[ryanintheus]

Some paths lead you to some pretty unexpected places. Never did I think a path along a beach would lead me to a canyon with walls covered in ferns. The appropriately named Fern Canyon is one of the most amazing places I've ever been to. If you are a fern fan like I am (my mum used to grow them in our garden in Australia) you will feel like you're in heaven. A beautiful little creek runs through the middle of this incredible scene with the fern covered walls at times as high as forty feet. It was pretty busy the day I went there because it was a public holiday so this is one of the best shots I could get with both walls in it. This weekend my path leads me to the @capitalhillblockparty in Seattle thanks to @clifbar who are the official sponsor of the Vera Stage. If you're going make sure and check out their booths at both entrances to the event and take a pic at their photo wall near the Vera Stage. I'll be there Saturday and Sunday if you'd like to say hi! 👋 . #CHBP18 #SPONSORED #FeedYourAdventure (at Fern Canyon)

[ryanintheus]

10 years ago today I arrived in the U.S. as an immigrant from Australia, hoping to make my mark on the land of the free and home of the brave. Little did I know what an amazing adventure it would turn out to be. This country is an incredible country. I can't believe how much it has given me and the opportunities it has provided to me. It is a truly beautiful, diverse and inspiring country. I am in awe of its beauty. I am grateful for the professional growth and opportunity I've found here and I'm so privileged to have so many incredible friends here. Since I moved here I've added a few strings to my bow... Father, yogi, half marathon runner, alpine climber, nonprofit founder, VP, SVP, COO, CEO, Influencer, home owner, it's crazy. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of these amazing 10 years for me, I can't wait to see what the next ten years will bring! 🇺🇸🙏 #bigsur #california (at Big Sur, California)

[ryanintheus]

Confidence is a really tricky thing to talk to my friends about because of it's relationship with fear. Is true confidence just an absence of fear? Or is it the ability to overcome fear? Or is it both? I often meet people who seem very confident and then find that they aren't at all, but they're really good at projecting that. Other people I meet are quiet and don't say much, but turn out to be really confident when it's time for action. I'm a fan of the term "fear is a lie" because I think essentially it's true. Fear is the thing that stops us from trying, or if we try we've already decided we're going to fail before we begin so that's exactly what happens. In the absence of fear are we then able to always succeed? No. Because while we might attempt something without fear it doesn't mean we'll succeed, but if we do try it and we fail we will know why we've failed and from that experience we can do better next time. I see so many people (and myself from time to time) paralyzed by the fear of failure when in fact that's how we learn to succeed. If we don't try, we'll definitely never succeed. Nature always finds a way tell tell me what I need. If these Redwoods worried about competing with each other for light they may never start the process to grow. In the absence of fear though, here they are, some 1000 years old still succeeding at life. And every single one of these huge success stories started from just one, tiny, seed! To everyone who has an idea right now about something they are passionate about but are too afraid to go for it I say drop what you're doing and begin today. Like now. Who the hell knows what great things will come to you if you just take that first step! . #redwoods #california (at Avenue of the Giants)

[ryanintheus]

There are places on this earth that have a reputation for being awe inspiring and you wonder if they will live up to the hype. Machu Picchu and Everest come to my mind as places I'd heard so much about that before I visited them I was dubious as to whether they would deliver the goods . They did. Oregon's Crater Lake was another I'd heard so much about and finally last week I got to see it for myself. It didn't disappoint. In fact, I'm still telling anyone who'll listen about the magnitude of this place, can you spot the big tourist boat that's a white spec in this pic? And that blue! That blue is like no other blue I've ever seen in my life. This is truly one of those places that lives up to the hype and then some. I'm sure those who've been here agree! 💙 (at Crater Lake)