Page number: 544

All photos and content
Copyright (©) 2002-2008
Michael Doyle.
Permission to redistribute,
copy or use the content
must be obtained from
Michael Doyle

See the Contact
page for more
information.

Ever since I was fourteen years old I've dreamt of three things; one - going on a long climbing roadtrip, two - winning the lottery, and three - girls. I've always figured that the only way for number one to happen was for dream number two to occur first. Dream number one has filled my mind much more than number two (not as much as number three), it consumed me during high school, plagued my dreams during university and has been a constant itch since I started working full time as a software developer six years ago. Now, at the ripe old age of 29, I am finally going to be able to scratch that itch.

Entering university my passion was chemistry but I had taken a few computer courses in high school and in first year and while I enjoyed computing science it wasn't exactly exciting for me. However going through university in the mid-nineties, hearing stories of the success of computer programmers, the fact that they can work anywhere, work for two years and then move on and of course the Internet... the ability to work entirely remote. I thought I could work in Vancouver for two years, Boulder for two years, France, Spain... the world was at my fingertips! And so I switched to major in Computing Science.

Things didn't quite go as planned. I took a job while still in University working for a small company based in Vancouver (IDELIX Software). Dreams of the dot.com era startup millionaires filled my mind. "It'd be the same as winning the lottery", I thought. I figured I'd work for two years, gain some experience and then move on. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I truly enjoyed and still enjoy working at that company, I enjoy the people, I enjoy my work and I enjoy the flexibility that working for a small company allows me. I would take a laptop on the road for a week or two and only take a week of vacation time, doing the work of a week spread out over two weeks. It was enough to soothe the itch but the dreams would return.

In early 2004 I made the decision to compete at the North American Continental Championships in Mexico City. I needed something to keep me inspired for the year, a goal, something to train for. I made myself a training and conditioning schedule and started implementing it around March. By August I was climbing very well, more fit and stronger than I had ever been. I was redpointing routes previously thought impossible and then running laps on them. I was psyched for the competition in November! And then... life interferred. A project popped up at work that I would need to work on. It was very important and had to be done by the end of October. So two months of 16 hour days, sitting at a desk, eating poorly and getting weaker. Of course the project stretched into November.

I was still able to climb but my focus wasn't the same. I ended up placing second at the competition but I didn't feel that I climbed well. I would have rather placed lower but at least have been prepared and climbed well. I don't blame the company or the project, a job is a job and if you're paid to do it, you do it well. That was my life and that was my decision. After the competition I went to the beach and surfed for a week. It was then that I decided I'd have to quit my job within the next two years and go climbing for awhile.

And so here I am. Two years later and on the road! I've been fortunate in the past two years, I met a girl (Audrey Sniezek) who had a similar desire to travel and climb, and I didn't have to quit my job to go on the road! I am still working part time as an hourly employee and able to work and make money on the road! Pretty good gig if you ask me.

The trip has just started but our tentative plan is to start with a quick trip to Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon, then drive out east to climb at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for a few weeks. After Kentucky things get a little foggy, we know we want to be in El Potrero Chico in Nuevo Leon for Christmas but not exactly sure of our travel route or dates. After Mexico? Hopefully some climbing and surfing in Australia starting around mid-March and then... who knows? We'll see where our dreams take us.

These guys support me so I'd appreciate it if you support them.

blurr
La Sportiva
Metolius
Mammut
Sequence