I realized that by being outside, I was using my rights and privilege as a citizen of our country. We think of that as an abstract concept, but I actually fought for this physical country and the best of our country’s ideology is wrapped up in our public lands which are for everyone. These experiences also gave me a chance to feel the beauty of the land I fought for. I couldn’t think about the past or the future, I had to be right where I was or I would fall, lose the dogs, or hit a tree. All those outdoor experiences gave me the ability to live in the moment and just enjoy being alive. The idea was solidified while on a dog sledding trip in Northern Minnesota. That feeling I got from my first day climbing and surfing, combined with my memories spent outside as a kid, gave me an idea of what I could do to help my buddies returning home from the war. So I ended up in Boulder, CO where I had a friend that convinced me to try climbing. With a sluggish economy, I couldn’t find a gig in urban design after finishing my degree. I needlessly hurt people and still have some shame around my actions those first few years home. While attending graduate school, I was torn between wanting to descend into a total absence of feeling and a desire to “be productive”. But shortly after that trip, I was still a mess. Looking back, I think getting wrecked by those waves alone in the water was what I needed to get me through the next two years of my life. It was my first time ever surfing and I spent most of my time falling. I knew I needed to get outdoors and give myself some time to rebuild and heal, so immediately after returning from Iraq I took off on a multi-week surfing expedition to South Africa. How did the outdoors affect your life post service? We recently had the chance to sit down with Stacy and hear his story unfiltered. As a veteran the outdoors saved his life after service, and he has dedicated his life to helping others discover the health benefits of outdoor recreation. But more important than his many accomplishments, is the story he shares. Army Veteran, the Director of Sierra Club Outdoors, and was National Geographic’s 2014 Adventurer of the Year. Stacy Bare isn’t your average outdoor athlete.
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