"I don’t like being out of my comfort zone. This is one of my major “character defects.” I’ve become acutely aware of it over the past couple of years, and have taken baby steps to address it. However, a few weeks ago, I stumbled across a post in the SOFlete Team Room that would be a perfect opportunity to aggressively address this defect: A four-day trip to Colorado to hike Mt. Sneffels with strangers from the internet.

A little background: I have not flown on an airplane since I was about 12 years old, I have never been to Colorado, I’ve never been up in the mountains, I have a slight fear of heights, and I have huge anxiety about meeting new people and wanting their acceptance.

I reached out to Doug from SOFLETE, explained my situation and after a bit of reassuring, I booked the trip. The next thing I knew I had flown to Colorado and we were in Ouray, Colorado and the adventuring was on.

We rented a Jeep and went up and down Black Bear Pass (there are no guard rails and the path is just wide enough for the jeep in some places), we rented mountain bikes and went down Prospect Trail (where I had a little too much fun and ate my shit pretty bad. I have the road rash as a souvenir), we went to a “clothing optional” hot springs (no, we didn’t partake in the optional part), and we climbed Mt. Sneffels (I made it to 14,000 ft but sadly, not the actual summit. I made the mistake of looking to my left when I was attempting to climb through the notch that accesses the summit and it was about a 100 foot fall with nothing to stop me. That and a vicious sleet storm rolled in which made the decision easier).

I am skipping a tremendous amount of details, but to say I had an amazing time would be an understatement. I did things I never thought I’d actually do and met amazing people. They were as friendly as could be and extremely supportive. Each of them are extremely impressive individuals and whether they know it or not, they introduced me to a whole different level of living life and I am indebted to them. Doug, Ben, Ryan, Allen, Katie, Robert, Mike and Holly, Thank you."

Mike could have stayed at home and never met the best eight new friends anyone could ask for, but he didn't and he got to see a side of himself and nature that very few get to experience in person. You don't have to be a Special Forces guy or Redbull athlete to hang out with us, you just have to have a good attitude and the desire to step outside your comfort zone. Take a lesson from "Mike" and put yourself out there, I bet you'll like what you find.