Step by Step Guide To Getting A Mountain Job (When You Don’t Already Live In The Mountains)

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Anyone who has ever tried to relocate on a whim will tell you that your biggest obstacle will be finding work, let alone if you relocate to a town between mountains with a population the size of your high school. That said, it’s been done before, and if the mountains truly call for you, it will be done again.

Like any job search, the key to landing your first mountain job before you’ve already moved to the mountains is preparation. Fortunately, we’ve developed a broad step-by-step guide for you to deploy in your job search and eventual move to the mountains.

Research

Whether you’ve chosen the Cascades, Catskills, the Smokies, or the Rockies as your new home, your first step in your move will be gaining an understanding of the local business community. Despite the cliche that mountain towns are all ski resorts and serving jobs, different regions will provide different opportunities.

Boulder, CO, for example, offers direct access to the heart of the Rockies but it also offers a distinct and bustling entrepreneurial tech scene. Meanwhile, neighboring Nederland (only a couple miles up the canyon) suffers a job draught until festival season comes around. Are you looking at a seasonal retreat or a year-round business destination? It’s important to know before you go.

A quick Google search will provide you with insight into what industries thrive in the mountain town of your craving. But don’t mistake yourself into thinking that just because almost every Colorado town contains some semblance of a cannabis industry, you’re destined to be a kingpin. Weigh your existing experience against the needs of the local industry. Don’t know the needs? Find out. Don’t have any experience? Take note, because you’ll be starting further down the totem pole.

Prepare Your Resume

There are countless examples of effective resumes on the Internet, so we won’t go into that here. However, we had ought to discuss audience. While you might think that mountain-town people are just as care-free as John Denver would have you imagine, business owners are still business owners. They’re happy to provide opportunities to people looking to grow, but require reliability and specific sets of skills.

If you’re applying to be a fire watcher over the Summer, your after-college job at the sandwich shop probably won’t catch anyone’s attention. However, that position you held as a camp counselor will exhibit your sense of duty, level of responsibility, and overall adulthood. No one wants an immature kid to be the one standing between their town and a towering inferno.

Step into the shoes of your hiring manager and think about what you’d expect from an employee were you the one making the hiring decisions. Maybe it doesn’t align with your experience. The best you can do is reframe your standard resume to match your best guess. That, in itself, will be a valuable exercise.

Prepare Cover Letter(s)

Your cover letter is your opportunity to sell yourself or, in some circumstances, plead your case. Considering an in-person interview is out of the cards as someone applying from out-of-city, what you write here had ought to equal out to the smoothest interview you’re capable of undergoing. Don’t restate your resume. Instead, provide a specific account of what makes you unique against the rest of the applicants, specifically against those who have the capability to walk down the road and shake the manager’s hand as early as next week. This is where that research will have come into play. Customizing each cover letter to the business in question will help you stand out. Don’t rule out scouring LinkedIn for an appropriate addressee’s name.

Consider getting creative, telling a story instead of writing a plain introduction. Eventually, you’ll need to explain that you’re inquiring from a distance. Use that opportunity to express your passion and willingness to get involved with the community. The last thing anyone wants is a fair-weather employee. They need to know that this isn’t just a gig to you but rather your in-road to a bevy of relationships and experiences. When you live in a small mountain town, almost everybody knows almost everybody, and communal values develop as a result. You should be willing to align yourself with those values for the better of the town as a whole.

Most importantly, include a call to action at the end of your correspondence. Something like, “If you’re interested in discussing the position more, I’d love to schedule a time for a Skype interview or phone call.”

Blitz Availabilities

Start far in advance (6+ months if you’re seeking a seasonal-dependent position) and begin applying to everything you see. Obviously, the best resource for that is Mountainjobs.com, but don’t let that rule out opportunities only available on sites like usajobs.gov, which is where you’ll find government positions. Likewise, the National Park Service will post jobs to different job boards, but they’ll all ultimately lead back to nps.gov. Another great place to watch is WOOOF, which facilitates short and long-term homestay opportunities. It’s important to key a watchful eye on new opportunities across various resources, both broad and narrow in their scope.

But don’t stop with posted job opportunities. Continue to research individual organizations and companies, seeking out the decision-makers, sometimes even calling just to ask for someone’s contact information, and shooting them emails. The best practice is to first introduce yourself, then ask permission to send a resume (don’t want to appear presumptuous). You’ll be surprised how often guerilla applications like this work. They show you’re eager and willing to go out of your way for the position at hand.

Follow-Up or Consider Plan B

Not every business will welcome follow-up emails. In fact, some warn against it. However, there’s little to lose if you submitted an online application a couple of weeks ago and haven’t yet heard back. Track down the manager’s information and let them know that you’re still interested in the position and wonder if there is anything else they might need from you.

Should all else fail, consider a Plan B. No, that doesn’t mean letting go of your dream to move to the mountains. Instead, it means readdressing your approach. Sure, everyone’s parents have told them to have a new position set in stone before leaving one behind, but perhaps you’ll have better luck living the unconventional life. Stash some money away and the make move anyway, intent on find work when you get there. Or, even better, embrace the gig economy for a short time. Drive for taxi apps or freelance your skills out to area businesses. Often, the latter will get you the foot you need in the door in order to secure a position down the line.

Most of all, make it work for you. The mountains are filled with people who left everything behind in hopes of getting themselves closer to nature, and they surely encountered difficulty along the way. But like all the other animals inhabiting the mountainside, their resilience paved their way.

The 5 Best Mountain Towns To Work In—And Here’s Why

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Fresh powder, wide open skies, and the not-so-distant peak watching over you from breakfast to bed. That’s the dream for many and the reality for a brave few. They’re spread out across the bases of the world’s most lumbering mountains, working ski lifts, serving drinks, and blazing trails, all with lungs full of fresh mountain air. But before any of those transplanted mountain folk considered buying their first down jacket, they had to choose which little high-altitude community into which they would nestle themselves, and maybe more importantly, how.

It’s not insider knowledge that mountain towns match their high quality of life with an equally high cost of living. You cannot simply walk onto the streets of a resort town and call it home. There’s astronomical rent with which to keep up and relatively fewer number of skilled work opportunities (at least compared against metropolitan areas). Fortunately, there are always hourly jobs to keep you afloat while you sink into the mountain lifestyle. If you’re considering leaving your flat life behind for one in the mountains, then first consider the top 5 best mountains towns in which to work and call home.

          Aspen, CO

The most classic of all ski resort towns, Aspen, Colorado and its sister Snowmass Village sports one of the most bustling hospitality industries in the United States. Home-away-from-home to the likes of Jimmy Buffett and Jeff Bezos, Aspen certainly maintains a ritzy appearance, but it requires a hoard of locals to keep it going. That’s where you come in.

When you’re not hitting the slopes at one of the four mountains in town—Buttermilk, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Snowmass—you will be developing your own community at one of its countless breweries (as is second-nature in Colorado). Upon waking up and hydrating, you’ll go to your gig providing for the town’s uber-classy needs. Think: interior designer specialized in old-growth wood furnishings. Or, if that’s not your scene, you can teach visiting kids how to “pizza” and “french fry” while their parents hit the black diamonds above. Either way, you’ll engage in the local culture, which is, for or for worse, build around the resort, while retaining that Rocky Mountain High you so crave.

Talkeetna, AK

If you’re really looking to escape the monotony of “The Lower 48,” there’s no better place to go than Alaska. In the shadow of North America’s highest peak, Mt. McKinley, sits the little gold-rush town turned lodge town of Talkeetna. You won’t have much in the way of nightlife in this town of 879, but you will have Denali National Park at your doorstep.

To say Denali is expansive would be an understatement. It’s the third-largest national park in the United States, spanning upwards of four-million square acres. Inside, there are elk to track, mountains to alpine, and endless expanses of backcountry to explore. What’s more, the median cost of living there falls just above national averages. You can land a studio apartment for somewhere between $600 and $700, which means you’ll only need to work a handful of hours a week at one of the many lodges dotting the park in order to get by. There are also seasonal positions available at the park, itself, which will not only get you out into the country as a wilderness guide but will also outfit you with complimentary lodging. You’ll live out the true mountaineer experience (at least for a Summer).

Hood River, OR

Just an hour up the Columbia River Gorge from Portland sits the kite-surfing capital of the world: Hood River. At the confluence of the Columbia and the Hood River and underneath Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, you’ll find this quaint community built around sports tourism and the regional fruit industry. Apple wine, craft cider, and plain ole pears—you’ll find all kinds of work surrounding the cultivation, processing, production, and sale of such staples. Stories sprinkle the town of once-new-residents developing businesses all their own around the rainforest-like climate and its bounty. Perhaps, there is a burgeoning business waiting for you in this otherwise untapped economy (at least compare to Aspen).

If that isn’t your speed, it’s not unheard of to live in Hood River and commute to Portland a couple days a week. The New York Times recently ran a story about the number of cranes dotting its skyline in an attempt to underline the extent of economic growth at the drainage basin of the Columbia River. If you’re willing to compromise, you can combine the mountain-town lifestyle with metropolitan career opportunities.

Ligonier, PA

As we’ve already alluded to, part of the decision to move into the mountains must include the cost-of-living. For residents of Ligonier, PA, they get the best of both worlds: low cost of living and easy access to the underrated Laurel Highlands, part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range. Though you won’t find any Winter X-Games events in this region, you will find boundless backpacking opportunities, including the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.

Rent prices remain low, but you’ll of course need to secure work ahead of time. Fortunately, Pennsylvania and especially the neighboring city of Pittsburgh are big on community service. You don’t need to enroll yourself in AmeriCorps to find a position lending a hand to the notoriously underserved Appalachian communities, whether that means working at a clinic or after-school organization. The Laurel Highlands are the place for you to flex both your calves as well as your heart.

Steamboat Springs, CO

There are probably 10 other Colorado towns include on this list of 5 Best Mountain Towns To Work In (and probably another 10 in Alaska, California, and Oregon). However, they would all be a duplicate of the Aspen model: a classic small community thriving off of the local resort. Steamboat Springs stands out from the pack by maintaining a multi-generational sense of culture. Sure, it has its fair share of ski lodges, more often frequented by Boulder-and-Denverites than Midwesterners, but underneath it all resides community bonds seemingly sprung up from the rock like the waters from which it takes its name.

Moving to Steamboat, you could grab yourself the typical mountain job as a resort worker, ski instructor, or server, but you could also find yourself amongst the ranks of locals catering to visitors at independently-run ranches. Or, you could ingratiate yourself at the annual torchlit ski run or Winter Wondergrass Festival, two events that exemplify the undercurrent of homegrown culture that will be here long after the tourists leave.

Honorable Mentions:

Taos, NM – Home to adobe homes, indigenous peoples, and a thriving arts culture, Taos often serves as a refuge to those looking to escape Colorado mountain towns in favor of something more peaceful. Sound familiar?

Chattanooga, TN – Built on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains, Chattanooga offers access to mountain forests as well as a bustling foodie scene.

Boone, NC – Just outside illustrious Asheville, Boone builds itself around the hospitality industry, meaning there are plenty of jobs waiting for you when you get back from the hills.

Lewisburg, WV – Clocking in below even Talkeetna and Ligonier in terms of cost of living, Lewisburg offers a similar experience to other Eastern mountain towns at West Virginian prices.

Palm Springs, CA – Some might not consider it a mountain town, but what do you call those big rocky things rising just outside of town? Come for Coachella. Stay for the heat.

The Smart Snowboard is Here

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Much has changed since the snowboard was originally introduced in the mid-70s. 

A new life style developed and the winter sports were changed for good. But the snowboard stayed the pretty much same. Materials improved significantly but the basic concept and the way the training is conducted stayed the same.

For nearly half a century, the only way for snowboarders to improve upon their skills was to study other more experienced and prolific riders, and attempt to replicate the moves on their own.  Through endless hours of, practice, and failure, a rider can eventually nail a flawless performance, but the pathway to success is muddled with a long chain of tiny details, insider tips and tricks, and unquantifiable adjustments that are difficult to explain or impossible to identify. 

The time has come for a change. You will now be able to fast-track your path to performance. We are developing the first high-tech gadget that will transform any regular snowboard into a smart snowboard.

SG20 is a high-tech device designed to model every move, every adjustment, and every angle of your snowboard 15 times per second, and deliver high resolution graphics and details on what you’re doing well and what you need to improve.

Whether you are a beginner or intermediate rider, the SG20 can serve as a digital instructor, helping you make adjustments and improvements on the fly. You can use it to learn from your friends, or even learn new tricks directly from celebrity snowboarders around the world

We are creating a digital community of snowboard riders. Proficient riders will be designated by vote and top-ranking riders will be able to contribute to our advanced riding skills library. And guess what … if you are really good and many riders want to learn your riding style, you can get paid for you contribution.

We have something in store for the advanced riders as well.

If you are an advanced rider you can compete with others like you, and use the SG20 as a referee. You can compete with your friends on the mountain, but you can also compete with anybody from around the world who is using the SG20.

The SG20 riding community will be connected to social media. You will be able to learn new tricks form the pros, share your skills with anybody interested in learning your riding style, and challenge anyone to a riding contest anywhere across the globe.

Similar to an interactive computer game but based in reality and played for real in the snow, the SG20 allows you the opportunity to play in real-time against real riders. No CGI or artificial intelligence needed, just you, the snow, your board, and the SG20 to bring you all the action.

As you advance in the ranks, you will accumulate more points and rise in the ranking system.  Rank high enough, and other riders will want to learn your style.  The more riders who want to learn your style, the faster you become a pro, and when you become a pro, you get paid by the SG20 system in cash, not points

The SG20 system will share live data regarding snow and slopes condition based on riding characteristics and provide all gathered data on a virtual map. For example, any time a rider hits a hidden patch of ice or dirt, the SG20 will lock the coordinates, plot the spot on the virtual map, and send alerts to all riders using our app. Riders who venture into an unsafe area will be sent an instant warning to their smartwatch or SG20 bracelet. The warning system will also alert if there is a traffic jam or other obstacle ahead beyond view.  Safety is a priority for the SG20 community.

With an anticipated launch of December of 2019, the SG20 team is making final adjustments to this new high-tech gadget.  We are finalizing the design and adding capabilities before heading off to production.

The SG20 team needs your feedback. We are reaching out to the snowboarding community to help us uncover improvements that can be made and features that should be added before we move on to the final design.

Click on the link below! Be part of the community developing this revolutionary snowboarding gadget and help us make history.

Members will be able to buy the SG20 at half price.

www.snowgear20.com/developershub/

A Guide To Success In The Hospitality Industry

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The hospitality sector includes 4 specific core areas, within which there are sub-sectors, including bars, hotels, restaurants, conference and events, theme/amusement parks, travel services, and even more beyond that. Whether you’re currently already part of this sector, or you’re looking for employment in this field, there are always ways you can improve your performance to aid in a successful career and really make the most of your work.

Create the Best Experience with Attention to Detail

When you enter into the hospitality field, the top priority is always to ensure that guests have the best possible experience. The best way to do this is to stay hyper-focused on the details of the establishment and its interactions with patrons. From special personal touches, like fresh flowers, to keeping a high industry standard with thoroughly cleaned spaces. Don’t forget personal interactions; treat everyone as their own person, not a number or just another person in line. It’s the details that really make an experience and keep people coming back.

Stay Up to Date with Eagerness to Learn New Things

Another necessary key to success in this industry is to stay up to date with the wants and needs of your consumers. This is a rapidly growing, fast-paced field, and things are always changing, so be willing to learn new things and change right along with it. If your facility or service is dated and doesn’t offer what’s necessary, there’s not as much incentive for people to frequent your establishment. It’s important to stay relevant, so keep up with trends.

Keep Consumers Safe with Preparedness

Even with a modern facility and nice details, if your area of service is not prepared for emergencies, it could really negatively impact the facility. Even though it’s not especially common, emergencies of all kinds can pop up at any point, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared to step up to any situation- weather, injuries, or otherwise. Staying calm and knowing what to do will not only keep everyone, yourself included, safe, but it will also bolster and uphold your reputation.

Working with and for people may not be for everyone, but if it’s something you’re interested in doing long-term, success depends on your dedication and positivity. It can be very challenging at times, but it can also be a very rewarding industry to be involved in.

6 Unique Engineering Jobs You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

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Studying engineering opens doors to a range of different job opportunities. While some jobs in the petroleum and construction industries are pretty well known, others don’t get their fair share of attention. Armed with a mechanical engineering degree, you can search engineering jobs and find opportunities in industries that are vastly different. For instance, a qualified mechanical engineer can land a job working as a medical engineer developing medical equipment or choose to travel the world as a Formula 1 racing engineer, attending Grand Prix events. The opportunities truly are endless. To help you lock on to an engineering job you would love to do for the rest of your life, the following are 6 interesting engineering jobs that are high paying and interesting.

Online Privacy Engineer: The role of a privacy engineer is to find software solutions to implement a company’s privacy policy. Most major online players such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others have multiple job openings for privacy engineers. As the threat of hacking grows in the future, the role and opportunities in privacy engineering are only going to increase.

To land a job as a privacy engineer you need a BS in computer engineering with a diploma in privacy engineering. A CIPT certification is often mandatory along with strong software development skills.

Preservation Engineer: Preservation engineering is a branch of structural engineering and architecture. The job entails preserving and restoring the structural integrity of old heritage buildings. Preservation engineers often work to preserve a single building as restoring and maintaining certain buildings needs constant attention.

Special Effects Engineer: The role of a special effects engineer is to design mechanical and hydraulic systems necessary for practical special effects in movies and television shows. The job requires a degree in mechanical engineering with a diploma in mechanical FX. The fun aspect of the job is the opportunity to create custom rigs using the combined principles of animatronics and robotics.  

Toy Engineer: Large multinational toy manufacturers such as Mattel routinely look for freshers with mechanical and manufacturing engineering degrees. Apart from designing new toys, engineers are also responsible for making manufacturing systems that can produce them at a factory level. However, being surrounded by toys all day but not being able to play with them can turn out to be a bummer.

Sustainable Architect/Engineer: For engineers who want to work towards making the world a better place, sustainable architecture can be a great career path. The role of a sustainable engineer is to design and oversee the construction of buildings that do not negatively affect the environment. This can mean the careful selection of sustainable building materials as well as finding energy efficient electrical components. The job of a sustainable engineer also involves implementing smart solar solutions that seamlessly blend in with the architecture.

Brake Engineer: Did you know there are specialized engineers for designing braking systems for supercars and bikes? These engineers are responsible for designing new mechanical and hydraulic braking systems that go everything from snowmobiles to fighter jets. A degree is mechanical engineering is often the basic requirement to secure job as a product engineer for a brake manufacturer.

Traveling and Outdoor Adventure with a Tactical Backpack

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You are reading this article because you are inquisitive, bold and love nothing more than a trip to unknown destinations, you see no national boundaries and share a common lust for wanderlust, right? The idea of spending a vacation doing grueling outdoor work, adding the threat of grizzly bears and creepy-crawlies, can be daunting for most people, but not to anyone who has spent enough time camping and hiking in the backcountry.  The anticipation of finding those hidden trails and streams that no one has been to for years, pulls your imagination into the outdoor adventure you have been waiting for.

But we all know that while traversing the great outdoors is absolutely exhilarating, anything that could go wrong, probably will, and that is when you truly appreciate the value of packing crucial gear such as a map, compass, flashlight, knife, first-aid supplies, firestarter, matches and extra food.  Gear that could be essential to your survival.

Planning the perfect trip can be daunting, not to mention overwhelming, and the more you plan your trip, the more anxious and confused you get. You think of almost everything, but you forget one of the most important things, to pick a top quality backpack for your trip.  And that old school backpack you had in college, that is now sitting in the back of your closet collecting dust, is just not going to cut it.  There are also so many backpacks on the market today that they all start to sound and look the same.  Not to mention that most of the well known outdoor brands charge well over $200 for their basic model backpacks.  And they all seem so flimsy.  They feel like they would tear apart in any sort of heavy use.

So depending on where you will be traveling, and for how long, remember that if your rucksack is of low quality, it’s going to wear out as you travel. If this has happened to you before, then it’s time to get a military-grade backpackthat isnot onlydurable, long-lasting, and water-resistant, but also has the following characteristics that will help it stay in good condition for years no matter how much you or the elements throw at it. In comes the SERGEANT Tactical Backpack.

Military-Grade Product Specs:

  • The SERGEANT tactical backpack is 22 inches tall, 12 inches wide and 10 inches deep. It is made from the highest quality and strongest military-grade material which is water and rainproof resistant 1050D Ballistic Nylon and includes Triple-Stitched Molle webbing, UTX Duraflex Buckles, and YKK Self-Repairing Zippers.
  • For extra sturdiness, the Sergeant assault backpack comes with an internal frame sheet for added strength, a protected laptop compartment, sternum and waist strap, 3 drainage grommets, 2 water bottle holders, fleece lined sunglass and device compartment, name tape holder and flag holder, and a hydration pocket with protected port.
  •  The sergeant tactical bag serves various functions where you can use it not only for all your outdoor adventures but also as an everyday carry bag, daypack, a camera bag, go bag, a bugout bag, school backpack, laptop bag, concealed carry backpack, hydration backpack, and much more.
  • At an affordable price this tactical backpack from sergeant has a Lifetime Warranty, which guarantees against defects in craftsmanship and materials for the life of the item for your 100% satisfaction.

Whether your trip is for a few days, a few weeks weeks or an around-the-world adventure, choosing the best travel backpack for your needs is as important as what you put in it. Keeping your travel gear safe and secure can mean the difference between making the mories that will last a lifetime or making the memories you can’t wait to forget.  Your SERGEANT tactical backpack will become your new best friend carrying your gear while you navigate the world, so whatever you do today, make visiting https://www.amazon.com/SERGEANT-Military-Tactical-Backpack-Ballistic/dp/B07JR3ZSRC a priority and begin traveling with one of the most rugged, reliable and trusted tactical backpacks on the market.  When it matters most, SERGEANT has your back.  Have a great adventure!

What You Need to Know Before Moving to a Mountain Town

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When you look back throughout history, you can find dozens of examples of great people who were inspired by awesome landscapes. And although there are many places you can find awe in nature – the coast, forests, and prairies – nowhere can quite compare to the majesty of the mountains.

But for many people, especially those trapped in the city, moving to the mountains can seem like a distant dream – a total one hundred and eighty-degree turnaround from their current lifestyle.

Mountain living presents many challenges and opportunities. Here’s what you need to know before you move to a mountain town.

The Air Is Cleaner And The Water Purer

The majority of Americans live in cities with high levels of air pollution. The particles from motor vehicles, especially diesel-powered cars and trucks, can damage the lining of the lungs, leading to asthma, bronchitis and even an increased incidence of cancer. As episodes in towns like Flint show, water purity can also be an issue.

But in the mountains, miles from the nearest big, polluting industrial center, the air is clean and the water pure.

The Communities Are Tightly Knit

Mountain towns tend to host tightly-knit communities: groups of people who are comfortable to rely on each other to make life more enjoyable and comfortable. Unlike in the cities, you are expected to get to know your neighbors and spend a lot of time talking with them. Things can get tough in the mountains, so you need a network of people you can rely on to see you through the harshest conditions.

It’s A Less Stressful Lifestyle

In the city, there’s a lot of pressure to succeed and rise to the top of one’s occupation. But out in the mountains, there is no such pressure: most people choose a role in the local community and stick with it for the long term.

Few people who live in mountain towns commute, so there’s none of the stress of sitting in traffic or sharing public transport. And, in general, there’s less noise and light pollution – especially helpful if you’re somebody who struggles with insomnia.

It’s More Affordable

Living in a mountain town tends to be more affordable than living in the city, thanks to much lower demand for things like housing and food. You’re likely to spend far less on entertainment too. Rather than shelling out for the theatre or a restaurant meal, you can simply take a stroll on your local trail, bring your mountain bike out for a ride, or put on your skis and enjoy your local slopes.

The Roads Can Be Harsh

Because so few people live in mountain towns and the terrain is so rugged, roads can be harsh, especially during the winter. It’s not uncommon for mountain towns to be cut off from the outside world for weeks at a time if the snowfall is heavy enough. Before moving to a mountain town, prepare physically and mentally for the fact that you may not be able to leave your house for several days at a time. If you do decide to move to the mountains, make sure that you’ve got adequate food supplies to keep you going, should the local store close. Also, invest in a 4×4 vehicle equipped with snow tires to make mountain driving as safe as possible.

Difficult Weather Conditions

Elevation brings with it a whole host of weather issues, from plunging temperatures at night to fog and sudden downpours of rain. If you move to a mountain town, expect strong winds, plenty of snow, and extreme cold during the winter months.

It’s Safer

Although crime in cities has been falling since the crime peak of the 1980s, you’re still much more likely to be a victim of crime in a city than you are in a small mountain town. Most mountain towns comprise small numbers of relatively affluent and stable people who have their neighbor’s interests at heart. Although crime does happen, it’s far rarer, meaning that you don’t have to spend as much money securing your property, or emotional energy worrying about it.

There’s Less Traffic

Traffic accidents kill more people under the age of forty than anything else. There’s much more traffic in the city, and a higher likelihood of being hurt in an accident, compared to mountain towns, making the latter a far safer option.

There Are Many Sporting Opportunities

Mountain towns often double up as tourist resorts for skiers, bikers, and hikers. But unlike tourists who only have a few days to enjoy the mountains, those who live year-round there get to enjoy them all the time. If you love outdoor or winter sports, then the mountains are an ideal place to live.

You May Have To Fend For Yourself

Because so many mountain communities are a long way from major population centers, utilities and services may be unreliable. For instance, bus services might not run during the winter months, or they may only run on certain days of the week. Stores may not be stocked during certain parts of the year or may find it difficult to supply the goods that you need consistently. Electricians and plumbers might live many miles away and only willing to travel to you if you pay their travel expenses.

You may also struggle to get access to medical care. Facilities may be located far away which may be a problem for people suffering from chronic conditions or who need immediate medical attention to manage their health, day to day.

There Are Limited Job Opportunities

Although people who live in mountain towns enjoy a lower stress lifestyle, finding work can be difficult. Many mountain towns do not support enough jobs for all the people who live there. The jobs that they do supply, mostly based in retail and tourism, tend to be less lucrative than those available in the city. But almost anyone can find a basic job at a ski resort to get the financial ball rolling.

It Can Be Depressing

If you’re somebody who is energized by being around people, then being in the mountains can be a lonely experience. Work is often solitary  (although not always), and it’s not uncommon to spend long periods alone, without interacting with anyone.

If you live in a tourist resort, the off-season can be particularly long and uneventful, and you may go a long time between social gatherings. Furthermore, because people usually only stay in mountain towns for a few weeks at a time, it can be hard to develop meaningful, long-term relationships.

Word Gets Around

One of the benefits of living in a big city is your anonymity. You can mess up your job or your relationships, but there usually aren’t any long-term social consequences: you just find a new place to work or new people to spend time with, and the problem goes away. But in mountain towns word can get around when you mess up, and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to pick up where you left off somewhere else.

You can deal with this in a couple of ways: ignore what other people think of your lifestyle and get on with it, or continuously bear in mind how the community might perceive your actions. Most of the time, you’ll want to do whatever helps you fit in with others by avoiding anything particularly controversial or anti-establishment. Put simply, it’s a good idea to be nice to everybody you meet.

You’ll Need To Learn To Plan Ahead

Big cities are incredibly convenient, offering practically every service at a moment’s notice. Forgot to pick up groceries from the store on the way home? No bother – just pick up your smartphone and get somebody to deliver them for you. Don’t have a battery for your torch? Just pop out of your apartment to the convenience store around the block for a new one.

Life in the mountains isn’t like this at all. Grocery shopping is a significant event – something that you’ll need to plan for, as the nearest supermarket can be many miles away. Often, the simple act of shopping requires an entire day dedicated to it and is something that you may only want to do once or twice a month.

Many people who live in the mountains share cars for shopping trips to save on fuel. They also plan menus weeks in advance, making sure that they’ve got everything they need in the pantry and the refrigerator ahead of time. You’ll also need to factor in the risk of poor weather preventing you from leaving your home.

The Mountains Will Challenge Your Fitness Levels

Living at elevation can be tough on your body because of the thin atmosphere. If you’re unfit, the lack of oxygen can prevent you from getting your breath and enjoying your leisure time. Before moving to the mountains, you need to make sure that you’re in good physical shape. Start jogging, running or resistance training in the weeks and months beforehand. You may also want to change your diet to help get rid of any excess weight that could make it for difficult to go hiking or biking.

How Technology is Helping People Share the Outdoors

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Technology is all around us these days and it seems like there is an app to help share almost anything from car rides to spare rooms to clothing.  However, the outdoors are a little different.  Can technology really help folks share the outdoors.  We recently found a company trying to do just that.

Sometimes it’s nice to plan and discover outdoor adventures on your own.  But let’s admit it, it’s usually better when someone can show you where the most fantastic destinations are.  That’s why the founders of Gear Easy launched an outdoor adventure marketplace.  We caught up with Jason, one of the founders who explained “When I’m traveling in a new area or even my own backyard there are a lot of great outdoor activities that only a few locals really know about”.  Jason continued “we grew tired of the crowds at popular outdoor areas and were looking for a way to access more authentic destinations without hiring an expensive touristy guide company, and we noticed there were very few options”.

While Gear Easy isn’t the first company to go into this space, they are quickly becoming one of the largest. In just a few months since launching they have hundreds of registered outdoor guides in the U.S. offering outdoor activities as small as 1-2 hour hikes in the Utah mountains to week long treks through the Appalachians, all hosted by local guides. “We saw most of the competition were focused on established and expensive large outdoor guiding companies who already had a presence on the web.  Gear Easy’s focus is just the opposite, we offer more authentic adventures from real locals, many who guide part-time or as a hobby, at a much lower prices.  The positive response has been overwhelming because people value true experiences over cookie-cutter packaged tours” Jason stated.

Research shows Gear Easy might be onto something.  Millennials, America’s largest generation by population, are soon to enter their earning prime. With a majority of this generation now in the workforce, they currently command an estimated $1.3 trillion in annual consumer spending. Where will this generation direct their wallets?

Eventbrite’s nationwide research of millennials (defined as Americans born 1980-1996) conducted by Harris, reveals this generation not only highly values experiences, but they are increasingly spending time and money on them: from concerts and social events to athletic pursuits, to cultural experiences and events of all kinds.  Often, the authenticity of an experience matters, and buying a one-of-a-kind offering versus something mass market has an increasing appeal to customers.  In the technology enabled sharing economy, these types of customized products and services can often be offered straight from the creator or host at a much lower price.

Gear Easy’s marketplace is not without its flaws.  As with any sharing technology platforms, you could have a bad experience due to a non-professional guide or narrow minded customer.  The company has implemented customer ratings, instant chat and electronic waiver system along with scheduling technology to help ensure guides meet customer expectations.  They also encourage guides and customers to be safe and have the appropriate insurance and communication habits when adventuring in the outdoors.  At the end of the day, Gear Easy is a great platform, but all of the guides are independent service providers.  Even with the shortcomings and risks that come with sharing technology platforms, guides on the Gear Easy platform are excited.  Sean an outdoor guide offering day hikes said “I’ve spent years developing my outdoor knowledge and skills, Gear Easy gives me an opportunity to earn money doing something I already love to do and share my favorite hikes with like minded people.” When asked what he thought about the platform he replied “it works for me, it’s simple, and they take care of all the scheduling and transaction stuff so I can focus on giving my customers a great experience.”

Customers seem to like the concept as well.  The idea of being able to book in advance or on the spot brings a lot of flexibility to travelers.  When we spoke with Kate, who recently booked a wildlife tour with her friend, she said “it was one of the best parts of our trip because the activity was something I would never had found if I were just looking at traditional travel information.”  She explained that she was able to book the activity the day before and was able to chat with the guide right on the platform about the trip before paying.  She also had to sign a waiver just like with other activities she did during her week long trip, but she was able to fill it out and sign it right on the iPhone before they started.  Kate said she would definitely use Gear Easy again.

When asked about what’s next Gear Easy, Jason shed some light on their plans “we are focusing on taking care of our guides and customers.  This means improving our technology and customers service so users keep coming back.” He then elaborated “Gear Easy’s mission is to deliver peak outdoor experiences, or in other words, experiences that people dream about and keep them engaged in the outdoors.”  “We aim to evolve our outdoor experience platform to where adventures, gear and content all come together in one place for our customers, all backed by technology and advanced analytics.” He ended with “we are excited about the space and believe there will be increasing demand that can be satisfied by great service and simplicity oriented technology.  We are concentrating on the U.S. but when the time is right we will offer services internationally.”

We will see where all this goes, it’s definitely exciting to see how technology can bring people together to experience the outdoors.  If you are looking for an interesting adventure or you think you might enjoy being an outdoor guide, then you may want to look at Gear Easy.

Best Growing Companies to Work For in Utah

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Business in Utah has grown dramatically in the past decade. What was once a state known primarily for its beautiful natural scenery is now known as one of the best states in which to do business. In recent years, Utah has earned the nickname “Silicon Slopes” due to the amount of information technology, software development, and hardware manufacturing businesses that have been founded in or have relocated to the beehive state.

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How Do Trail Cameras Work?

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Most people want to know how do trail cameras work? Trail cameras are used for many different thing including hunters for tracking game, for animal viewing, for security purposes and for taking stills and making videos in the forest.

Due to a number of benefits, these cameras offer their users high-quality sensors, automatic sensing and still capturing as well as high-quality video making.

Trail cameras have a capability to work with a preset program that determines the quality, nature, and kinds of images or video that the user needs to capture.

Sometimes, for the beginners or the newbies who have never used a trail camera before it may be hard to understand how it works or how can they make the best out of their best trail camera under 150 that have certain features they may not know well.

It is better to understand how the main features and functions can help you get the required still pictures in a productive way without getting any blurs and missed target.

There are different kinds of trail cameras found on the market include:

  • Digital trail camera
  • Motion activated cameras
  • Night cameras
  • Security cameras and
  • Wi-Fi or wireless cameras

All these kinds of trails cameras come up with certain features that assure to capture the required images, time-lapse photos or videos in order to provide the detailed imagery that is required within the specified period of time.

The main features that make a trail camera work at its best include:

The auto-capturing functions and features

  • Preset recording options
  • Image quality
  • Memory limit
  • Light settings
  • Night viewing capability
  • Easy controls and buttons
  • The accuracy of sensing motion or sensors

You can select the kind of trail camera you need depending on the purpose for which you need it and make sure to specify the features you are looking for.

How to set up and use the trail camera?

Here are some basic things you need to know about how these trail cameras work for you:

  • Decide on the best location for the camera where you will mount it for capturing the stills or for recording videos so that you would not miss your target.
  • Make sure the mounting place is safe and is located at the correct angle so that you can get the exact viewpoint of your target.
  • Adjust the light settings and image quality and kind of images you would need. You can set the preferences in case if you need stills or videos within the time span that you will set on it.

Stills take lesser memory whereas continuous videos may require more battery power and memory so you need to make sure your camera has the capability to support the functions.

You may also go for a flashlight if you need clearer images but infrared detection is more beneficial if you don’t want to alarm the target by using a light.

When the camera is set up depending on your preferred settings, it stays ready to sense the motion and capture the images as soon as the target approaches. Make sure it has the sufficient battery life to provide the functions you need.

It is better to rule out the sensor faults by accurately setting up the level of motion that is to be detected in order to make sure the movement in bushes or movement caused by wind is not captured which is unnecessary.

The trail cameras promise to let you record the videos within the time or take the clear shot or still images of the target so that you can examine and analyze your target easily. They can give you a better understanding of the area you are exploring with clear pictures.

These cameras are also good for animal viewing and for studying the habitat of the wildlife. The quality and accuracy of the trail camera matter a lot because if the sensors and the image quality is not good, you may nto eb able to get the required images and videos to examine or study what you need and it will only be a waste of money.