Currently, I have two great things to be very thankful for: a GREAT man and an awesome mountain within an hour drive.
Since my birthday is in the next coming week, my man has been bugging me and wanting to know what in the world he is going to get me. Because I’m half stubborn and half indecisive, I always reply, “I don’t know” or “you don’t have to get me anything!” (Hoping that he’d take that last comment as a joke and actually get me something. 
Due to the fact that he is an avid snowboarder with a season pass, I guess he automatically turned to the possibility of a snowboarding day for him and I. He knows that I am rather cheap and refuse to pay the day-pass fee of nearly $60, so he used this as an opportunity for quite a lovely birthday present. However, it’s actually a huge change to be thinking about snowboarding at the end of April, because there is usually hardly any snow left up on the mountain! This year was an exception, though, since our mountain snowfall and level was the highest in history for this time of the year.
Looking ahead at the forecast, he knew that there would be a prime opportunity within this last weekend that would serve as a great day of snowboarding. That being said, last Sunday we headed up for our day, (or rather, my day) up on the mountain. When we arrived, we saw people in shorts, no shirts, people only wearing t-shirts, and even a guy in his boxers and skis! It was a whopping 54 degrees up atop the mountain, where it had been 14 degrees the last time I visited in January.
By the end of our day, we had taken off two layers of clothing, and still dealt with a sweaty day of unbelievably hot and sunny snowboarding. As a souvenir, I know have an excellent goggle tan and a rudolph-burned nose to remember my perfect birthday gift.
Most would agree that sporting goods can really cost us. The more I thought about this, the more angry I became. I thought about all the opportunities that an active, outdoor lifestyle bring to an individual’s life. Family time, healthy benefits, and a positive outlook on their environment—an active lifestyle should not be ran from because of the cost of products like shoes, warm clothing, or backpacks.
Purchasing a new travel backpack was a goal I had set out on about a year ago, but expensive prices from REI and other companies scared me away. Across the board, these backpacks seem to carry more than just your travel necessities—they seem to carry an insane price as well.
So when I came across this Osprey Porter pack, I was sold. Not because of its hauling capabilities or stylish look, but because of its extremely affordable price. Compared to some that can go for a whopping $300-400, the Osprey has a vastly comparison.
After purchasing the Osprey, I learned that,along with a great price, the pack was the total package. My backpack is very reliable, weather-proof, light and sustainable, and easily capable of carrying all my hiking necessities. :)
