Blogger Profile: Justin Chase

Justin is an avid naturalist, outdoorsman, and New England writer. He lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts with his wife, their two young boys, and wicked awesome dog, Gauge. If he’s not out paddling, hiking, climbing, or sharing the natural world with his sons, he’s probably at home writing about it.

Name, Age, where you are from? -Justin Chase, 38, Massachusetts What’s your most memorable adventure been? -The first time I took my sons hiking was pretty awesome. We walked a short loop through Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. They were super little back then and to share the experience was incredible. If you could adventure anywhere in the world for a week or two, where would you go? -I’d love to paddle the Inside Passage up into Alaska some day. It’s incredible out there. Who inspires you? -Julian Assange & Henry David Thoreau

What’s your favorite piece of gear? -My favorite piece of gear has got to be my little stainless steel thermos. Nothing beats a nice hot meal while on a trail or in my boat. It’s the little things that make a trip extra nice. I remember leading a group up Tuck’s in November. We stopped for lunch and everyone else gnawed on frozen Cliff Bars and stuff while I ate some nice hot noodles. Biggest peeve about gear? -I hate when people talk gear while out enjoying the world. I don’t give a crap about your carbon fiber paddle while I’m trying to listen to songbirds call from the shore. Talk to me back at the landing if you must. What songs makes you most stoked to play hard? -Anything from Creedence. Fogerty kicks ass, plus I love the irreverence of 60’s music. Throw some boats on the roof, roll down the windows and crank up Bad Moon Rising—now that’s a good day. Favorite food and drink post epic adventure? -Homemade bread. It’s the best stuff in the world. I pretty much only eat carbs. If your life was turned into a movie, what actor would play your role? -Beaker Genie gives you three wishes and you have five minutes to decide all three. What are they? -Give them all to sick kids—they need them more than me. If you could spend a year doing something that you have never, ever done, what would it be? -Peace Corp. Worst injury sustained from adventuring and how did you recover? -I got the bends (decompression sickness) real bad while SCUBA diving in Costa Rica. I recovered by ignoring the constant pain and pushing on with my life.

What the fastest speed you’ve ever gone under your own power, assisted by gravity? -56mph on my old Trek ZX down Killington back in the 1990s. What do you like most about KÜHL? -I like how Kühl stuff is modern, but not flashy. It’s a fine line to walk, and one Kühl does well.