The Grizzly Dude Adventures

August 27, 2011. ❤️

15 years ago, I watched the most beautiful and amazing woman walk down the aisle toward me… and my heart skipped a few beats.

But our story started long before that.

It started with one of the greatest pickup lines ever…

"Do you bite?"

A line I probably should've saved for the bear. 😂

She looked at me and responded…

"Grrrr."

I was equal parts in love and scared.

Who would've thought those three ridiculous little words would be the beginning of us?

Back then, we had no idea where life would take us. The mountains we'd climb, the storms we'd weather, or just how precious the good days would become.

You've seen me at my best and stood beside me at my absolute worst.

When life knocked me flat, you helped me find my feet.

You've put up with my crazy ideas, followed me on ridiculous adventures, built a life with me, raised two incredible little monsters… and you're still willing to pull potatoes beside me in the dirt. 😂❤️

That's love.

Not a perfect life.
Not an easy journey.

Just two people who keep choosing each other through all of it.

Joyce, you've seen my scars—the ones everyone sees and the ones that cut much deeper.

You've seen me broken, with barely anything left.

And when I couldn't see the light…

you were the light.

My rock. My reason. My purpose.

You gave me a reason to get back up and keep fighting, no matter how hard life fought back.

I don't know where I'd be without you.

Probably trying pickup lines on bears, hoping one agrees to a selfie. 😂

But I know where I want to be.

Beside you.

If I could go back 15 years knowing every scar, tear, battle, adventure and beautiful moment ahead of us…

I'd walk through every damn bit of it again, as long as I was walking it with you.

Not because our story is perfect.

Because it's ours. ❤️

Happy 15th Anniversary, honey.

You made my heart skip a beat in those high school hallways.

You made it pound walking down that aisle.

And 15 years later, it still skips a few beats every time I hear…

"What are you doing?" 😂

I loved you then.
I love you now.

And wherever this crazy life takes us next… I'll love you there too. ❤️

9 YEARS LATER.

Nine years ago, this place nearly ended my journey.

Yesterday, I walked back into it.

Not to prove anything to anyone.

I needed to prove something to myself.

It was a long hike in and an even longer hike out. Two good friends beside me, my bear-bait dog along for the adventure 😂🐕, a heavy pack, and a head full of memories waiting at the end of that trail.

There were moments when my body hurt and my mind questioned whether I still had it in me.

But I kept moving.

One. More. Step.

Eventually, I stood there again.

The place where everything changed.

Nine years ago, I left those mountains torn apart, bloody, broken, and fighting with everything I had to stay alive.

This time, I stood there on my own two feet.

Scarred.
Older.
Beat up.
But still standing.

And I realized something:

This place doesn't own me anymore.

The memories are still there. The scars are still there. And some of the fear will probably always be there.

But courage isn't living without fear.

It's looking fear straight in the face and moving forward anyway.

That's what this trip gave me — confidence.

Not confidence that nothing bad will ever happen again.

Confidence that whatever comes next, I'll find a way through it.

Before leaving, I put a geocache at the site with a sign-in book.

If you ever make the journey, leave something in those pages.

Why are you there?
What's your journey?
What knocked you down?
What are you fighting your way back from?

Because everyone is carrying something.

Some scars you can see.

Most you can't.

Nine years ago, I crawled out of those mountains fighting to survive.

Nine years later, I walked back in by choice.

And I walked back out with a little more confidence, a little more peace, and another piece of myself I thought I'd lost.

Life will knock you down.

Pick up the pieces.

One piece at a time.
One step at a time.
One day at a time.

You may never become the person you were before.

Maybe you're not supposed to.

Build someone stronger.

And someday, stand in the place that once broke you and say:

I'm still here.
I'm still moving.
And my journey isn't over.

RISE. THRIVE. ENDURE.

Nine years...

Who's up for a 35 km hike in a single day... carrying a few bags of cement? 💪🏔️

I've been thinking about making the trip back on the 9th-year anniversary to the place that changed my life forever. Not to relive the past... but to honour how far the journey has come.

The plan?

Hike back in, touch up the memorial, make sure the sign is still standing, and spend a few quiet moments where everything changed.

Some places leave scars.
Some places leave strength.
Sometimes... they're the very same place.

Who's crazy enough to join me? 😉

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Nothing beats a morning spent in the berry patch with the family. 🫐❤️

Picking Saskatoon berries sounds relaxing... until you've got a couple of little monsters who eat more than they pack and somehow manage to take more out of the bucket than you can pick! 😂

After a few rounds of "This is going to take forever!" and "Can we go get ice cream now?"—plus a whole lot of laughs and memories—we ended up with just over 70 lbs of Saskatoon berries in only 2 hours. About as long as those two could last. 😅

Life moves fast, and I sure enjoy moments like these.

🚨 SATURDAY ONLY • IN-PERSON ONLY! 🚨

This Saturday, stop by the Grizz Den at Country Living just outside Okotoks, AB and take advantage of these exclusive show specials!

🐻 GRIZZ DEFENDER – THIGH PACK
✔️ Outfitter Thigh Rig (Green or Hi-Vis Orange)
✔️ Your choice of a Beartooth or GrizzBlade knife
✔️ Bear Spray Included

💥 ONLY $249.99

🐻 GRIZZ DEFENDER – CHEST PACK
✔️ Outfitter Chest Rig (Green or Hi-Vis Orange)
✔️ Your choice of a Beartooth or GrizzBlade knife
✔️ Bear Spray Included

💥 ONLY $279.99

⚠️ These prices are available IN PERSON ONLY, this Saturday only, and while supplies last. No holds. No rain checks.

📍 Country Living (just outside Okotoks, AB)
🗓 Saturday, August 1
⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Come by, check out the Grizz Den, and gear up before your next adventure. See you Saturday! 🐻

Backcountry Hunting Hiking AdventureReady

🚨 The Grizz Den is hitting the road again! 🐻

If you're in the Okotoks area, come see us at Country Living & Garden Center just outside of Okotoks, Alberta!

📅 Saturday, August 1
🕘 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

We'll have special event pricing on:
🐻 Grizzly Dude Holsters
🛡️ Bear Spray

Whether you're gearing up for hunting season, hiking, camping, or just spending time in the outdoors, now's a great time to get prepared.

Stop by, say hello, check out the gear, and let's talk adventure. Hope to see you there!

Had to travel halfway around the world to Malaysia just to pick up my new face! 😂

Apparently, they were all out of the "slightly used but ruggedly handsome" model... so we'll see what they can do. 😅

Stay tuned... this could either be the greatest makeover in history or the biggest refund request ever! 🤣

🇲🇾✈️ TravelLaughs

Me and my little buddy are off on another adventure… well, the whole Grizz family is on the move again. 🌎🐻

New country. New ground to explore. New memories waiting to be made.

Life moves fast — too fast sometimes. That’s why these moments matter. The laughs, the chaos, the miles, and the memories.

Don’t wait for the “perfect time.”
Get up. Get out. Go explore.

Because the best stories are the ones you live.

CanYouBearIt