All posts by Robert Payne

Multichannel marketing and communications professional with a proven ability to deliver award-winning campaigns that inspire action from difficult to reach and discerning audiences. • I’ve exceeded benchmarks time and again across programmatic and social media buys. • Empowered sales teams with tightly integrated lead funnels and lifecycle management solutions leveraging Salesforce.com. • Know how to craft a compelling narrative and have won over a dozen video production awards in the past 5 years. • Served on both the interactive agency and client side, and I am a highly capable sparring partner for any marketing professional whether B2B or B2C. Most recently, I helped the Georgia Department of Economic Development attract new business both domestically and in 12 strategic markets around the globe. In the 7 years I ran Georgia’s global marketing efforts, we were selected as the #1 State for Business by Site Selection magazine, and its database of site consultants, for an unprecedented 7 years in a row. Jobs and investment grew steadily YOY due to a healthy pipeline of prospects. In addition, the Department’s commitment to marketing over that same period of time grew more than 300% because the ROI was clear and measurable. I also managed a team of 5 and 4 agency relationships for interactive, pr, traditional and video production. My online marketing career started with the direction of email marketing and web campaigns for Mandalay Resort Group, resulting in several awards for creative execution and exceptional return on investment. This caught the attention of the interactive marketing company, Twelve Horses where I directed their corporate marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts, as well as provided strategic consulting for travel/tourism clients such as Park City, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and America’s Adventure Place. Leveraging my experience with media and multi-channel marketing technology, I went on to lead the marketing and branding initiatives for SAXOTECH (now NEWSCYCLE), a global provider of content management platforms, circulation systems and advertising solutions for the media industry. I’ve worked in sales, marketing, advertising and public relations for a variety of other companies, including Switchback PR & Marketing, Stoel Rives LLP, Preferred Capital Corporation and Patagonia. I have an MBA with a specialization in Marketing and a BA from Clemson University. Side hustle: My photography has appeared in countless ads, brochures, and marketing campaigns.
Musings

Sit, Rover…Good Dog.

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Rescue

Every year Dr Beach comes out with his top 10 list of “The Best Beaches in America,” and hard-hitting journalists the world over breathe a collective sigh of anticipation resolved. Moments after the press release hits their inboxes, and they’ve diligently copy, pasted, and published it (of course, with a little twist of their own journalistic integrity), they are on the first flight out to Dr Beach’s promised land.

Coopers Beach, the main beach in the village of Southampton on the east end of Long Island, New York took top honors this year. The fact that the water is cold and dark most of the time apparently didn’t factor in to the equation. But congratulations to them. May they be blessed with a bounty of disposable income wielding tourists with bouncy beach balls and boom boxes.

Inevitably, a Florida beach makes it on to the exclusive top 10 list as well. Sneaking on at the enviable number 2 position – Siesta Beach. Right outside of Sarasota, Florida, and just a mere one hour drive south of Tampa, I couldn’t imagine why I had never been there before? Of course, the moment I became privy to this secret little gem, I set out to see what the rest of America was surely drooling over. And there America was.

This is what Siesta Beach was like on a Saturday in early June.

Siesta_Beach

This is what a beach just north of Sarasota near Tampa/St. Petersburg looked like on the very same weekend.

Florida_Beach

I think we can all agree that PR works; but that doesn’t always mean you should believe the hype.

Musings

Cocoa Beach Boutique

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Residing in Tampa, Florida, Robert Payne is a frequent visitor to the “Space Coast” where he reports on various hotels and accommodations in the area.

Beach_Place_Guesthouses_Deck

Beach Place Guesthouses

Many beach hotels promise luxury, relaxation, and an unforgettable experience you’ll cherish for a lifetime. But after you stand in line at the reception desk for what seems like forever, wield a carrier full of effects to your room, and then take the elevator down to find the pool packed with screaming kids, you’ll wonder why you’re spending a paycheck on a vapid space in a big beehive. And no, a chocolate chip cookie upon check-in doesn’t make it any better.

Even so-called luxury hotels will often feel crowded, corporate, and sprawling. I like a little personality, and preferably some originality, that provides a natural and organic experience as you flow from one space to the next. It should have a salubrious air about it that removes the common every day annoyances, and replaces them with a laid back ease.

Beach_Place_Guesthouses_Beach

These are some of the attributes I’ve found with Beach Place Guesthouses in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Owners Joseph and Hernando have taken special care to create an alternative to Cocoa Beach hotels that combines convenience and comfort without pomp or circumstance. It is just south of Cocoa Beach, so you remove yourself from the blur of kitschy tourist trappings and traffic, but you are still in close proximity to all the shopping, restaurants, and sightseeing you may want.

Because I travel with an insane amount of gear for parenting, beaching, surfing, and kayaking, I very much like the safe and easy access to my car that Beach Place Guesthouses provides. I can easily load and unload the car, but then at the same time forget it is even there. I prefer to stay in the bottom two rooms, in the front, where I can spill out on to the grass and the verandah whether I am striking off for the beach, taking a swing in the hammocks, or carrying some food to the grill.

Beach_Place_Guesthouses_Lawn

The other big plus is the layout of many of the rooms. You’ll be hard pressed to find many places around Cocoa Beach, that aren’t condominiums, but do offer 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. This is ideal, of course, for splitting the cost with another couple. Want to checkout a little late on Sunday? Maybe take a long walk? Joseph and Hernando hardly seem to mind.

If you are a diehard pool person, then this place is not for you because, well, they don’t have one. For me, I hardly miss it. The warm ocean waters of Florida are all the pool I need. Even better, Beach Place Guesthouses conveniently sports a great surf break just to the north of the property.

Surfing

Beach Place Guesthouses is a little home away from home. Stay a week or a weekend, either way, you’ll leave rested and ready to return.

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The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of Robert Payne.

Musings

A Retreat Just South of Melbourne Beach

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Residing in Tampa, Florida, Robert Payne is a frequent visitor to the East Coast of Florida where he reports on various hotels and accommodations in the area.

Melbourne_Beach

Seashell Suites

Against my better judgement, I am going to reveal a secret and tell you about a place that I like to stay when traveling to Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet. But first, let me say that I’ve stayed in many different hotels, motels, condominiums, and campgrounds between Cocoa and Melbourne Beach. Living in relatively close proximity here in Tampa, Florida gives me the opportunity to frequent the area for its surfing opportunities, beautiful beaches, and breathtaking blue water. If there happens to be a shuttle launch – even better! Needless to say I’ve experimented with accommodations up and down the coastline, and Seashell Suites is definitely a good spot to stay.

Getting There

You definitely want to bring all the supplies you’ll need before your arrival. As you leave the town of Melbourne Beach and head south on A1A, the predominant square structures that compose giant hotels, condos, and shopping centers fall away behind you and are replaced with hardly anything but rolling dunes covered with green sea grapes, glimpses of the blue sea on your left, and the Indian River on your right. This narrow strip of land leads to the point of Ponce de Leon’s landing long ago – where the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, Pelican Island, was created – and the entrance to Sea Shell Suites just 2 miles from Sebastian Inlet.

Seashell_Suites_Turtles

The Resort

Upon arrival, it is immediately clear this eco-friendly resort went through a recent and extensive remodel, for everything shines like new. Surveying the grounds you’ll notice the careful detail to landscaping and decor. Copper trimming, plantation shutters, recessed solar lighting, boxes of blooming hibiscus, and whimsical sculptures are just some of the treatments. Walk down the stone pathway past the pool and sauna, and you’ll see a wonderful piazza for grilling and relaxing at night. Ahead the path rises gradually up over the dune and out to a verandah with wide open vistas of the ocean and its unspoiled beach. Lounge on the chairs and soak up the view, or grab a beach chair and a fishing rod. There is good surfing directly in front of the property, or you can walk south on the beach towards Sebastian Inlet to an area I found to be even better.

The Rooms

If you are like me, what you worry most about in a place like this is noise. I can tell you that even when Seashell Suites is completely booked, and you are staying in a suite right smack dab in the middle of the other 8 suites, you’ll have a really tough time hearing anyone else. If I could put anything extra on my wish list, I would prefer the rooms be slightly bigger with another bathroom. Of course, I also have a good appreciation for the regulations and prices that exist in this area, so I can understand the constraints the owner was faced with when building. The fact is there are only a few suites on the property, and they are well-appointed with free WiFi and two flat screens to keep you amused. But aside from cooking and sleeping, I doubt you’ll spend much time inside your room. You’ll even want to take your meals outside.

Seashell_Suites

The Beach

In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the beaches further north, you will have the white sand in front of Seashell Suites practically to yourself. Walk in either direction, and you’ll enjoy miles of unencumbered coastline. One morning I arose to watch the sunrise, and a Great Horned Owl flew directly above me and landed on a perch close by. Turtles come upon the beach to nest, and dolphin feed offshore. It is not only beautiful, but you’ll find a state of relaxation that often eludes us in our every day lives.

Shuttle_Launch Other Things to Do

If you can muster up the energy to leave then it is certainly worth checking out Sebastian Inlet State Park and Pelican Island, which features trails and a bird viewing station. There are bikes available, and sea kayaking and fishing charters that can be arranged, as well as surf lessons.

If you are coming for the shuttle launch, I would highly recommend coming the day before. You can see the shuttle from SeaShell Suites, but it is much better to drive up to Cocoa Beach or Titusville. Keep in mind it is roughly an hour both ways, and traffic surrounding the launch can be slow. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth it. People only begin to understand the awesome power and incredible engineering involved when they witness it firsthand. Just think about the fact that the astronauts are traveling 17,500 mph only 8 minutes after liftoff.

I have a few other secrets to share with you regarding the Space Coast and the surrounding areas of Cocoa and Melbourne Beach, but I’ll save those for next time. Meanwhile, let’s hope the engineers for BP and the Coast Guard get the oil spill under control and cleaned up. Florida is counting on you.

The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of Robert Payne.

Professional

What’s next for PayPal, Google Checkout, and Amazon FPS?

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paypal google amazon-fps

The war for the title of head payment processor extraordinaire wages on with exciting new advances in the way we digitally transact. The basic premise has always been to give merchants the tools they need to accept payments online, and in turn a fee is extracted for the service. Consumers, on the other hand, can choose which form of payment they would like to use – for free – as long as they don’t go down the path of leveraging credit or transferring money to others.

PayPal, Google Checkout, and Amazon FPS all now charge roughly the same fees and accept the same major credit cards we care about. How the big 3 differentiate themselves consist of the following:

  • The size and scope of their networks.
  • Leveraging their existing technologies.
  • Partnerships and acquisitions.
  • Merchant tools.
  • Consumer incentives.
  • Being first to market with new features.
  • Customer service.
  • General branding and marketing.

There are some fundamental differences in services and strategies as they compete for your virtual wallet, but it is a tough battle with many new entrants whittling away at their percentage.

What has the battle ground looked like so far?

PayPal

PayPal was indeed first to market when it came to offering merchants and sellers a means of transacting online. Customer service was notorious at first, and even led to the creation of PayPalsucks.com. But those days seem like forgotten history because they are still cruising right along with annual revenue approaching $3 Big B’s a year. Having eBay as your Daddy, and BillMeLater as your baby, doesn’t hurt matters, and they even have little old VeriSign thrown in there for good measure. PayPal allows you to sign up for a credit card (Mastercard), establish an ACH account, send and receive money, and take advantage of what really appears to be the best, full suite of tools available for invoicing and running reports.

However, there are still issues with customer service and verification of funds. And for many merchants (especially the larger ones), the idea of not being able to capture your customers’ data, or control the checkout process and corresponding branding, is unacceptable.

Google Checkout

Google Checkout is still in the wings integrating their payment processing service with AdWords and Search. Merchants see a benefit in search relevance, and consumers can enjoy buying items right there in the browser. As mentioned before, fees are basically the same as PayPal and the rest, but Google provides additional value for not-for-profits. Their initial selling point of maintaining greater privacy is really a mute point, and they no longer offer discounts through AdWords. I think it is safe to say most merchants simply provide Google Checkout for search marketing purposes, it is easy to implement, and because some buyers habitually prefer it. 

A big black eye for Google Checkout has always been their mediocre customer service, and the occasional horror stories of law abiding merchants having their accounts suspended for what looks like no good reason. But this also happens with PayPal. I believe the reason why Google has not taken the lead in payment processing is because it hasn’t been their core focus, and the haven’t made any direct strategic acquisitions in this area. Furthermore, their interface is not intuitive enough, and they have not evolved as quickly as PayPal and Amazon. But they are clearly a contender in the mobile search and mobile operating system market, and this could give Google a competitive edge.

Amazon FPS

Amazon FPS came in to the mix swinging with a solid strategy based on catering to the needs of developers and providing more flexible micropayment processing. Oh, and let’s not forget their network! While PayPal did have micropayment options, it seems it wasn’t well known or needed. Amazon really put their money where their mouth is by backing it up with a Sandbox, a Developer Forum, and a level of respectable transparency and open conversation. Couple this with their hosting services like S3, and you’ve got a nice little package to launch an ecommerce website that is flexible and scalable.

Amazon’s real problem appears to be a lack of awareness in an already competitive market. It faces a difficult time convincing merchants, and their contracted developers, that there is greater value in using them. Also, it is a little more complex to use than what the average merchant is accustomed. However, the added flexibility and accompanying web products do attract tech startups and sophisticated, larger merchants, who are looking for a flexible and robust payment gateway. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a mobile device come from them.

Of course, PayPal isn’t taking any of these forays by competitors laying down. They were the first to release a mobile application for the iPhone, power Twitpay, and they even got in early with Facebook by handling the ad purchases on the Facebook network. They’ve also taken cues from Amazon by reaching out to developers through several avenues, including their annual conference, PayPalX, as well as giving further access to their code.

What does the future of ecommerce look like?

Mobile

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In Europe and Asia, many customers transact and move money via mobile devices and/or pins. Here in America we are seeing companies like Obopay emerge and make great strides. Not only does Obopay have deals with Nokia and Mastercard, but they were also selected as “2010 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.”

Instead of moving away from that old trusty credit card, Square counted on the large percentage of people that can’t kick the habit. Two problems exist here: one, you’re asking users to carry an extra device, albeit a small square, and two, as of now it only works with iPhone and Android devices – RIM’s operating system, which Blackberry uses, still represents 36 percent of the U.S. market. Security, despite what they say, is also a big concern.

Mobile companies like Intuit’s GoPayment and VeriFone work across most all operating systems, and they also provide devices such as credit card swipe machines and terminals to aid in the transaction process. Where they fall down is the lack of web-based tools for merchants, and they don’t seem to be out playing with the online community of developers.

Where are the competitive advantages in the mobile market?

If you’re a company deciding how to embrace the future of mobile payment processing, you need to consider:

  • Brand/Creative Control
  • Affordability
  • Ease of Use
  • Compatibility
  • Network/Search
  • Supporting Products and Services
  • Continuing Innovation
  • Customer Service

Putting yourself in the shoes of merchant, you simply want to know the fastest and most affordable way to get your branded shopping cart on the website, which will also work in the mobile environment. Another company – Unity Mobile – is trying to do just that. They’ve got the branding, affordability, and ease of use side down, as well as the compatibility with both mobile devices and websites. They’re even working with barcodes. Why haven’t you heard of them? My guess is their lack of a network, not working with outside developers, along with no supporting devices. It’s cool that you can automagically create a mobile ecommerce site, but it is also relatively easy to use CSS on your existing website to accomplish the same.

Other Contenders

Authorize.net also provides merchant services and merchant accounts, and their payment gateway is preferred by many ISO and MSPs because of their superior processing capabilities and fraud protection. They’ve done an excellent job of comparing their services to those of PayPal and Google, so I won’t rehash them all here. But suffice to say, their niche has been larger merchants who don’t need access to a 3rd party network because of their specialized offerings. They do care very deeply about keeping the customer on their branded website, as well as giving them a safe and reliable transaction experience. The next big factor is time in which it takes to get paid. Authorize.net is much quicker than PayPal or Google. Incremental fees are not as important as branding and security, but nevertheless they are competitive with the bigger 3. Where your additional costs come from are building out and designing your own ecommerce platform. Finally, if you’re in the business of building your customer database, well, PayPal and Google aren’t going to help you do that. As said before, they prevent merchants from accessing customer email addresses.

Meanwhile, American Express recently purchased a company by the name of Revolution Money. Their go-to market strategy has been to tout the added privacy of a nondescript “credit card” that is powered by a personal pin. It appears they have signed on quite a few impressive merchants, but how large the network actually is would be anyone’s guess. Unless they come up with something incredibly innovative for merchants and/or consumers, they are going to have a tough road convincing either party they are worth the effort.

If you ask Steve Jobs, the new battleground is combining application development with mobile search and compelling advertising. If you find what you want, and you need to buy it right then and there through your mobile device, great! The consumer can have the option of using a pin, credit card number, or something else entirely. Who knows? Maybe the banks will start issuing their own phones or mobile apps that work any where. Either way, there will always be a manner of subtracting a fee for the convenience of using virtual money. We can be sure merchants will have to pay to be featured on Apple devices, browsers, and networks.

Conclusion

It is an interesting game with many different variables, but one thing is clear – neither PayPal, Google, or Amazon will be going away any time soon. Apple will further enter the market just as we’ve seen them do with music, movies, podcasts, and applications. This is good news for the merchants and consumers because we benefit from increased competition. PayPal and Amazon will always be at the mercy of search, but Google needs them around, or they may come off looking like an out-of-control monopoly. Each of the Big 3 will continue to acquire companies to enhance their product and service offerings. Customer service, fraud protection, and brand control must be a priority.

Banks will still be involved, and I suspect their fees will stay relatively the same or trend downward. The big What If? is whether they can get rid of the middle man. Hints of this come when companies like American Express scoop up alternative payment processing companies like Revolution Money. Historically, banks have lagged behind innovators like PayPal, Google, and Amazon, but I wouldn’t completely rule out a merchant play of some competitive force. In order to succeed, it must not only pass considerable savings and functionality on to the merchant, but also reach consumers at the buying stage. That’s a tough order, but they’ve got the motivation. After all the payment gateway is a super highway just begging for a new toll, right?

In a perfect world, we’d all have access to open source software that allowed us to connect merchants and consumers in every customizable fashion imaginable without paying a fee. This day may come, but issues of security and greed will always be corrosive factors. Meanwhile, I’m still using my credit card for online purchases because, somehow, I feel a bit more comfortable using someone else’s money in the digital exchange of dollars, even if I do have to pay a fee.

Professional

Simply Web

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Many small and medium-sized businesses fall in to the trap of making their websites way too bloated, difficult to change, and expensive to manage.

Personally, I’ve been using WordPress as a website solution for quite some time. Why? Because it is powerful, flexible, and cost-effective. So when Charleston artist, Kat Hastie, mentioned she needed a website refresh, I naturally suggested it.

Her original website had been designed and managed by a local Charleston marketing agency. While it did the job, she had to pay for any changes such as adding new images (paintings), moving navigation items, and/or editing text. Furthermore, she had no means of posting News items to inform site visitors of upcoming exhibitions or new works of art.

Now all of these before mentioned headaches can be accomplished quickly and easily on the back-end with the WordPress Content Management System. In addition, she can take advantage of new plugins for ecommerce, social channels, media galleries, search engine optimization, and so on. The entire website is completely scalable if the artist so chooses. Even then the process will be kept simple and streamlined because, well, that is how she wants it.

The design itself is simple but effective.

Charleston_Artist

Use of the artist’s signature as the background speaks to her unique character and identity.  It is simple but effective because it is hers and only hers. This is her website – welcome!

In regards to color, many artists and museums have gone to white as a means of making the space feel light and lit. It works in certain situations, but there is no denying that black makes colors POP. It also focuses your eyes on the work. Considering that many of Kat Hastie’s paintings are quite large and could cover an entire wall, they aren’t really meant to be forced down to the view of a computer screen. The black helps give dimension and texture that is otherwise lost in the digital realm.

The homepage uses imagery to connect the artist with the work and offers few entry points. Of course, the images can easily be swapped out and the pathways, or links, changed. In further keeping with the simplicity, there is only one Feed from the News section pulled on to the homepage, which constitutes the latest post to that Page. Call it a blog post if you want, but either way it acts as a separate and indexable web page with the ability to add links and accept comments. There could be more News items there if needed, but again, for now that is the way the artist wants it.

Charleston_Artist_Website

The media gallery is slick and offers a few different ways of viewing the artist’s work. Scroll through the thumbnails at the top and hover and click on any one you want. You can then click to view the image at full size. Mouse over the slideshow at any point to pause one of the paintings for further study. On the back-end, the images are uploaded, saved, and served at a consistent size. They can be added to any one of the sub navigation sections as well as the main Work gallery. The titles and descriptions are fully editable along with the images because they each act as a Page. Changing the order of the images is as simple as dragging and dropping them in to place.

And I know this is so fundamental and such a simple function of the Gallery, but so often Flash sites get this terribly wrong. Each one of the paintings has its own unique url so it can always be referenced, emailed, and shared. So simple, but so often overlooked!

Finally, the artist’s website is equipped with Google Analytics for tracking visitation and measuring offline and online activities. This will help her determine what events or exhibitions are most successful, paintings people find most interesting, what cities visitors are coming from, and even what other websites are referencing her.

At the end of the day, the artist got a website that works for her, and she didn’t have to spend a ton of money building it. Did I mention she is also saving a bundle on hosting? Sounds complex, but it is really quite simple. ;~)  

Musings

Tampa Twilight Criterium

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Tampa_Twilight_Criterium

I really enjoyed attending the Tampa Twilight Criterium in downtown Tampa on Saturday afternoon. I took my son with me in a backpack, and while I took photos, he provided commentary – “Whoooooooah!” – I think he was impressed that they were just a little faster than his Red Ryder.

Having done a few of these myself, I can relate to the challenges of working with a city to orchestrate an event like this. But the organizers, police, and City of Tampa were all accommodating and everything seemed to go smoothly.

My camera doesn’t really have the chops for this kind of combined light and speed, but I made the best of it and am happy with how a few came out. I just feel lucky I didn’t get my block knocked off. Hopefully the guys didn’t mind!

Cyclist

More on Flickr…

Musings

Gulf Coast Surfing

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Rejected

Luke grabbed this shot of me yesterday out at “The Street” in AMI. I like it for the perspective and because it shows how beautiful the water and waves around Tampa Bay can be. Normally, I would be riding a shortboard in conditions like this, but with mine in the shop, I decided to give the longboard a try. It can be pretty exciting trying to maneuver a longboard in steep, shallow waves.  I got worked a few times, but I also managed to pull into some hollow barrels. I’ve said it already, but what a great season of surfing on the Gulf this winter/spring. Now to get rid of some junk in the trunk…

Gulf_Coast_Longboarding

Musings

Park City and the (De) Evolution of a Skier

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Park City

I walk upright and could tease a termite out of a mound with just one stick. I’m an educated man – I’ve read stuff – and what not. And after skiing in the Lake Tahoe area for almost 10 years, crisscrossing and crossing the entire Sierra Nevada chain, and making repeated trips to Utah and Park City for 6 years running, one would think I possess a certain amount of reason when it comes to venturing out in the backcountry. But apparently that is not the case. However, before you judge me hear me out.

I live in Florida now, and I’m also a new father. The amount of ski days I got this year can be counted on one hand. So, to say I was chomping at the bit when I got to Park City last week would be an understatement. 17-inches of new snow did little to abate my excitement.

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Powder Between Friends

What could be better than having nothing to do but rip endless fields of powder with good friends? Nothing. Except for here’s the problem: Occasionally, I like to earn my turns, and none of my friends on this trip wanted to hike. Furthermore, not a single one of them owns any backcountry gear. Okay, I guess I’ll simply stay in bounds and enjoy what the ski resort has to offer. But…but…look at all that untracked POW!!! Taunting me like Christmas candy and piles of cash shoved in to a well in the midst of a dry, scorching dessert. I resisted the first day…and the second.

Up until then I’d politely followed the group, accommodated late starts, pursued whims, and endured long lunches. And it didn’t really matter because Park City Mountain Resort continually served up runs of untracked powder on fun, steep terrain. One can happily ski the Jupiter and McConkey’s bowls all day long until it occurs to them that there is so much more hiding in Thaynes, King Con, or even Bonanza.

Park City Powder

But when it came to the third day I was ready for something off-piste. Our group had made the short trip over to The Canyons Resort, and I could see many of the classic backcountry runs the ski resort is known for slowly but surely being marred by unencumbered skiers and snowboarders. I could not idly ski by any longer. So when Ninety-Nine 90 dropped us off for the third time that day, I politely waved to my party and said that I would see them at Peak 5.

The Draw of the Dutch

I quickly made my way up and out along the skier’s right ridge, stopping only for a moment at Dutch’s notch to kick out of my skis again. I began hiking up to the far peak where the snow was the most preserved, and I was at the top in no time. I took note of the fact that I was not alone, which made me feel a little safer. It was a false sense of security, however, because the beacon I was carrying offered little assurance that anyone else on the peak had one, let alone a shovel, probe, or concern for my well-being. But my run was just what we all dream of with shots of powder intermittently blinding me before arcing in to the next turn. I got down to Peak 5 and immediately decided that I would take another backcountry run – alone.

Earning_Turns

Peak 5 Slide

With great intention, I pulled the gate open at the back of Peak 5 and began hiking up the ridge. The snow was deeper than I expected and the going was slow. I felt low on energy and decided I would cut out early, catch my friends at lunch, and come back refreshed and hopefully with a companion. I was unfamiliar with my exact surroundings, but having skied along this ridge many times in past years, I nonchalantly began ripping down through the trees. I could see a substantial rise approaching, so I threw in a hard edge and abruptly stopped to get a closer look. This action immediately set off a small slide to my left and below, and while seemingly insignificant by the looks of the photos, it would have carried me over a series of rock shelves and down in to a grove of trees – alone.

Slide Slide_2
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I shook this whole occurrence off quickly, traversed around the rocks, and went off to meet my friends only after enjoying a few more precious powder turns. Now here’s where it just gets plain dumb.

Not only do I know how Utah’s light snow can be, and often is, lethal, but I had just seen proof it was unstable on the very same day. But what do I proceed to go and do? Convince my friends, who are novices when it comes to the backcountry and avalanche conditions, to go and do a hike with me off the back of Peak 5. Nice!

Three of us did the hike, this time dropping the large open bowl to skier’s right. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. The run was in fact fantastic, and it was made even sweeter when we just barely caught the last lift out of there right at 4pm on the nose. But a conversation later transpired between me and one of my best childhood friends that has stuck with me ever since.  He asked,

“How would you get out of an avalanche?”

Avalanche Safety

Really, there are no easier answers to this question; in fact, more experts die in avalanches than any other group. The best course of action is avoidance through the proper study of snow conditions. This means taking in to account no less than the amount of recent snowfall, layers, temperature, aspect, and degree of slope. After evaluating these factors, you of course want to make sure everyone in your party is equipped with a beacon, probe, shovel, and knowledge of how to use each one of them. Even then there are inherent risks, as well as weaknesses. For example, plastic shovels are pathetic in comparison to metal blades, for the snow can be extremely difficult to dig through. Regarding beacons, I can remember besting a Squaw Valley Ski Patroller during an avalanche training course only because I had a more modern beacon. His transceiver beeped directions to the hidden victim, but my digital version literally pointed the way.

Snowboarder

If you get caught in an avalanche you must try to stay on the surface by using a backwards swimming motion. I have a friend who pulled this one off when he slid from top to bottom in the Chutes at Mount Rose Ski Resort. He was lucky enough to have part of his face and arm sticking out when he finally came to rest, but he still had to be dug out of the binding snow. In most cases, however, the slide victim is not so lucky. Some are smashed in to trees and rocks and immediately die from the resulting trauma. Others are literally ground in to a bloody mass from lacerations and the mashing of heavy pieces of ice. None of it is pretty. As I explained all of this to my friend he said, “I’m to old for this shit – I’ve got kids!”  As if waking from a pervasive fog I thought to myself, so do I.

Choosing Your Line

It is here at this point that you are possibly expecting me to say, I’ll never go out in the backcountry again. But that is not likely. What I will say is that I will always strive to ski with a buddy, choose the safest slopes possible, pack extra backcountry gear, or rent it, and always be clear with myself and any accomplices on the inherent dangers involved. Keep in mind what a rather poignant Summit County Sheriff once said, ”If you’re an adult and you want to go and risk your life, it’s your business…We just have to clean up the mess.” 

Trust me, I want to avoid the mess as much as the next sane person. I used to debate with a good friend about the dangers of outdoor sports, and he would argue that a person was more likely to be killed in a car accident. I would disagree. I was still disagreeing when an earthquake dislodged a boulder on to a highway that almost killed me. My car was totaled and I was lucky to walk away from it. It pains me to think I could have died riding a proverbial groomer.

Our lines in life are rarely clean, but they are certainly made better by applying the knowledge, skills, and patience we do have. These are the attributes we need to take our pursuits out of bounds and push the limits, and still make it back to the parking lot to take our boots off when the day is done.

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Professional

The Fine Line: Negative vs Positive Messaging

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I was recently in Charleston, SC talking with a friend about the effectiveness of negative vs positive messaging. A local politician lost his son in a drunk driving accident, and his loss compelled him to try and educate teens on the hazards of getting behind the wheel after a few too many. One component of his campaign relied on the shock value of a vehicle destroyed in an accident. He towed it around to local schools for children and adults alike to see. His actions bothered my friend who happens to be a very protective and responsible mother of two.

These sights are always chilling; and the question is whether they are really effective? Do people tend to block out negative messages, which ultimately make them unproductive?

Marketing and advertising often rely on fear as a motivating factor. The solution to that fear is then presented – the product or service being offered. There is a fine line, and the producers of this commercial walked it admirably.

Professional

Art Reception

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My mother, Charleston artist Kat Hastie, is having an art reception at Bin 152 on Wednesday night at 7pm. For those not familiar with the space, Bin 152 is a new establishment on King Street owned by Patrick and Fanny Panella. The Post & Courier recently published an article on their creative mix of wine, cheese, and art.

In preparation for the show, the artist asked me to put together an invite that combined some of her recent portrait work. Now I am more of a marketing strategist and writer than I am a designer, but I was happy to oblige. Nothing like saving a few duckets when a family member is capable enough. I’m also in the process of redesigning her website. I’ll announce that soon enough, but for now here is the invite – in one of its forms – with a quick overlay to hit you Charleston folks with the pertinent details once again.

Come on out, we’d love to see you there!

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