I have to say the greatest thing about being around my family is the air quality, although I do have a little suspicion that living in Los Angeles helps my CO2 tolerance and training. Also the constant stream of food, yes I love my family. Maybe Mom tries to feed me so much hoping secretly that the extra food may keep me floating above the water instead of sinking below.

I am writing this blog to share on of the greatest moments of my life with the rest of the world. I drank directly from a wild stream. It is a simple pleasure really, but one that I didn’t think would ever be possible in my lifetime without serious consequences. Maybe I am jaded, growing up in a city and living in LA for the last eight years, plus one of my earliest memories is my brother coming home from a scout camping trip, where he drank the water, and got really sick with beaver fever.

We came across the stream on a short hike through a field of tall grass on our way to a pond filled with rainbow trout. The stream was a small one, coming off of a mountain in the back of my Brother’s property. My family had a laugh while I tried to get my face in the water, they suggested I use my hands like a cup, but for an experience like this, I think any freediver would agree, you have to get your face wet.