In Josh’s eyes, there are two Americas. The first is Big America, where most of us reside, and what most of the world sees. Lesser known is Little America, the places that exist outside the city limits in the countryside and in the small towns. This is where Josh was lucky enough to grow up, and learned the values of a simple life centered around family and happiness.

Early in his life, finding any and every way to enjoy the outdoors quickly became part of Josh’s lifestyle. Later, he followed in the footsteps of his adventurous grandfathers and uncles and joined the military. Josh spent six years in the Navy. He was based in Virginia Beach and deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010 with SEAL Team IV. Over both deployments, he participated in hundreds of missions with a myriad of different objectives. He was the lead climber for his platoon and worked his way up to a Special Operator 1st Class, ending his career in the Navy as a team leader.

In the military, Josh found what he believed to be the true embodiment of Little America. He appreciated the patriotism, sacrifice, and humility of American soldiers. Taking these traits to heart, Josh completed service time and continued his pursuit of adventure. He moved to Colorado to immerse himself in the mountains and to obtain a college degree.