"You're famous!"

Graduate school crunch time.  Final project research underway and nearly done one night in March of 2012.  I was focused and on course to completing my work for my degree when I got a phone call from Shonee.  "You're famous!"  He exclaimed.  What was he talking about?  It started several months earlier while at the REI in Eugene, Oregon. 



My Lowa Renegades at Three Creek
Campground August 2013

I needed new boots.  The shoes I'd been using soaked up water better than a sponge and left my feet quite miserable after hours of hiking.  Many of you know, but one of the quickest ways to have a horrible time on a backpacking trip is to have shoes that aren't adequate for the journey.  I went to REI with a plan: get water proof, not water resistant, boots.  Boots that went above my ankles, but not halfway up my shin.  I found a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Mens for $220.  A necessary expense for enjoyable trips.  I was getting the boots for an upcoming adventure around North and Middle Sister in Central Oregon.  At this time I also bought an REI membership since it would pay for itself in dividends with just the purchase of the boots.  Of course they send you home with all sorts of paperwork and brochures after buying the membership, but I was cool with that.  Fire fuel as I called paper at scout camp.

Before going to the Three Sisters Wilderness I went on a camping trip with my dear wife, Amanda.  That's right!  Someone other than Shonee.  It had been recommended to us to visit Tamolitch (or Blue) Pool on the McKenzie River.  We camped at Paradise Campground next to the river and did several day hikes on this trip.  We made it to Tamolitch Pool where the McKenzie River comes up from running underground into this magnificent, deep, frighteningly and mysteriously clear, blue pool, and then continues rushing toward Eugene on the opposite side.  The water is about 20-30 feet down from the trail, but it so calm and clear, the bottom is easily visible.  We were there at the perfect time of day.  We could see to the bottom and the blue was so awesome that people ask if our pictures are touched up or if that is the color of that water.  We took pictures from all the sides we could, including one with us, and then we were on our way back to Paradise Campground to get the best non-reservable site there.

A few weeks after this trip and the trip to the Three Sisters (which went well but there were lots of mosquitoes because of the late snow melt) I found the paperwork from the REI purchase.  "Send in your pictures of your outdoor adventures" or something like that was advertised on the paperwork.  "Sure," I thought, "Might as well."  I submitted two pictures, one of my campsite from the Sisters' trip, and one of Amanda and I at Tamolitch Pool.  Then I pretty much forgot about it.

Two months later (November 1, 2011) I got an email saying that my picture was being considered "to continue to the next step"  for use in REI advertising.  However the photo in the email wasn't my photo.  I wrote back to the REI rep and told her I was flattered but that "this is not the photo that I submitted. I remember submitting one, I just don't remember which one. Let me know if that one made it to the next level."  She apologized in a reply email and attached the correct photo of Amanda and I at Tamolitch Pool.  We signed paperwork stating that REI could use the pictures for whatever they wanted and we would get nothing in return and went on with our lives. 

Now to the night of March 19, 2012, and working on my master's project. 

"Famous?" 

"Yeah.  Your picture is in the REI dividend.  On page 7." 

We ran out and checked our mail, but had not yet received our dividend.  For fun we went to REI.com to see if our picture was there.  On the main page of the site was the picture of Amanda and I at Tamolitch Pool.  For months later, our photo remained on the membership page of REI.com.  Friends said they saw us on posters in the stores.  A zoomed in 4x4 picture was used on the posters (one of which we have in our living room).  Because it was my first dividend, I did not get the same version as Shonee and others who had been members for more than a year.  Amanda called customer service and they sent us a copy of our very own.  On page seven, with the day-pack gear, was a picture of Nathan P, who had been a member of REI since August of 2012.  We showed it to everyone.  I stood in line at REI with the dividend in hand and should it to this women behind me.  Later on a day hike I was telling people about it and that very same lady was there. 

Famous? Probably not. Annoyingly happy and showy-offy. Without a doubt.

Rushing McKenzie River on hike in	First glimpse of pool
Down by the pool on the east side	The best non-reservable campsite Site number 1