My story with the outdoors begins with my father. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and I spent many years in the woods with him. We scouted, hunted, fished, camped, and rode mountain bikes. I spent most of my summer vacations outside, riding bikes, skateboarding, and exploring the nearby woods.

This also included my grandparent’s property near the village of Equinunk, PA. I spent many summers playing in the nearby creek, walking in the woods, fishing on farms, and enjoying time with my family.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, it was no surprise that I felt a strong draw to go outside. I was recently divorced, and this new hobby of backpacking sounded like a great way to occupy my mind.

I first hear about hammock camping in 2016, when an intern who worked for me told me about it. She said they were her favorite way to sleep on multi-day backpacking trips. With this in mind, I began shopping for a hammock online. Unfortunately, I didn’t get very far with my shopping or plans to spend more time outside. That was until I started dating someone who enjoyed going on hikes.

While it was quite a while after the pandemic, I got a cheap hammock in January 2024. Over that summer, I enjoyed some daytime hangs and appreciated the ability to snooze outdoors without having to lie on the ground. I started learning more, bought a bunch of gear, and began planning several camping and hiking excursions.

In March 2025, I did my first overnight camp, which was not in my backyard, and learned some valuable lessons. I posted my story on Reddit and got some positive feedback. The idea to create this website came into focus, and I began planning to launch the Midlife Crisis Camper.