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Austyn Dineen

@austynwill

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Twenty years ago, I spent my 20s chasing the local trivia guy and trying to land that holy grail: a year-round job in a little mountain town.
In my 30s, we were given the opportunity to raise a couple of kids and continued to claw toward stability and survive in this lovable mountain town.

My 40s? Those just started last week, but stability—the stuff we worked our asses off for: the partnership, the family, the community, the careers—in little magic mountain cocoon? The view is worth it all. taken in Breckenridge, Colorado by @austynwill

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2 months ago

Beignet everyday. Always a treat @xgames! #xgames taken in Super Dome New Orleans by @austynwill

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2 months ago

Did someone say XGames Sacramento 2026 montage? I did. I said that. #xgames #xgamessacramento taken in Sacramento, California by @austynwill

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4 months ago

How to explain a two week trip to Japan? Three minute montage, of course. Combo (summer) birthday trip with @sarabpetty was seico. by @austynwill

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9 months ago

Not sure any Monday will ever top this one. taken in Independence Pass, CO - Elevation 12,095 by @austynwill

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a year ago

Our first hut trip went exactly the opposite of what we anticipated—it was perfect in every single way.

The boys (and our weighted-down hips) skinned three miles into Sister’s Cabin, fueled only by Nerd Clusters and Gatorade, with barely a fuss—or, in Fischer’s case, poles. We ate breakfast in bed, learned the art of waiting for soft cookies in milk, played sauna charades, had blaster parties, took advantage of unexpected hut sitters, sunk battleships, and were blissfully surprised to discover that Santa even makes a stop at backcountry ski cabins at 12,000 feet.

The first and last time I visited Sisters, I—along with Fischer, freshly in my belly—was lucky enough to be one of the first guests, along with a wonderful group of sister journalists (@pamleblancadventures, @racheljowalker, @daliah16, @cloverdog4, @snococo and @lorynlongboards), to experience the indescribable magic of hut trips, which I thought at the time would be hard to top. Each and every hut trip is special in its own way, but I’m sure I’ll tear up remembering this one for as long as I can remember. by @austynwill

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2 years ago

Riding the information interstate the last couple weeks. Please be advised, duties do not include super powers to get you free from traffic. taken in Eisenhower Tunnel by @austynwill

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2 years ago

First float trip on Bone Crusher/Fish Boat/ Fish Bone raft and Forest’s 7th birthday was not only a smashing success, but the sweetest redemption.

Two years ago, when the boys were 3 and 5, we took them on their first float trip on Labyrinth Canyon in Utah. While we left with lots of amazing memories, the one souvenir we didn’t expect to bring home and manage was Forest’s, and thus our own, weather-induced anxiety. One the first night, still riding that first-day-on-the-river high, before we could properly set/secure up camp, we got hit with a wind storm that nearly demoed camp, actually picked up a tent full of toddlers off the ground, and sent big F into his first full blown panic attack. After three more nights of the same and a few weeks later, Forest started elementary school in a amazing kindergarten classroom with big huge beautiful windows that had a front row seat to any incoming storms headed toward weather-prone Breckenridge. How could he learn letters when it felt like world was about to end? He didn’t. He’ll learn them on his own time, but he does know every single safe spot on the playground. When not in school, if the sky was blue, we were terrified that weather was coming. If a single Aspen leaf was peacefully blowing in the breeze or if a cloud showed up, it was time to hunker down…making soccer Saturday’s quickly the hardest time of the week.

This past week we’re outside for more than 96 hours and he got to be a freaking party-animal kid. Can we celebrate that? Shit ya we can. So little type-two fun and so much type-one-belly-laughter fun with our best friends.

The last two years have been a real ride, especially to someone who isn’t exactly comfortable with emotions to begin with. With a community of cheerleaders on his side, this freaking kid has blossomed into the most emotionally intelligent (not to mention freaking hilarious) tiny human that we get the pleasure to watch learn, grow and teach others his superpowers.

HBD, F, we adore you! taken in Ruby Horsethief Canyon On Colorado River by @austynwill

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2 years ago

One of the least visited countries in the world.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands — halfway between Hawaii and Australia — only has about 10,500 visitors a year.

The Micronesian nation made up of 1,225 islands is spread out over 750,000 square miles.

Why visit?

🏄‍♀️ Surfing: There’s a remote reef break here where Kelly Slater and Jack Johnson have been known to catch waves. Lots of uncrowded surf spots.

🤿 Diving and snorkeling: We spent an afternoon on a private island, snorkeling out to a submerged DC-3 plane. Here we went spearfishing, shell collecting and jumped off the wooden pier.

🛶 Outrigger sailing canoe: Canoe Marshall Islands provides outrigger sailing lessons for $20.

📚 Museum in Majuro: Learn about indigenous clothing, traditional sailing canoes and the nuclear testing that took place in the 40s and 50s.

💦 Clean Water for All program: We witnessed @Sawerproducts and Kora In Okrane (@korainokrane_official) bringing clean water access to the whole country; it’s the second country in the world to complete this.

🤗 Culture: People will open you with welcome arms.

Why aren’t more people visiting?

A plane ticket to the Marshall Islands is typically around $1,000.

And right now, there is only one “island hopper” flight from Honolulu. It’s once a day four days of the week.

If you go:

Use iakw (pronounced yawk-way) to greet people. It means “you are a rainbow.” 🌈

Dress modestly: Cover those knees and shoulders. No bikinis, ladies. Cover up as much as possible. Locals swim in shirts and shorts.

Majuro has just two hotels, and they are not fancy by any means.

It’s not set up for tourism yet. So just know that going in.

You need to filter all water, even at hotels.

#sawyerproducts
#KIO
#korainokrane
#travelforgood
#ProductsWithPurpose
#CleanWaterForAll
#CleanWater
#MarshallIslands
#islandlife🌴
#islandlove
#traveljournalist
#travelwriter
#travelblogger
#bluemind
#travelinspired taken in Marshall Islands by @austynwill

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2 years ago

I gotta recognize this guy that I met 12 years ago at a taco bar in Breckenridge and let me tell you why.

When we started dating in 2012, he had just got on ski patrol and I had a highly-coveted resort marketing job. Side note - our house, that was three blocks off of Main Street, was $1,400/month and today it goes for $4,000. Because the starting wage was so low, $8.96/hr to be exact, I basically bank rolled us through his EMT certification (required to start the job) and at least three of the first years of being a front-line patroller.

A couple days ago, he (@grabs_mid, @youdidwhatwithyournuts, and 5 others) signed their second ski patrol union contract after 7 months and 20 (unpaid) bargaining sessions and time away from our family. Since ski patrol unionized two years ago, I appreciate that they continue to work really, really hard for picture 2 and picture 3 to make a highly skilled profession financially possible.

If you see a ski patroller, a high-five is in order. Or, if you’re a hugger like me, get in there! taken in Breckenridge, Colorado by @austynwill

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3 years ago

Starting to understand the ‘“short years” (2023 -> 2017) taken in Breckenridge, Colorado by @austynwill

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3 years ago

Mother’s Day always comes with a double edged sword for me. On one hand, we’ve raised/kept alive two of kindest and hilarious humans - that needs to be #%$& acknowledged - but, it’s also a painful reminder that after trying everything possible, we became estranged from my mom, one of F&f grandmothers, about a year ago. The boys have so many people (including three other grandmothers) that love on them deeply, but the sting sneaks in sometimes when I least expect it. I’ve learned more than I could ever imagine from motherhood, but, damn, the deep animal-like instinct to protect has been the most beautiful and powerful lesson. by @austynwill

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3 years ago