Welcome to The Great Outdudes!

Hey, I’m Pat.

And if you’re wondering what an “Outdude” is, the easiest answer I can give you is this:

It’s probably someone a lot like you.

I’ve been an outdoors guy for as long as I can remember. Growing up, there weren’t a lot of screens competing for our attention. When we were bored, we went outside. We rode bikes, explored the woods, built forts, got dirty, got lost a little, and figured things out along the way.

That love of getting outside stuck with me.

As I got older, the adventures changed. Boy Scouts and summer camps turned into trips to northern Wisconsin, time on the Chippewa Flowage, hiking, exploring and plenty of other opportunities to get outside and experience something new.

But somewhere along the way, life got busier.

Work. Family. Responsibilities. The never ending list of things that need to get done.

And I realized something: I wasn't the only guy looking for an excuse to get out and do something.

That's where The Great Outdudes came from.

I wanted to create a place where guys could find adventure, experiences and, maybe just as importantly, other guys who want the same thing. A place to try something new without needing to be an expert. A place where a seasoned outdoorsman and a guy who hasn't slept in a tent since he was 12 can show up and have a great time together.

Because I don't think adventure has to mean summiting a mountain or spending a week in the wilderness.

It can be a hike. A fishing trip. Learning to cook over a campfire. Paddling a lake. A weekend away. Trying something you've always wanted to try. Or even doing something completely outside the traditional definition of “outdoors.”

The common denominator is simple: get out and experience something.

The Great Outdudes is for men of all ages and stages of life. You don't have to be an athlete, an expert, or an outdoorsman. You don't have to know anyone. And you don't have to fit some particular mold.

Just come as you are.

My hope is that The Great Outdudes becomes more than a collection of trips and activities. I want it to become a community - a place to meet good people, learn something, laugh a little, challenge yourself, and make some memories.

Sometimes you just need to get out of the house, put the phone down, and go see what’s out there.

So, welcome.

I'm glad you're here.

Get out. Disconnect. Connect.

- Pat