I met Pat at Camp Anokijig, a summer camp in Plymouth, Wisconsin (about 3 hours North of Chicago). Anokijig was a huge part of my life, from about the age of 7, until I went to college (and I honestly wish I could go back every summer). The best part about camp, besides spending the whole summer outdoors, making campfires, flirting in canoes, and being free to be a kid, was by far the friendships. You'd see the same kids every summer and you shared this special camp connection, you were family for the summer. I still talk to a core group of friends I made when I was about 13, and I still maintain the Social-Media-Frienship with others. Pat was in the core.
Back then, Pat was the only other kid who's Jew-fro hair was bigger than mine. He was the definitive goofy kid; always cracking jokes with me, making up ridiculous stories, and on par with my energy levels of constant. We grew up in the formative early teens together, from campers, to Junior Staff (like a CIT) and even spent a summer as Senior Staff. Our camp-friendship (the old school Social-Media-Friendship) became real friendship. And although we've naturally grown apart since then, mostly due to distance (and partially because it's hard to keep in contact with someone who spends a majority of the time in a tent in the wilderness) – I still know I could talk to him about anything, and when I visited him a few years ago in Colorado, it was like nothing had changed between us.
Now, Pat is bearded adventure-junkie, photographer, and the co-founder of Mobb Mountain Distillers, a distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. Learn more about Pat's success with starting Mobb, his need for a work/play life balance, and some spear-fishing adventures in Belize, below.
1) What gets you up in the morning? And what did you eat for breakfast this morning?
When I'm not working, I try to catch an early yoga class or get out and ski or climb, depending on the season. Today was 2 eggs over easy with some toast and avocado, and a smoothie, same as most days.
2) For those that don't know you yet, could you please tell us a bit more about yourself? What are you up to currently?
I grew up in Wisconsin, and moved to Colorado four years ago. I initially came out here to start a whiskey distillery, Mobb Mountain Distillers, as well as for the adventure and outdoor opportunities Colorado has to offer. I've spent most of my time here working on the distillery and working a handful of odd jobs doing everything from retail to landscaping. I try to spend most of my off days playing outside, skiing, climbing, hiking, fishing etc. Over the last year I've worked around four months outside of CO. I worked on a commercial Salmon boat in Alaska, and then most recently was on tour with the ski film company, Warren Miller Entertainment. The distillery has been up and running for a little more than a year and a half, and we've decided to reinvest our initial earnings to expand our operation to meet the growing demand. It's been a really fun ride and a great creative outlet for me, but I'm actually leaving CO in a few days. I'll be rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon for 22 days and then I'm moving to Idaho in February. I got a sweet graphic design job for a ski company and it's just time for a change of pace and scenery from the Colorado Front Range.
3) When I visited you a few years ago, you had just started to work on bringing a whiskey distillery to life. Now Mobb Mountain is so popular you're remodeling and making more space! Gimme a little history, from first ideas to most recent progress.
Mobb started as a group of friends in college, all with a great ambitions and a pretty wide array of skills. After school a few of us decided to open a business and Fort Collins, CO seemed like the ideal place for a distillery. The craft brewing scene is huge here with New Belgium and 30+ other breweries we figured it would be wise to branch off and make whiskey instead. After a year and a half of being open, business has been great. We managed land a great location that has a ton of new businesses opening around us right now. Our tasting room/cocktail bar has become much more popular than we initially anticipated so we're taking the next couple months to remodel the space and expand our tasting room to accommodate more customers. We have a handful of new products we're ready to release when we reopen in early March.
4) You're the creative captain of Mobb. How do think about branding and creating new, interesting content for Mobb?
My work at the distillery has always been an extension of my lifestyle. Whether it's through adventure photography or designs based on topographic maps and alpine creatures, I follow my own personal pursuits and inspirations and use them to define my vision for the distillery. It has more or less been a huge endless art project for me.
5) You're also an adventure junkie, photographer, woodworker, and artist, to name a few. How do you balance your other passions with time at Mobb?
Balance was definitely the word of the year for me in 2017. I've always been a firm believer in a 'work-hard, play-hard' lifestyle and this year I think I found a pretty ideal balance of those two. A lot of my work at Mobb has become more 'contract' based in that when new labels or merchandise designs are needed my work-load increases greatly but after that I'm mostly just in charge of social-media and our online advertising which I'm able to do on the road these days. So, when I'm not doing design work I've been able to find jobs that allow me to travel and take me to some pretty incredible places all while working remotely for Mobb.
6) You've done a lot of adventuring the last few years, tell me something that stuck with you. A beautiful place, a crazy story, or a challenge you faced?
Spear fishing in Belize was pretty life changing. It was the first time I questioned whether the mountains were where I really belong. I've always enjoyed swimming and snorkeling but free diving and spear fishing took all of that to another level. Instead of just being a passerby, an observer, you get to become a predator. It was really just a ton of fun.
7) What do you do to recharge? How do you stay motivated and energized and inspired?
When I'm home and working a lot yoga really helps me to slow down and collect my thoughts. Otherwise just being in the outdoors has its ways of settling the soul.
8) What's the best kept secret of Fort Collins? Of Colorado?
It wouldn't be a secret if I told now you would it? ;)
9) Quick, look at whatever music streaming source you use- What's the last song you listened to? What about the last book you read?
I'm using Apple Music these days. Listening to 'Horse Soldier' by Corb Lund right now. I've been on a big Haruki Murakami kick lately, I just finished Norwegian Wood.
10) What would be your last meal?
Some lobster ceviche, with a big slice of german chocolate cake.
11) What're you most excited for in the coming months? Any cool personal projects, events or adventures?
I'm leaving for a 22 day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon in a few days and then moving to northern Idaho in February.
12) Final question: Who's your Cool Friend?
You are Jess, but also Connor Lonning has been one of the biggest influences in my life in terms of chasing dreams and living a life of adventure. He's been living part time in Belize, building an awesome non-profit and filming in the middle-east for the last few years. A hell of a guy.
Make sure to follow Pat on Instagram for more insanely beautiful pictures of wilderness and whiskey HERE. And next time you're in Colorado, make a stop in Fort Collins and grab yourself a Mobb rye on the rocks.