"Nature is not a place to visit, it is home." –Gary Snyder
In our digital days spent scrolling wildly from one thing to the next, from one screen to another, it’s easy to forget our roots. For many, the distance feels wider than others and, for some, they choose to live their lives outdoors, working in nature no matter the job.
Nick Sabin was born in Boise and finds his adventures in Idaho’s outdoors. Fly fishing, hiking, skiing, biking, rafting, camping, you name it. The outdoors means so much to him that he even proposed while on a rafting trip and is now happily married to his wife Bri. With so many hobbies and interests, it’s no wonder he’s had such a diverse career working everywhere from Roaring Springs to the Payette River. Sabin now proudly holds the title of Head Ski Coach for the Bogus Basin Sports Education Foundation (BBSEF). And, despite being on the road for more than 60 days out of the last four months, it is a career he very much cherishes. “It is super rewarding work, sharing my passion for skiing with the youth of the Treasure Valley,” Sabin explains. “I have never woken up thinking that I didn’t want to go to work. I am always eager to get up on the hill and help better the program or better the kids that I coach.”
Sabin started at BBSEF in college, where he worked both there and at a construction company throughout his time in school. “In between, I’ve been a raft guide and safety kayaker for Bear Valley Raft & Co. on the Payette River system. McCu’s ski and snowboard technician, Professional Ski and Mountain bike patroller for Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, Wildland Firefighter, manager at Idaho River Sports, to name a few. Most of my career has been spent in outdoor seasonal work.”
His motto has always been to ‘take what you do seriously, but to not take yourself too seriously,’ which has been helpful for long days on a fire or after a close shave with nature. “One time while mountain biking in Steamboat Springs, I was charged by a black bear. I don’t think I’ve biked so fast in my life,” he regales. “I’ve been charged by moose on two different occasions, once in particular at Silver Creek while fishing.” He pauses, “I’ve been charged by a lot of animals I am realizing,” he says while he ponders.
One of his many adventurous career paths led him to guiding on the Payette River, a job that gave him an immense amount of respect for the river, and nature in general. One of the many challenges he faced while in this industry was people underestimating the power of the river. “It’s a lot of fun to spend time on the river, but it is inherently dangerous, and I don’t think a lot of folks give it enough respect.” He adds, “I wish more folks didn’t view wearing a PFD (personal floatation device) as uncool.”
With ski season wrapped up for the year, Sabin plans to go thaw out in the Caribbean and will be going on his first cruise. He plans to continue to help grow the BBSEF ski program, keep enjoying nature and teaching others to do the same. Catch ya on the trail!