Hi, it's Mike Engle and I just did something really scary.

I quit my job . . . 

Actually, I'm taking a sabbatical for one year (at least) which required me to quit my high profile job as Director of Technology Development for ON Semiconductor, Inc. My plans are to rock climb as much as possible during 2014 with some filler activities like backcountry skiing, mountain biking, alpine mountaineering, and some home improvement projects.  

I've been climbing for 35 years and during that time I am also a husband, father, engineer, manager, skier, mountain biker, outdoor enthusiast, amateur photographer and likely many more things.  For most of the 35 years, I've had to balance climbing with marriage, family, work, and other interests.  Now I have an opportunity to focus on what I call my 'recreational career'.

Early in my climbing career, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be one of the early route developers of rock climbing at Mount Rushmore National Monument. With my climbing partners, Vern Phinney and Mark Jacobs, we established many classic new rock climbs in an area that was mostly undeveloped.  Our efforts opened the doors to further development by a number of talented climbers and led to Mount Rushmore National Monument becoming a sport climbing destination.  But that's another story.

At 58 years old, I find myself relatively fit and still able to onsight 5.11 on a good day.  As I age, I've seen friends and colleagues who find themselves unable to pursue their passions for a variety of health or 'responsibility' issues.  Before it's 'too late', I decided to take a year for myself and mostly rock climb around the western United States on routes and in areas both familiar and new.  I intend to dive into my long standing destinations and climbing objectives list.  

This decision required me to quit my my job at ON Semiconductor, Inc in Pocatello, Idaho.  It was no easy task to walk away from my long and successful career as an engineer and manager in the semiconductor industry but I summoned the courage and gave notice near the end of December, 2013.

Part of my plans are to document my adventures with my Adventure Photography website engleportal.zenfolio.com and through this associate blog.  A partial list of objectives for the coming year include Moab, Mt. Lemmon, Red Rocks, Joshua Tree, Devil's Tower, the Needles of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, the Wind Rivers, the Tetons, the Sawtooths, Eldorado, Devil's Head, Rocky Mtn National Park, the Needles of California, the Gunks, and many more.  In fact much more than many year's of being a weekend warrior can accomplish.