Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Moerschbaecher.
Hi Joe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a teenager I had a strong desire to push both my mind and body. My father in his wisdom encouraged me to try out for the cross country team in high school. In cross country I found discipline, structure, motivation, love of nature, and an avenue to push my physical and mental limits. The next seven years of my life were spent pursuing the sport of distance running specifically cross country. In my cross country pursuits over the years I realized that “you can’t put in what god left out” meaning we are all limited by are genetic makeup. My cross country career gave me the opportunity to train well behind runners that were far more talented and faster than me, but it also provided me the opportunity to push myself to my own personal limit and begin to understand the importance of that inner scorecard.
The decision to pursue cross country as a youth led me to Brevard College where I received a small running scholarship, but was attracted to the school in 1999 ,because of their one of their unique degree program in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education.
By now my plans had changed I had learned about a sport called adventure racing and was crafting a long term plan to become involved in this multi discipline multi day team sport which takes place in the wilderness. Running was providing me with the strong endurance base needed to compete and I was learning the necessary skills and disciplines from the wilderness curriculum at Brevard College.
Two years later I was competing in my first adventure race a 24 hr solo event. As I put cross country aside I started to move to trail running and ultramarathons to more compliment my adventure racing pursuits. The next decade of my life was spent racing. The sport of adventure racing gave me plenty of learning opportunities both as a racer and later a race director at Odyssey Adventure Racing. There I did my college internship, and helped bring the Beast of the East multiday adventure race to the town of Brevard, NC in the early 2000’s. Adventure Racing gave me the opportunity to travel to multiple continents and around the United States. After about a decade, I found my interests getting pulled toward my own guide business Pura Vida Adventures and another sport, canyoneering.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been plenty of challenges and struggles along the way. Here are a list of some of the challenges we have had to overcome: The recession in 2008, the covid pandemic, and Hurricane Helene to name a few that effected most of us in the region. I have also faced many personal obstacles including losses of very close friends in my late 20’s and early 30’s and the passing of my father in 2021.
Over the years, I have tried to give myself more patience and more time to reflect, learn, and when needed grieve over these losses. The obstacles and challenges are mush easier to overcome if they do not come with loss of loved ones. As I get older I realize the loss of a loved ones is my greatest struggle, but I try to keep their spirit alive by sharing their wisdom.
“Everyday a Holiday, Every Meal a Banquet” A favorite quote of my good friend who passed way to early, Jack Hines
Find what you love and do it for a living. Would you rather pursue your passion or simply have a job? My father’s advice.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In 2006 I started Pura Vida Adventures (Mountain Guide Service) and soon after discovered the sport of canyoneering. I quickly fell in love with the sport because of its multi disciplinary nature, which includes rappelling, ascending, swimming, hiking, climbing and scrambling. Although canyoneering was popular in the western states it was nearly obsolete east of the Mississippi. In the summer of 2007 we started to offer our first canyoneering experiences in North Carolina and became the first company to offer commercial canyoneering east of the Mississippi. Over the next few years I began taking classes with instructors from the western states where canyoneering was more prevalent and learned about the American Canyoneering Association later becoming a certified guide and an accredited training facility with the Association. Pura Vida Adventures canyoneering has trained thousands of people in the sport of canyoneering and rappelling over the last 15 years. Our company also continues to offer private white water rafting adventures, rock climbing, mountain biking and paddling programs.
We have created relationships with our guests over the years that have led to friendships. One of the most rewarding things I have had the opportunity to experience over the last two decades is to see the personal confidence and skills growth of both our guests as well as guides throughout the years. You are only as good as the team you have around you and I am truly surrounded by some incredible people.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Pura Vida Adventures offers guided programs and instruction in rock climbing, canyoneering, waterfall rappelling, mountain biking, backpacking, and paddling. In addition we offer shuttle and logistical services on the Art Loeb or Foothills Trails.
If you have an interest in experiencing waterfall rappelling, canyoneering, rock climbing, or mountain biking we have programming for beginners to advanced with over 25 years experience.
In addition we offer private programming for families, birthday parties, scout groups, corporate teams, and professional training.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pvadventures.com/
- Instagram: @pvadventures
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pvadventures
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PVAdventures
