Hello and welcome to Adventure Four Corners! If you travel frequently, you’re likely aware that locals possess a wealth of knowledge about their region. They can point you to the best dining spots, recommend the right dry flies, and suggest your next outdoor adventure. However, it’s not always easy to connect with the right people who can guide you in the right direction during your travels. That is where Adventure Four Corners can assist. I have lived in and explored extensively throughout the Four Corners region of the Southwest my entire life. The Four Corners is my home and I absolutely love it here. I started this blog to not only share my passion for adventure, but to encourage, inspire and guide people to their own explorations in the Four Corners and beyond.
Who is Adventure Four Corners For?
Are you not sure about where to plan your next adventure? Are you not sure about what to do in the Four Corners? I can totally relate. Planning adventures and vacations in new places can be overwhelming. I created this blog to give you a leg up on your next adventure to the Four Corners. My hope is for your future adventures to feel successful, safe and be packed full of fun. Learn from my extensive experience in the outdoors and plan your next trip to maximize your time.
Who am I?
Hello, my name is Greg Cathey. I was raised in the Four Corners and I call Farmington New Mexico my home. I spent much of my childhood exploring the public lands near my house hunting, fishing and exploring every chance I could get. When I wasn’t exploring I was dreaming about the backcountry. I grew up playing organized sports and had a pretty successful amateur career playing competitive baseball. The pinnacle of my amateur career was getting the chance to play in the Connie Mack World Series. We played well and when it was all over, I felt like my childhood ended as well. The reality of the future set in and I realized quickly I didn’t have a real plan. I really needed a reset. Like any good outdoorsman my mind is the most clear in the mountains miles away from the world’s distractions.
A few days after what felt like the end of my childhood, I packed up and headed into the Weminuche Wilderness for a back packing excursion with my brother and a few very close friends in Southwestern Colorado. During that trip, I realized two things: I still didn’t know which career path to choose, and I needed to be near mountains and rivers, no matter what. Adventure was my goal moving forward, and I haven’t looked back since.
Adventure Four Corner’s unusual resumé
A few years later, I earned an associate’s degree in Outdoor Leadership and Recreation from San Juan Community College, planning to work as a mountaineering and fly fishing guide. With skills in winter backcountry travel, rock climbing, and mountaineering, plus certifications in avalanche rescue, wilderness first response, and Leave No Trace, I felt ready to start my guiding career. However, life took a turn when I met an incredible woman who shared my love for adventure. We eventually got married and explored the mountains and deserts of the Southwest whenever we could. She became an elementary school educator, and I started working in the oil and gas industry.
The instability of the oil and gas industry, along with several layoffs, motivated me to finish my bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology, with the intention of working in education. After completing my degree, I continued in the oil and gas industry for the higher pay. But a major downturn in the San Juan Oil and Gas Basin eventually pushed me to pursue teaching.
Greg Cathey’s Professional Bio
Greg Cathey grew up hunting, fly-fishing and camping with his family across the Southwest. His upbringing created a lifelong passion for outdoor exploration. Greg pursued a degree in Outdoor Leadership and Recreation from San Juan College. This education gave Greg a well rounded background in many outdoor adventure activities and the confidence to lead groups into the backcountry. Greg continued his education with the University of New Mexico and found Social Psychology to be a fascinating field to study. Narrowing his focus Greg transferred to American Military University to finish the last leg of his bachelor’s in Social Psychology degree where he graduated at the top of his class with honors.
Greg has worn many hats throughout the years. He is a dedicate family man, husband and father of three boys. He worked almost 2 decades in the Oil and Gas industry in production, drilling, natural gas compression, gas measurement and procurement management. Greg taught at the middle school level as a New Mexico and US History teacher. When Greg isn’t working or creating content you can find him volunteering at his church, exploring public lands with his family, summiting mountains or in his drift boat on the San Juan River.