Hello there, my name is Mark F. Costello the Third
but ever since a baby I’ve been called Mac. I was born and raised in Saratoga
Springs, New York an area rich in natural beauty and full of health, history
and horses. I take great pride in my hometown and love living so close to the pristine
Adirondack Mountains, where many of my most precious memories stem from.
“The core of mans' spirit comes
from new experiences.” a quote from my favorite book Into the Wild
Ever since I was a child I have been exploring the
great outdoors with my family, many nights spent camping on Lake George. I
started Boy Scouts young and I believe this was one of the best decisions my
parents have made for me. The scouts trained me in all aspects of outdoor
living and wilderness survival. As well my scout masters taught me rules and
moral laws to live by, I took them to heart and growing up I always remembered
a scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent,
and my troop added thankful to the end. 
Each of my scout leaders were true gentlemen, real
role models and that’s how I plan to live the rest of my life and eventually
teach my kids. Nowadays there is sometimes a negative stigma associated with Scouting,
I remember when I was young some of my friends were called “losers” or “gay”
for being a scout. I admit as a kid I did think some of the ceremonies we lame,
and dressing up in the full scout get up wasn’t my favorite but those weren’t
the reasons why I stuck with it.
I kept with it for the adventure, for the white water
rafting, the 50-mile hikes, the 70-mile canoe trips and most of all for the summit
views. When you defeat a 10,000 foot mountain there is no better feeling of
accomplishment then standing on the edge and seeing the land for thousands of
miles in all directions, feeling the cool constant breeze dry the sweat from
your face as the close sun keeps you warm and realizing just how small you are
in this huge world. I bet any skier, snowboarder or hiker in the room will
agree that this view does the mind and body good, and everyone should
experience a summit view at least once.
I was awarded the seven-year rounder when I was 16 meaning I went camping at least once every month for seven years in a row. Living in the mountains is second nature to me and I prefer it to any city. Actually I hate being in a crowded city for more than an afternoon. Now I travel all over the northeast with my friends, finding the most beautiful spots we can and making them ours just for a few nights, then leaving without a trace.
Thank
you
