This was one of the more eventful years for me.

I launched my first big product (which is currently down while I revamp it before a February 2012 relaunch).

I renamed and retooled my main big blog (from Blogging Bookshelf to The Backlight).

I started several other blogs and projects, including Amazopia, cuteAWESOME, infographics.me, vowels.me, and Random Conference Talk.

I went on a 3 week mountaineering road trip by myself.

And speaking of road tripping and traveling… I did a lot of it. I visited 12 states on several different trips. Here’s a map showing most of the major road trips I went on:

My Road Trips

My 2011 Road Trips

I climbed 26 mountains that I’d never climbed before, plus repeat ascents of mountains I’d already done. Highlights included Mt. Adams, Mt. Shasta, Half Dome, Ibapah Peak (trip report coming soon), and Borah Peak. I climbed more mountains in this one year than I’d climbed in my whole life before this year.

I moved to Salt Lake City after having lived in Provo for 5 years. It was a great decision.

I went the whole year without dating anyone (which, mission aside, I haven’t done since I was, I don’t know… 14?).

I bought my first Mac, a MacBook Air. It. Is. Amazing.

My focus shifted from rock climbing to mountaineering, mainly because I can climb mountains without a partner. I still did a bunch of rock climbing, but I’ve done far less climbing this year than years past.

I went to a bunch of national parks that I’d not been to previously, including Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

My 96-year-old grandpa died.

I did my first rock climbing and mountain climbing in Colorado.

I got rid of most of my possessions and got down to about 80 things. I’ve since acquired more, but I still have relatively few things.

I bought my first Kindle, which changed my life. I now read a lot more. That’s saying something, because I was not a lightweight reader before then.

I sold my technical ice climbing gear (namely my tools and screws). I’ve done a lot of ice climbing over the years but I always had the nagging uncomfortable feeling that I’d fall and kill myself.

I did more free soloing this year than in all previous years combined.

I went bungee jumping for the first time.

I started getting more interested in family history.

It was my first full year of not being in school. The magnitude of the awesomeness of this feeling cannot be overstated.

And oh yeah, I started The Aloof. I combined a couple blogs’ worth of my older content into this one, making it the place online where I write about whatever I darn well please, without having to worry about driving traffic or pleasing my readers. I love it.

There’s more. Like I said, this has been an extremely eventful year. But this is enough to focus on, be happy about, and be grateful for. 2011 was great. 2012 will be incredible.