Grapenuts Bio

Laurie "Grapenuts" Kuoppala

Date of Birth: 5/15/72

Born: Virginia, MN

Occupation: Ranch Owner and Manager

Official FBET name: Grapenuts
(Yeah, Grapenuts!!! That's right, Colorado ROCKS! Which is where
the term Grapenuts originated, from Pathfinder teasing Colorado and
me living there!! No matter what Pathfinder tells you about us living in
Boulder, wearing berkin stocks(?) hugging trees, buying fancy gear,
and fancy SUVs! There are probably more Jeeps per capita in Colorado
than anywhere in the North American continent, next to Moab!!! ) AND yes,
Cherokees are more popular than Liberty(s) out here too! : )
Huh, so there! I take the name Grapenuts and wear it proudly for Colorado!
{exits stage left, carrying soapbox in hand}

Hobbies: Volleyball, snowboarding, camping, hiking, kayaking, rock clmbing, running, mtn biking, shooting firearms, and coaching. Likes the change of pace of doing a lot of different activities. : )

Brief: Laurie grew up in a small town in Northern Minnesota, did some educational things and moved out to Colorado for the various things Colo. has to offer, like rock-climbing, snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor endeavors. Laurie currently lives in Littleton with Husband Gary, dogs Max and Shelby. All four are moving back to Northern Minnesota and picking up a couple of horses on the way back.

Hopefully plans to set up an Expedition on horseback into the wilderness where allowed.

Hoping to start some sort of MN-Great Lakes Branch of the Fortune Bay Expeditionary Team
once settled back in Minnesota. Hoping to incorporate some of the various things Colorado
taught me in the meantime. : )

Formal Education/Qualifications:
Professional Education (Teacher) - Bachelor of Science
Coaching Certification - before they discontinued curriculum
Formerly trained in First Aid and as 1st Responder - American Red Cross
Snowboard Instructor
Rock-Climbing Instructor - Solid skills for ropework
pertaining to outdoor single and multi pitch sport
climbing routes.
Favorite climbing: El Potrero Chico, Mexico
Favorite snowboarding: Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Favorite kayaking: MultiDay: Canada with FBET
Playboating: Clear Creek Canyon, Colorado

Team Qualifications:

Agawa Canyon Expedition - 2003
Yakpedition 2001

Course Graduate -

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