Once a year, all of Automattic gets together in one place for a full week of face-to-face work, learning, food and fun. We fly in from all around the world, shuttle to a hotel/resort/space of some sort, and then get together to work through a bunch of things. This year we descended upon Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah (another US state crossed off my list!). The week was roughly structured into a front-loaded, work-type-things section, and a tail end more loaded with activities. For my part, I:

• Learned more about Node.js (and got a copy of coworker @TooTallNate‘s “Node.js in Action“), specifically in relation to some new applications we’re building out at WordPress.com
• Worked with React.js some more (which is awesome and pretty exciting)
• Went on a 5km run (walked the first bit, but then my knee was feeling OK so I ran most of it)
• Took a gondola ride up the mountain, then went on a ~1.5 hour hike through beautiful aspens and conifers, past a trout-stocked lake and through some downhill MTB trails
• Went on a guided fly fishing trip with guides from Trout Tales, where I (finally!) caught my first fish; and then my second and third as well
• Visited High West Distillery for a tour, tasting, and picked up a bottle of their Son of Bourye (a delicious blend of Bourbon and Rye)
• Met a bunch of new Automatticians and spent time hanging out and getting to know people new and old
• Road tripped from Denver, CO to Park City, UT and back again with @alternatekev and @michaelarestad

Michelle did a great official write-up on the WordPress.com Blog.

Here is a collection of shots from the week (including the trip there and back):

Welcome to Utah.Road trip selfie.My room’s view.Company photo.Gondola ride.High West Distillery.Closing toast.Party suite… all work and no play on the last day.Crazy panorama from a rest stop in Utah.Completely accidental selfie.Beautiful Colorado mountains.Company Photo, 2014

* Title image taken by Luca Sartoni