Born to a salt of the earth family high in the alps, Clay grew up not experiencing much beyond his home borders. During his pre-teens, his quiet life to turned upside down when his father was killed in a freak avalanche during a hunting trip. Being the youngest, this drastically changed his outlook on life, lighting a fire in him to explore the world and experience all there was to see. He later became a freelancer, while remaining close to his family and visiting them often with curiosities he has found and stories of his escapades.