About Me

My Story

My first backpacking trip was when I was 10 years old, at Feather Falls. We had two options - the shorter vertical hike or the longer, more even trail. One very long, exhausting day later, my father helped me set up my first tent chuckling to himself while I swore I’d never take a short cut again. It was a promise I certainly haven’t kept.

Since then, I’ve been on dozens of backpacking and camping trips. I’ve seen some pretty amazing things, and I’ve learned the hard way - through mistakes and experience - the best ways to fully enjoy the outdoors.

Those mistakes I’ve made allow me to give you a leg up on your first trip, because before you even hit the trail you’ll have learned from them. I’ve also had resources of my own to learn from, such as back country rangers and published naturalists. With hundreds of miles under my belt, I can safely say that I’ve learned a thing or two from the best when it comes to how best to experience the back country.

I’ve also taught people. Working with youngsters throughout the Bay Area, as well as adults, I’ve got loads of experience gifting my knowledge to others. I’ve taught people why bears don’t really want to bother you. How a steak can make for an excellent first night meal. Where to find the ideal spot to pitch your tent in the desert. I know how many fleece jackets are required to keep you warm (when you forget to pack your sleeping bag). Which water filters work best for a quick refill and which are better for your morning coffee - and why you’d want both. And some of the fun stories behind what we can see in the night sky.

While I’ve been backpacking since I was ten years old, I’ve been involved in outdoor education since I was fifteen. I can safely wander the backwoods with people utterly new to the environment and ensure that they learn how to navigate, sleep, use the facilities, cook, and even name some of the local flora and fauna.

And if I don’t have the answer to a question, I know people that do. How does one use a bear to find a way into a ravine? What’s the proper course of action when a banana slug takes a nose dive from a tree limb into your open mouth mid snore? Luckily, with my connections, these are questions that I can provide answers to even without having had to experience them first hand, so that you’re in the best position for success when your bear bag becomes a piñata.

And to answer those last two questions: by jumping out of the bushes like a madman, and finding your sense of humor while you begin to retch.