Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Avalanches & backcountry skiing, climbing (big wall, trad, sport, alpine), trail running
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Resource Sciences, UC Berkeley
• Years of Writing: 8+
• Years of Gear Testing: 4+
• Certifications: Avalanche PRO 2, EMT, WFR, Psychological First Aid (J. Hopkins), Technical Rope Rescue & Search and Rescue Squad Leader (TRT1 & SRT1 from NPS), AMGA Apprentice Ski & Rock Guide
• Club or Association Memberships: American Avalanche Association Pro Member, Access Fund, American Alpine Club
• Previous Publications: The Avalanche Review, Sawtooth Avalanche Center forecasts, Mt. Rainier Climbing Ranger Blog, multiple scientific publications

Why I Chose This Career

Through years of work in SAR and the avalanche industry, I have grown to love using my experiences in the mountains to provide folks with well-written information to make better choices. Getting to work at Switchback Travel allows me to continue down this path by helping folks choose the right gear for their unique adventures outside. 

How I Began My Career

My first professional writing experiences were as an off-grid energy researcher and a contracted author for international energy conferences. After getting to write route descriptions, conditions blogs, observations, and avalanche forecasts during my time as a climbing ranger and avalanche forecaster, I am now convinced that writing about the mountains is what I look forward to doing in some capacity for the rest of my career.