Expertise & Background
- Topics of Expertise: Climbing, mountaineering, trail running, hiking and backpacking, backcountry skiing
- Education: Masters in Education
- Years of Writing: 9
- Years of Gear Testing: 9
- Certifications: PCGI certified Lead Guide
- Club or Association Memberships: American Alpine Club, Access Fund, Austrian Alpine Club
- Previous Publications: Climbing Magazine, Alpinist, Sidetracked, Adventure Journal, REI Co-op Journal
Why I Chose This Career
It feels like the other way around—this career chose me. I've always loved writing and have a fairly analytical brain, but my biggest fascination in life was with the mountains and the experiences I could have within them. Luckily, I get to combine the two!
How I Began My Career
Way back in the day, I was full-time rock climbing and living in my van and needed some extra cash to support my dirtbaggery. It made sense to write about the gear I was using and the life I was living! Fast forward almost a decade and I'm still doing just that, although my "house" got a little bigger and is no longer on wheels.
Recent Articles
La Sportiva TX Hike Mid Leather GTX Review
Last Updated: October 31, 2023
La Sportiva’s TX collection debuted as a series of approach shoes (the TX2, TX3, and TX4) and has since expanded to include a few hiking-oriented models. As a result of its climbing heritage, the lightweight TX Hike Mid Leather GTX...
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2025
Last Updated: April 21, 2025
A good night’s sleep on a backpacking trip used to be a rarity, but today’s sleeping pads are much improved over their predecessors. Comfort is better than ever with advanced baffling and cell designs, weight and packed size continue to drop, and you...
Rock Climbing Checklist
Last Updated: August 14, 2024
Whether you spend your days climbing indoors or scaling multi-hundred-foot monoliths, it’s always helpful to know what you need. Our detailed climbing checklist below covers the critical gear for different styles of climbing: gym climbing, bouldering...
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody Synthetic Jacket Review
Last Updated: September 24, 2025
Merging features from Patagonia’s winter-weight DAS Parka and their fast-and-light-focused Micro Puff, the DAS Light Hoody was a quick favorite among climbers and backcountry skiers when it first hit the market in 2020. Billed as...