I will begin by being candid with you. When I started my journey in environmental conservation, I had no grand sense of a higher purpose. I just wanted adventure and a backstage pass to my favorite parks...

However, 8 years of “getting paid to hike” by working with government land agencies, youth organizations, and educational guiding companies meant I was introduced to pristine skies, close-up views of pikas, ambling desert tortoises, and countless other inspiring pieces of nature. Pieces that I learned could be lost if those of us who cared didn’t fight to protect them and educate others about the importance of conservation of, and connection to, the natural world.

As I matured with my career, I found myself becoming an advocate. That backstage pass showed me it was not miracles or magic, but science and ecology that held the wonder of the world. I also learned that the way to find solutions in conservation came from humans who collaborated and actively worked for those solutions. I aim to connect you, my reader, with the natural world around you, through my stories and pictures. 

I'm looking forward to this journey together. Let's hit the trail.