Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Skiing, backcountry skiing, mountaineering
• Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Pacific Lutheran University
• Years of Gear Testing: 12

Why I Chose This Career

I fell into this role through a love of language and a fascination with the finer points of the gear that take us places. I’ve always been enraptured by the relationship between structure and function—how does it work and why does it work? This fascination led me to pursue a degree in biology, examining the structure of ecological systems and the function of delicate invertebrate structures. During that time, I regularly exercised the skill of concise communication, scientifically presenting the facts as they are and arguing for the care of the natural world. Meticulous as that curiosity has made me, it's also made me absolutely gear-obsessed when it comes to deciding what to take into the mountains. Ever the armchair engineer, I’m picky about every gram of gear I carry and its worthiness toward the generation of fun.

How I Began My Career

I spent my early 20s in and out of ski and bike shops, casually conversing with customers and passing on my "reviews" of all the gear I was nerding out about. I spent every day I could in the mountains, beating equipment to pieces and wondering how I could get in on the R&D end of things and give some feedback to the engineers designing my toys. Years passed, and I geared my professional life toward one that keeps me in the mountains. I bounced around seasonal conservation roles, cutting trees and trails in the woods by summer and skiing in the winter. My engineering mind now pays the bills as a carpenter and home builder—always in demand in these booming mountain towns, and enough so to set my schedule around adventuring in the hills.