Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Trail running, mountain biking, hiking and backpacking, resort and backcountry skiing
• Education: MBA, Seattle University
• Years of Writing: 9
• Years of Gear Testing: 9
• Club or Association Memberships: Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust

Why I Chose This Career

I wouldn't say it was my plan all along, but the work connects a lot of things I love: creating and building something great, geeking out on outdoor gear, and adventuring in my Pacific Northwest backyard and around the world.

How I Began My Career

I met Switchback founder, David Wilkinson, while I was working at REI and part way through my MBA program in 2014. The opportunity to rethink outdoor gear testing, photography, and long-form content was too good to pass up!

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.

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.

Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Backpacking, bikepacking, trail running, camping, climbing, archery
• Education: Bachelor of Arts, English / Creative Writing
• Years of Writing: 15
• Years of Gear Testing: 10+
• Previous Publications: New York Times, Outside Magazine, Longreads, Backpacker, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, The Strategist, Runner’s World, Travel + Leisure, The Trek, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling Magazine, Adventure Cycling, Backpacking Light, Wide Open Spaces

Why I Chose This Career

I have always enjoyed backcountry travel and writing, and somehow figured out a way to turn it into a career between writing, editing, and gear testing. 

How I Began My Career

I started as an intern with a local outdoors magazine. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail I took a job as the managing editor for an outdoor publication and continued as a full-time freelance writer from there.

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise:
• Years in this Expertise: 
• Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested:

Education & Certifications

• Education: 
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Why I chose this career: 

How I began my career: 

Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Running, skiing, travel
• Education: Bachelor of Arts, International Studies and Spanish (2006), Juris Doctor (2009)
• Years of Writing: 15
• Certifications: AIARE Course Instructor, AIARE Pro 2 Certificate of Training
• Club or Association Memberships: American Avalanche Association, American Mountain Guides Association, Central Oregon Avalanche Center
• Previous Publications: 1859 Magazine, Bend Magazine, iRunFar, Men’s Journal, Source Weekly, The Avalanche Review, Travel Oregon

Why I Chose This Career

I love the outdoors, sharing experiences with others, and writing.

How I Began My Career

I began my career as a lawyer before making the shift to the outdoor industry, where I started as a copywriter. After 10+ years in marketing and content management, I began working as a freelance writer for my own personal enjoyment and creative fulfillment, in addition to ski guiding and teaching avalanche courses. In 2022, my side gigs became my full-time job—now, I split my time between guiding/avalanche education in the winter and freelance writing in the summer and fall.

Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Climbing, trail running, skiing & ski mountaineering, packrafting, backpacking, hunting, fishing
• Education: Master of Arts in Environmental Journalism, University of Colorado Boulder
• Years of Writing: 5+
• Years of Gear Testing: 2+
• Certifications: CPR/First Aid
• Previous Publications: NPR, The Atlantic, High Country News, Outside, Alpinist, and more

Why I Chose This Career

Writing about outdoor gear—along with public land, climate, and wildlife issues—is a perfect way to engage with what I love and value in both my professional and personal life.

How I Began My Career

I started writing about the outdoors serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer after college doing fuels reduction and trail work in the Desert Southwest. From there, I started pitching stories to outlets like Alpinist, and soon decided to make things official by going back to school for journalism. 

Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, canyoneering, skiing, yoga, travel
• Education: Bachelor of Fine Art, RMCAD
• Years of Writing: 15+
• Years of Gear Testing: 8+
• Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Clinical Herbalism & Nutrition, Full Stack Web Development
• Club or Association Memberships: American Alpine Club, Leadership Lake Tahoe
• Previous Publications: OutdoorGearLab, TechGearLab, Plant Healer Magazine

Why I Chose This Career

I have a deep passion for writing, education, art, and the outdoors. Working for Switchback Travel brings together the best parts of every job I've had or skill I've amassed in a dynamic way that keeps me on my toes.

How I Began My Career

I've been writing for all of my adult life, but my first professional endeavors were in the realm of herbalism and botany, writing curricula for classes and conferences. I also spent many years teaching people how to ferment almost anything (from sauerkraut and cheese to bread and wine) and how to make their own body care products. I love helping folks learn a new skill or find the right tool for the job, and I subsequently started testing and writing about outdoor gear in 2016. I knew I'd found my niche, and it's been a joy to continue to guide outdoor enthusiasts to the right products and to be challenged by friends and colleagues while playing outside. 

Expertise & Background

• Topics of Expertise: Climbing, trail running, backpacking, hiking, camping, downhill skiing
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University
• Years of Writing: 8+
• Years of Gear Testing: 6+
• Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, CPR, AIARE Level 1
• Club or Association Memberships: Access Fund, American Alpine Club
• Previous Publications: Backpacker Magazine

Why I Chose This Career

As a writer and editor for Switchback Travel, I’ve been able to merge my journalism background with my love for the outdoors—a perfect convergence of my expertise and personal passions.

How I Began My Career

My first professional writing experience was with Backpacker Magazine in 2016, where I interned during a semester in college. During my time there, I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and committed to pursuing a career in the outdoor industry.