Mountains & Wild Places

The outdoors is where I'm most fully present. What began in grad school as a way to get outside, get some exercise, and spend time with friends became something more over the years — the thing that pulls me completely into where I am. I've moved through hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, skiing, biking, and diving, but the constant across all of it is immersion in wild country, and what it teaches me about engaging with my surroundings.

I've written about some of my trips, and below is an array of photos from years of them — with more on Instagram too. Among them are photos from the day my wife and I exchanged our wedding vows.

Climbing and mountaineering — where I've climbed 

I'm technically fluent across disciplines, on rock, snow, and ice. I lead trad comfortably to a solid 5.8, lead on snow and follow on ice. 

A few climbing leads I'm fond of: the Obelisk (a remote granite dome in the Kings Canyon backcountry, Sierra Nevada); The Spirit of Squamish; Eaglet and Pinnacle Ridge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire; a range of 5.7–5.8 in Red Rocks, Nevada; and many of the 5.4 and 5.5 classics in the Shawangunks. I also have all-season hiking and backpacking experience in the Whites.

In the bigger mountains, some favorites I've led or co-led: Kang Yatze II (6,250m, Indian Himalayas), Breithorn (4,164m, Swiss Alps), Mt. Shasta (California), and an attempt on Rainier.