I grew up on a Minnesota farm. For 30 years I fought wildfires, nearly 25 years as an Alaska smokejumper.

I have hiked the Continental Divide Trail, the PCT an the AT, done a solo traverse of the Brooks Range of Alaska, and lived 70 days exclusively "off the land" in Southeast Alaska.

I am currently semi-retired, based out of a log cabin is near Fairbanks, Alaska.