I moved from the Midwest to Washington State in 1994. I was 18 and collage was starting for me in the small town of Wenatchee. Wenatchee's close proximity to the Cascade Mountains allowed to explore outdoor pursuits that had previously been heavily guarded by the flat plains of the upper Midwest. My academic and alpine education continued in Pullman WA until 1998 when my BS in horticulture landed me a career back closer to Wenatchee and closer the adventures of the Cascades. Horticulture only satisfied me temporarily but the mountain fever remains strong. Now I'm located in the small town of Leavenworth WA. It was here I first learned to top rope and why one must always start there cook stove well clear of there tent and so on and so forth. Now the mountains and travel dominate my life as I work to allow my outdoor pursuits to support me financially with my Chilean outfitting business.