Hi folks, I’m switchback.

Nature has always been my sanctuary. I am grateful there are outlets that allow me to share that with you. I have also always enjoyed education, and I love sharing my knowledge to help empower others.

If you have always wanted to get outside, my hope is that I can help you do so safely and responsibly. I love seeing people overcome challenges, get to enjoy the beauty of nature, and experience the connection with something greater than us. Nothing centers me better than spending some time away from man-made sounds and sights and reconnecting with nature. I hope to help you discover ways to enjoy the outdoors that work for your brain, your body and your life.

Photography has always been one of my great loves as well, and has been a huge part of how I connect with nature. I hope that sharing this element of my own journey encourages you to find what makes your heart soar.

My Approach

Maybe you have never hiked or camped. Maybe you hiked as a kid, but it’s been years and you don’t know how to get started again. Or you feel overwhelmed and scared. Maybe you want to figure out what getting outside means for you. Maybe the outdoors feel foreign, but something piques your curiosity. Maybe your body limits the activities you’re physically able to do.

there are infinite options

There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors. I hope to help expand the possibilities for anyone who wants to spend more time in nature.

You belong.

This is a judgment-free zone. If you haven’t seen yourself represented in outdoor spaces, you are not alone.

ask the dumb questions.

I hope to reduce overwhelm and give a safe space for asking “dumb” or “obvious” questions. Sometimes, we don’t know what we don’t know. We learn through our mistakes, through the mistakes of others, and by asking questions.

Who is switchback?

I grew up enjoying several outdoor activities. As an adult, my immersion into the outdoors has spanned from living in my car (before it was cool) in Tahoe and working at a ski resort to photography, kayaking, trail running, surfing, solo backpacking and camping in the middle of nowhere.

I spent my early 20s serving our country as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy. I had a medical separation, and experience multiple physical and mental disabilities stemming from my time in service. These have shaped how I now experience the outdoors.

I am also a mother and wife, and I work as a registered nurse. My wife (Mountain Goat) and I are privileged to live in our RV full time, which allows us to enjoy the outdoors nearly every day in some form.