I am a wandering writer who would much prefer the trail to the office, but finds a way to do both. During the summer of 2016 I embarked on a solo five-month hiking and camping trip throughout the western US, visiting large national parks and smaller regional wilderness areas. I've hugged giant redwoods on the James Irvine Trail in California and seen cacti bloom after a monsoon at Saguaro National Park in Arizona. I spent time with a bear in Sequoia National Park. When not on the road, I enjoy local Pacific Northwest hikes from the Cascades to the Olympics. I always carry a book and a journal.