Backcountry Exploration: A Lifelong Passion Turned Purpose

For almost 20 years, backcountry exploration has been my passion, and for a time, it was my livelihood. But as the years go by, I’ve found it harder to get other men out there with me. There's always a reason, busy schedules, family commitments, but most often, it's the cost. Yet, knowing firsthand the benefits of being in the wilderness, I’ve made it a priority. I take 3 to 5 trips each year, always trying to get others involved. But it’s never easy. Without the right channels in place, finding the resources for gear, planning, and logistics has always been a struggle. As one person, I can’t cover it all on my own.

That’s where Backcountry Alliance was born, an organization dedicated to bringing people and resources together to get veterans and first responders into the backcountry. With the help of some of the best partners in the outdoor industry, I’m excited to be part of something bigger, with the goal of getting more men out there to experience the wilderness like I have.

My backcountry journey really started after I left the Marine Corps in 2013. I took a job with the state of Minnesota, leading troubled youth into the wilderness for 22-day trips focused on group and individual therapy. Wilderness therapy taught me that it wasn’t about what I had to say but about how nature itself pushes you, both mentally and physically. It strips away the distractions of modern life, giving us the space to think and heal. In 2014, I spent over 200 nights in a tent, and it truly showed me how powerful the wilderness can be, especially in my own transition from the military to civilian life.

But the real turning point came on December 12, 2014. That was the day I broke my back in a skiing accident. My career in wilderness therapy ended in an instant, and so did the life I knew. With a spinal cord injury and eight days in the ICU, doctors told me I’d never walk again. But I couldn’t accept that. I knew I had to get back into the woods. After 50 days of intense rehab, I walked out of the hospital, driven by the desire to return to the wilderness, to what I loved most.

Less than a year later, I was back in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, ready for a new chapter. It was just the beginning.

Now, ten years and countless trips later, I’ve come to fully appreciate the power of wilderness therapy. My spinal cord injury continues to impact my life, but as I face the challenges ahead, I hope to pass along the knowledge and experience I’ve gained. Other men need the opportunity to test their limits like we did in the military. We need to reunite in both healing and celebration. Fellowship is forged through overcoming hardship, and there’s no better place to do that than in the backcountry.