About Me
This section of my site is to showcase some of what I really love to do outside of academics, and what fuels my imagination. It also aims to give some context for my enthusiasm for outdoor products and engineering as a whole.
My dad made a point of getting the family outside as much as possible growing up and laid the foundation for my interest in outdoor gear with countless trips to the local outdoors store to ogle the camping stoves, backpacks and other paraphernalia.
My family (minus my older brother) in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario. Despite the massive welt from a mosquito bite on my forehead, this was an excellent weeklong family canoe trip.
Descending to our camp at White Rock Lakes during the Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades.
Happened upon this tree frog 500 feet off of the Yosemite Valley floor on the classic "Serenity Sons" climb. So cool to see a camouflage so clearly evolved on the salt and pepper speckled granite of the sierra!
I love rock climbing because it pushes me, both mentally and physically. I love feeling in control and safe while I am in a wild and foreign environment. I also love the challenge of memorizing specific movements and sequences when working on a harder route. The picture to the right shows one of the upper pitches of the Hitchhiker, South Early Winters Spire, Washington Pass.
My dad in 1985 and myself in 2018 taking the leap 33 years apart on John's Jump in Custer State Park, South Dakota.
Bath time in the Grand Canyon during a 17 day float on the Colorado River. Under the red travertine flows, the black vishnu schist can be seen in this picture. This schist is some of the oldest exposed rock in the Grand Canyon at 1.7 billion years.
On a ski tour near Reno, NV we happened upon this abandoned ski lift. I was enthralled at the perfect demonstration of yield failure and brittle fracture (if you look closely, there are some cast iron pipes with clear fracture failure). I gave my brother a quick crash course in failure modes so he could share my enthusiasm... I'm not sure he was as captivated as I hoped.
As an engineering student, I studied fluid dynamics and turbulent flow characteristics, but actually floating through some provides a more immersive experience.
I draw great joy from the natural world. I believe in fiercely defending, supporting, and encouraging people to experience it. I am building my career around engineering the tools that allow people to safely and sustainably connect with our precious planet.