I grew up in Chicago, where mountains are a rumor and the closest thing to vertical is the Willis Tower. The West got me eventually, and I’ve been trying to make up for lost time since.
Mountain Lessons has been running since 2008. It started as a trip report blog and has evolved — as I have — through medical school, a wilderness medicine fellowship, a few moves, one ill-timed herniated disc, and whatever comes next. These days it’s where I write about mountains, medicine, and what sits in the overlap. More journal than portfolio.
By training I’m an emergency medicine physician with a wilderness medicine fellowship from the University of Utah. I work at St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon and serve as Medical Director to Mt. Bachelor Ski Area. I also run Big Mountain Medical, a consulting practice focused on wilderness medical direction for guide services, outdoor schools, and programs that operate where the nearest hospital is a long way off. Earlier in my career I taught for NOLS, worked ski patrol, observed for the Utah Avalanche Center, and spent as much time as possible outside along the way.
Lists:
Selective and not exhaustive
Running:
- Speedgoat Short Course 28k, 2019, 2nd.
- Wahsatch Steeplechase 2019, 10th.
- Standhope 60k, 2019 5th.
- Cirque Series Snowbird 2019, Exp Div, 4th.
- Complete Enchantments Core Loop, 2016.
- Timberline Trail Mt Hood Circumnavigation, 40 mi. 2014.
- Wildwood Trail Run, 31 mi. 2014.
- Trail Factor 50k March 2013, 5:06:07.
SkiMo:
- Wasatch Powderkeg Individual 2018, Elite, 11th.
- Wasatch Powderkeg Teams 2018, 8th.
- Patrouilles des Glaciers 2018
- Vertfest Alpental 2016, Elite, 1st.
- GoreTex Grand Reverse 2014, 41 mi, 8000′.
- Wasatch Powderkeg 2014 N. American Skimo Championships, raced sprint, individual, teams races.
- Vertfest Mt Bachelor 2014, 3rd place Elite division.
- Mt St Helens Speed Ski Jan. 2014, 5500′, 11.3 mi, 3:37:01 car to car.
Backcountry Skiing:
- South Sister Summit RT, 3:10:50, 1/19/26
- Diller Headwall, Middle Sister, Spring 2025
- Ski Circumnavigation of Broken Top, 1:43:09, 4/25/25
- Ongoing quest through the Chuting Gallery, mostly retired now that I left Utah
- Winter Haute Route, France->Suisse, 2017
- Ortler Circuit, IT, 2018.
- Bomber Traverse, AK, 2016.
- Hokkaido, Japan, 2016.
- Dalvik, Northern Iceland, 2015.
- Crater Lake Ski Circumnavigation, 2014, 33 mi, 8000′.
Thank You
I very much appreciate you, my reader, for choosing to consume what I’ve created. I welcome your feedback and comments. Most of all, travel in the mountains, and perhaps I’ll meet you there.