My parents were always seeking things to do with my two brothers and I to preserve their sanity and avoid us burning the house down. Family camping trips were the go to activity. I learned to love travel then because it meant complete freedom. The better portion of my life has been spent traveling to new places, distant countries and vast wilderness areas. The beauty of the mountains is something I now know, having backpacked for over twenty years in the Colorado Rockies, Sierra Nevada's, Peruvian Andes, Cascades, Alaskan Chilkoot's and many other mountain ranges. This Mountain & River gallery includes photographs I took along the way, of grand places that inspire hope, strength, abundance, tranquility, solitude and gratitude.