Richard has guided more than 220 days across a wide range of mountain sports including rock climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, whitewater, backpacking, backcountry skiing, map and compass, and photography.

Over the last few years, Richard has:
skied or mountaineered across the Isolation, Ptarmigan, Bailey, Chiwaukum and Enchantments traverses in Washington
climbed and/or skied the five volcanoes of Washington
rowed a raft down the Grand Canyon as part of a 27day winter noncommercial trip, and
visited 20 out of 26 wilderness glaciers of Glacier National Park as part of a multiyear storytelling project.

Topics covered include:

Defining winter backpacking & the importance of understanding your region
How to choose a location, especially as a beginner
The biggest mistake Andrew and Richard have made winter backpacking
How to obtain drinking water and stay hydrated
The best stove and fuel to use in cold environments
Food planning and ideal foods for winter travel
Gear considerations
Best use of snowshoes versus skis
How to sleep warm and dry
Vapor barrier liners: how they work and application
Considerations for choosing a winter shelter
Choosing and preparing a campsite and pitching your shelter
How to deal with frozen boots overnight
The importance of avalanche training if you’re recreating in that terrain