Communing with Nature I grew up in Bellingham, Washington, and spent the better part of my adolescence hiking, mountain biking, camping, rock climbing, and snowboarding the immense outdoor offerings of Whatcom County - the in-town coastal Cascade Mountain Range and the adjacent North Cascades. It became a very important part of my life and identity. As I left the NW for college and ended up living the last 9 years on the Great Plains, I came to realize how deep my connection with mountains and forests was. While living in Nebraska, occasional summer trips to the Rockies or other mountains gave me a discernible recharge of my spirits. Without waxing overly romantic, I have come to Continue readingJohn Muir, Toys R Us, the LDS Church, and Me on the Outdoors, Nature, Wilderness, and the Environment