I grew up about twenty minutes from the nearest paved road, which probably explains a lot about how I ended up here. My father ran a small outfitting business in the Rockies, and by the time I was twelve I could break down a canoe trip itinerary better than most adults could plan a grocery run. That early exposure to the backcountry never left me, and it’s the reason this site exists.
Montgomery Peterson isn’t a brand voice built in a boardroom. I’ve spent the better part of two decades working seasonal guide jobs, writing gear reviews for smaller outdoor publications, and slowly building a library of travel notes from trips across five continents. A few years ago I turned those notes into my first book, a field guide to backcountry navigation that’s available on Amazon, and I’ve since published a couple more titles covering long-distance hiking prep and budget travel for outdoor lovers. Writing books forced me to get serious about accuracy, and that habit carried over into everything I publish here.
This site is where I put the material that doesn’t fit neatly into a book. Trail breakdowns, packing lists I’ve actually tested in the field, honest gear comparisons, and travel guides built from trips I’ve taken myself rather than research pulled together from other blogs. If I recommend a tent, it’s because I’ve slept in it during a hailstorm. If I write about a destination, I’ve been there, usually more than once.
My approach to outdoor writing is simple: assume the reader is smart and just wants straight information. I skip the fluff about “finding yourself” in nature and get straight to what you need to know before you leave the driveway. That means real mileage figures, real cost breakdowns, and honest warnings about the parts of a trip that go wrong.
When I’m not writing or traveling, I’m usually somewhere without cell service, which is exactly how I like it. My wife and two kids have gotten used to summers built around road trips and national park itineraries, and more than a few articles on this site started as notes scribbled at a campsite picnic table.
If you’re planning your own trip and want a second opinion, or you’ve got a correction on something I’ve written, reach out through the contact page. I read every message myself.
This site contains affiliate links, including as an Amazon Associate. I earn from qualifying purchases, and it never changes what I recommend.