Bertram Koelsch celebrated his second birthday on the Arctic Circle. This family trip, where diaper changes included quick rinses in chilling Alaskan streams, first introduced Bertram to the raw splendor of the wilderness. Since these days, Bertram has spent his vacations outdoors on trips ranging from ski tours in northern Sweden and the Swiss Alps to backpacking trips in the Andes and the mountains of Central Asia. Bertram's Alaska adventures have been primarily focused in the northern Brooks Range. Here, he has enjoyed numerous backpacking trips under the midnight sun and a dogsled trip beneath the northern lights. Bertram lives in Utah and spends his weekends in search of beautiful spots for hiking, climbing and backcountry skiing.