Having grown up in the Bavarian alps, Birgit Loewenstein has a special affinity for the grandeur of the alpine and subalpine landscape of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains. She has backpacked in Alaska, the Rockies, and Cascades, enjoyed the profuse wildflower blooms and frequent encounters with wildlife. Birgit also loves to explore the arid canyons of the Southwest where the interface of water and desert captivates her. Since 2003 she has backpacked with friends or the Sierra Club in the Grand Canyon region, Rainbow plateau, and Utah. She enjoys the physical and mental challenges a Sierra Club trip can offer and the opportunity to discuss conservation issues with trip participants.