A native Californian who grew up camping and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, Cheryl Parkins unavoidably developed a deep love of being in wilderness early on. Gravitating to high passes and enormous vistas, in 1988 she began leading in the Himalaya and has continued into the present. Her treks, usually over 30 days on the trail, are long enough to allow the spirit of the place to begin to sink into the bones. She is a founding member of the non-profit Friends of Dolpa, which partners directly with indigenous people to improve education and promote cultural and ecological preservation in the Dolpo region of northwest Nepal. Cheryl is a certified Wilderness First Responder. At home, she enjoys playing violin and growing vegetables.
