Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D.

I started skiing at age 7 on Oregon's famed Mount Hood and spent my youth traveling around the world with my family. I started snowboarding and windsurfing in the early 1980s then gravitated to the untouched powder of the backcountry, which inspired my first book.

I became a board junkie: snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, and, lately, kitesurfing and snowkiting. But, now I happen to spend more time mountain biking, road cycling, trail running, and swimming, not only to keep in shape, but to stay in touch with the wild areas around the globe that I love.

Recently I picked up the hot new adventure sport of PARENTING! My two daughters swim, bike, hike, camp, ski, and travel overseas right in step with me.

Meanwhile, I have an intertwined career as an emergency and wilderness physician. I work as a mountain doctor at a ski resort, as a mountain rescue volunteer, and in a local emergency room. In addition to writing seven books, I serve as Editor-in-Chief for Wilderness Medicine, the official magazine for Wilderness Medical Society, for which I write a column called "Great Gear for Work and Play."

I frequently lecture at international medical conferences on wilderness medicine topics, serve on the Board of Directors of Wilderness Medical Society and serve as a member of the Medical Committee of Mountain Rescue Association.