JOE KELLAM

Hello, my name is Joe Kellam and I am from the Great Lakes region of the United states. Growing up here was an outdoor adventure, I was always outside hiking, canoeing, camping and biking. Frequent trips to the north woods and trails as well as the national parks such as Isle Royale, and Pictured Rocks were my summer fun. I have been hiking and backpacking for as long as I can remember. 

My career path as a state conservation officer put me in touch with outdoor enthusiasts on a daily basis, and protecting the opportunities for future generations was a way of life. I was fortunate enough to become a wilderness survival instructor as well as a NASAR certified lead evaluator and instructor while leading the state's efforts for search and rescue. I have moved on to the college scene and now teach courses in backpacking, search and rescue, as well as wilderness survival. I find it very rewarding to help the next generation get started in outdoor pursuits.

On a personal level I spend most weekends and several weeks a year backpacking North America and now Central America. Last year I backpacked in 7 states in the US, many of the miles were on the Appalachian trail and my home trail, the North Country. Many solo trips, and many with friends. I volunteer my time helping to maintain the trails and get young kids outside. I have several US and international trips in the works and look forward to sharing those experiences while using quality gear.