I bought my 1st adult backpack 40 years ago when I moved to Utah to be a ski bum. That led me into backcountry skiing and climbing which led me to become a mountain guide  through the late 80s and 90s including a stint working for Black Diamond equipment in the early 90s (a very interesting era) working as an in house rep as well as sitting on a number of design groups for the company. Now a mostly retired climber I enjoy interesting on and off trail routes mainly exploring the Sierra.