Townsend, Chris: - Chris Townsend is a passionate enthusiast and advocate for wilderness. He has spent much of his life exploring wild places and has completed many long-distance walks. He is the author of twenty-nine books, most illustrated with his own photographs, and has co-authored and contributed to several more. Chris has also written and illustrated hundreds of articles for a variety of magazines, web sites and newspapers. Since 1991 he has been the Equipment Editor of The Great Outdoors magazine, contributing monthly features on gear and techniques, as well as regular pieces on his walks and other outdoor topics. Chris was awarded the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Award for Excellence for Outdoor book of the Year for The Backpacker's Handbook in 1993 and for Out There: A Voice From The Wild in 2016. He also received the OWPG Award for Outdoor Feature in 1996, 1997, 2008, 2014 and 2015.Chris lives in the Highlands of Scotland and remains active in the mountains year round. He continues to communicate his feelings about nature and the joy it brings through his writing and photography. To learn more, and to read Chris' frequently updated blog, please visit: ChrisTownsendOutdoors.com.