WRITER

Brendan’s creative work as a writer, filmmaker, and illustrator focuses on finding common threads that bring us together, and using humor as an entry point to inspiring and empowering other people. He created the website Semi-Rad.com in 2011, and since then, his writing has appeared in Outside, Climbing, Alpinist, Adventure Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Backpacker, CNN.com, and dozens of other publications. His films have shown at film festivals worldwide, including the Banff Mountain Film Festival, Wild and Scenic Film Festival, and Mountainfilm. He’s adventure-agnostic, having spent some of the best days of his life rock climbing, mountaineering, whitewater rafting, backcountry skiing, bikepacking, and doing his current obsession, mountain ultrarunning. Born and raised in the flatlands of small-town Iowa, he now lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and primary editor, Hilary, and their dog, Rowlf.

Achievements

• Traversed Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Range and Wyoming’s Wind River Range on foot
• Bicycled across America
• Ran 26.2 miles 52 times in one year
• Favorite ski descents: Mt. Adams SW Chutes, Mt. Shasta Avalanche Gulch, Quandary Peak Cristo Couloir
• Finisher, Run Rabbit Run 100-mile, Hellbender 100, Bighorn Trail Run 100
• Has eaten pizza in 38 U.S. states and 12 countries
• Directed and co-directed several award-winning short adventure films, including How to Run 100 Miles, Ace and the Desert Dog, and Chocolate Spokes
• Board member, The Outdoor Film Fellowship