These songs were all inspired by — and mostly written in — the outdoors. Backcountry skiing, paddling, riding, hiking, floating, and exploring wild places in nature has been a central part of my life and my creative process. Powered by the body, relying on oneself and one’s companions, reading the landscape, finding the routes, sharing sustenance, stories, struggles, and satisfaction with good friends. All of this deepens my awareness of and appreciation for nature, both inner and outer. This album is a map and a history of a lifetime of the joys and challenges I have found in the wilderness Backcountry Ballads features four newly recorded songs written in backcountry huts in Colorado and Canada along with six recorded on previous albums. The tunes range from rousing bluegrass to bluesy ballads exploring many aspects of the backcountry experience.