Kelsey Nannini

Hi everyone! My name is Kelsey, and I am a biologist by trade and an avid backpacker by passion!

How did I get here? I was the little girl playing in the dirt, catching frogs and snakes in the local creeks of Northern California. In college, while studying in Southern California, I started guiding other students into the outdoors and fell in love with inspiring people to get outside. After finishing college, I followed my dream and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail… and I’ve been hiking long (and short) trails ever since! (PCT, Colorado Trail, and Trans-Catalina, to name a few.)

My primary work is as a biologist, conducting endangered species surveys, managing nature preserves, and educating the public about local flora and fauna. Can you tell I love being outside? In my latest role, I worked with burrowing owls, spadefoot toads, western pond turtles, Pacific pocket mice, coastal horned lizards, and many other fascinating species.

I love traveling through different biomes and believe each ecosystem offers unique and amazing learning opportunities. What I love most about backpacking is that every time I explore these landscapes, I return not only with a deeper understanding of the environment but also with a deeper understanding of myself within it.

The next time we meet, I hope it’s around a campfire! Cheers!