Adventures of an Interpretive Ranger

June 15, 2026

For many years, I chased the things society told me mattered—education, career success, promotions, possessions, and the idea of “happiness.” After spending decades in both medicine and technology, I reached a breaking point. I was burned out. I had ended a marriage and left relationships behind while trying to live up to a definition of success that was never really mine.

Retiring early changed everything. I decided to give back, spend more time outdoors, and volunteer as an interpretive ranger in state and national parks, wildlife refuges, and natural areas. Within just a few weeks, I realized this was what I had been meant to do all along. My previous life had simply prepared me for this new chapter—giving me perspective, a sense of what truly matters, and the beginnings of real clarity about life’s priorities.

So five years ago, I started volunteering. My plan was simple: I’d do it until I got tired of it. I’m still not tired of it.

Since then, I’ve worked in Texas in the second‑largest canyon system in the United States, seen more rattlesnakes than I ever hoped to, and even helped with a bison roundup—an unforgettable experience. I’ve spent seasons in Washington at two of the most beautiful places on Earth, Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. I’ve guided visitors through tidepools and lighthouses on the Oregon Coast, watched gray whales migrate, and seen seal pups take their first breaths. I’ve witnessed dinosaur skulls emerge from the desert and stood among 230‑million‑year‑old trees at Petrified Forest National Park. I’ve marveled at the incredible birdlife at Bosque del Apache.

When I share these experiences with visitors, I often see a spark—a longing to live a life closer to what they truly want. I encourage them to chase those dreams and remember there’s more to life than working and worrying.

I’ve been lucky to work alongside passionate, inspiring people and to share this journey with them. For years, friends and coworkers have urged me to start a blog about my adventures. So I’m finally taking their advice, hoping my stories might inspire someone else to take that first step into something new.

I always tell people: it’s a good thing I did this last, because if I’d done it first, I never would have done anything else.

I’ll keep sharing my adventures—and my photos—here. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Stay tuned.