Kent Dannen has guided hikers over the trails of Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks for more than forty years. He began his professional guiding activities as hike master and naturalist for the YMCA of the Rockies and has led hundreds of hikes covering thousands of miles. A former contributing editor of Backpacker magazine, he freelances as a writer and photographer. He also is a recipient of the US Department of Agriculture Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding volunteer services in developing educational materials that help manage and protect the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Kent Dannen has written three other guidebooks: Short Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Best Easy Day Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park, and Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. He lives in Allenspark, Colorado.