Chris was born and raised in New Jersey, and earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Soon after graduating, she realized that the eastern half of the continent wasn’t nearly wild enough, so she ventured over the Rockies and hasn't looked back. Since then, she has guided in various places including Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Denali, Canyonlands, Rocky Mountain and the Grand Canyon, and spent three years working in a wilderness therapy program with adjudicated youth.

 Chris also earned her Master’s Degree in Conservation Biology from Utah State University and has worked for many years as an advocate for endangered species and wildlands. To this end, Chris worked for the Center for Biological Diversity and co-founded Rios Libres, an organization dedicated to keeping rivers in Chilean Patagonia free from dams.  Chris used her years of experience as an environmental activist and her way with words to create a successful campaign that is raising awareness and inciting people to action. Chris and the crew at Rios Libres directed and produced two award-winning documentaries, Power in the Pristine and Streams of Consequence, which help illuminate the issues threatening wild rivers and give voice to the Chilean people. 

Over the past decade, Chris has increasingly turned her attention to using words and imagery to document her adventures and to bring attention to important issues.  She now works as the senior editor of Elevation Outdoors Magazine and is a freelance writer with award-winning works printed in a multitude of publications.  She has written two Falcon Guides: Colorado Wildflower Hikes and Guide to Southern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers.

With over 20 years in the travel and outdoor industry, Chris also helps organizations like Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, the United Nations and the Adventure Travel Trade Association create messaging and find their voice.  

Chris currently resides in Salida, Colorado with her husband Ryan and their precious yellow lab, Nala. Together, they run Elk Raven Photography, a business dedicated to using ethical wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography to inspire others to explore this great wild world in a sustainable way. In addition to photography, Chris enjoys climbing peaks (she’s climbed the two highest peaks in North America!), backcountry skiing, hiking, running, reading, baking (and eating) anything sweet, drinking coffee, and making people smile.