Christopher Lawrence

More about my personal and professional background.

Besides being an avid backcountry skier, I (Christopher Lawrence) am also an outdoor guide, journalist and author of Called to the Wild. I also founded the cancer nonprofit Hope Has Arrived (for more see below). 

My wife and our two kids currently live in Colorado. 

More about my guiding: I’ve been leading trips for lifelinesoutdoors.com since 2003 and have served in a variety of roles, including most recently as one of the technical directors. I guide rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, whitewater rafting and snowshoeing and skiing. As far as certifications, I have an AIARE 2 certification, Single Pitch Instructor with the AMGA, a Wilderness First Responder with NOLS and I’m a certified river guide in Colorado and Montana.

Hope Has Arrived

In 2016, I unexpectedly went through cancer. As I result of that experience, in 2018 I founded Hope Has Arrived, a cancer nonprofit which helps people find hope, strength and peace against cancer.

You can read more about my story with cancer here. 

My writing background

As far back as I can remember, I have loved words—especially the written word. I studied journalism at the University of Montana and wrote for several newspapers, including Gunnison Country Times, the Bozeman Chronicle and the Argus Leader. 

Later, I took a full-time position with Worldwide Challenge, the magazine of Cru. There I went on 15 international assignments, writing about topics like ministry with nomadic herdsmen in the Mongolia Steppe as well as saving marriages among Ecuador’s soldiers.

I usually use the byline, “Chris Lawrence,” but considering many bear the same name, I also use “Christopher Lawrence.”

Outdoor writing

Besides creating Backcountry Beacon, and Called to the Wild, I have also written for handful of outdoor magazines. Here are a few of my articles:

R2 whitewater rafting

History of climbing in southern Utah

Lessons from desert climbing

Rafting Westwater Canyon