Who We Are
OutsidePursuits is a leading website for anyone who loves the outdoors. Here, you will find informative articles about a wide range of outside sports and activities, such as camping, fishing, boating, hiking, ATVs, off-roading, cycling, motorcycling, RVing and gardening.
OutsidePursuits was founded by two friends who share a love of outdoor activities, Richard Remick and Richard Moore. They wanted to empower other people to experience the same thrill of outside pursuits and the beauty of nature. Whether publishing a “how-to” guide, a product review, or an informative article about the outdoors, we are committed to high-quality and accurate writing. We value objectivity. We only write about what we love and that shows in what we write. in 2021, Outside Pursuits became part of the Verticalscope family of enthusiast-based websites and communities.
EDITOR
Derrek Sigler
Derrek Sigler has been a professional outdoor writer for more than two decades since earning his Master’s Degree in creative writing with a thesis about fishing humor. But if you ask anyone that knows him, he’s been telling fishin’ stories since he was old enough to hold a pole. He has written for Cabela’s and served as editorial director for Gun Digest books.
Over the years, he has written for Petersen’s Hunting, North American Whitetail Magazine, Wildfowl, Grand View Media, and has worked with Bass Pro Shops, Hard Core Brands and Bone Collector. Successful Farming had him write for their magazine and he has appeared on their TV show to discuss hunting and ATVs on multiple occasions. He writes about the things he loves – hunting, fishing, camping, trucks, ATVs, boating, snowmobiles and the outdoor lifestyle he enjoys with his family in their home state of Michigan and more as they adventure around North America.
Derrek is also an Editor with Outdoorhub.com, ATV.com and Off-Road.com.
SENIOR UPDATES EDITOR
Melanie Pellis
Melanie is our Senior Updates Editor residing in Manhattan, New York but originally hails from Melbourne, Australia. Having relocated to the other side of the world three times, she’s spent a large amount of time exploring the outdoors and particularly hiking in some beautiful areas of the world, including all around Michigan, California and in many parts of her heritage country, Greece.
She particularly loves adventurous activities like high ropes courses and ziplining, and has done this in Hawaii and the Dominican Republic. After completing two Bachelor degrees in both Psychology and Professional/Creative Writing, she spends her time perfecting her writing craft and ensuring that our editorial standard is always the best it can be. Melanie is also an Editor at TheSleepJudge.com, PetGuide.com and FitRated.com.
EDITOR
Josh Patterson
Josh Patterson holds a master’s degree in journalism and grew up working in bike and outdoor shops—a perfect combination for readers visiting OutsidePursuits for practical advice on bikes and gear. His home in Colorado gives him easy access to endless road, gravel, and mountain biking opportunities. As a well-rounded outdoorsman, Josh also enjoys skiing, fishing, kayaking, backpacking, and trail running.
EDITOR
Francis Cebedo
The founder of Mtbr and Roadbikereview, Francis Cebedo loves all types of riding and is a fan of many outdoor activities. He loves technology, evolution, creativity and when it all comes together, the bike gear disappears in a ride. When cycling and outdoor products use the best technology and design to allow us to enjoy our sport without calling attention to themselves, they’ve done their job well.
FREELANCE WRITER
Britt Kascjak
Britt Kascjak is a freelance writer and content marketer based in Ontario, Canada. She specializes in writing about outdoor travel and recreation, especially exploring the great outdoors with pets. She has written for several outdoor-focused websites, such as Backyard Boss as well as contributing articles about pet-friendly outdoor travel on All Pet Voices. Inspired by her own travels with her husband, 3 dogs and 2 cats, she shares her experiences on her website The Kas Pack. When she isn’t working, Britt can be found camping, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking year-round including braving the colder Canadian winters outdoors.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
FOUNDER, CONTENT WRITER, & CHIEF EDITOR
Richard Remick
Richard is the founder and the chief editor of the Outside Pursuits website. He contributes expert content relating to outdoor adventures and activities. After graduating from the DeVry Institute of Technology, he worked in IT for over 20 years before deciding to escape the office and dedicate the rest of his life to travel and participation in active outdoor pursuits.
With a passion for the great outdoors, Richard spends a lot of time in Colorado. There he enjoys skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, cycling, hiking, and camping. When at home in Florida, he is most often found in the water. He loves water sports such as paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. He is a certified scuba diver.
His outdoor adventures are not confined to the continental US. Richard is an avid traveler who flies up to 10 times a year and has visited 18 countries. Because of his wealth of knowledge and experience, Richard has been invited to contribute articles to many outdoor-focused websites, such as Florida Rambler, and has been profiled on travel websites such as JohnnyJet.
CO-FOUNDER, CONTENT WRITER, & EDITOR
Richard L. Moore, MBA
Richard is a co-founder and co-owner of Outside Pursuits. He is an intrepid adventurer based in San Jose, Costa Rica. Richard has trekking and survival experience throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
In 1998, he survived in the wilderness for over a week without food or specialist equipment. He was stranded on the northern coast of Honduras following Category 5 Hurricane Mitch. In the summer of 2004, he lived among the Kuna Indians on the San Blas Islands of Panama.
Richard is also an experienced writer and researcher having created several web publications and web sites during his career. He attended the University of South Florida to earn his Master of Business Administration degree. Today, Richard organizes adventure travel excursions in Costa Rica. As an avid outdoorsman and automotive enthusiast his interests are far-reaching, and he possesses hands-on knowledge in his topics of expertise. He contributes his extensive travel and outdoor experience to much of the editorial topics and content on OutsidePursuits including outdoor gear, motorcycle accessories, auto/4×4 accessories, and tools. Richard’s personal interests are 4×4 off-roading, dual-sport motorcycle riding, and touring Central America on his beloved Harley.
Jakob Straub
Jakob is a freelance writer and author. He has extensive experience in digital print, including design, publishing, and document processing. He now produces engaging web content covering a wide range of topics.
Jakob studied Publishing at the Free University Berlin and British-American Studies at the University of Konstanz. He began his career in publishing before moving on to copy-editing, ghost writing, content writing, travel writing, and online marketing.
He enjoys creative writing and is the author of Booktrip Travel Guide Barcelona, an insider’s guide to Catalonia’s capital city, and the children’s book Where the Butterflies Go, introducing the beauty of nature to a younger generation.
Jakob grew up around Lake Constance in Germany and lived for many years in Berlin. However, he has recently relocated to Barcelona, Spain.
His true passion is rock climbing. When he is not clinging to Catalonia’s cliffs, you will find Jakob bouldering at the gym. He also enjoys invigorating mountain hikes and surfing on the Mediterranean shoreline.
Jakob’s freelance writing website
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Casey Fiedler
Casey is a qualified ski instructor, naturalist educator, hunter, and avid outdoorsman based in Mason, Michigan. He spends much of his time in the wilderness where he tests outdoor gear supplied to him by companies such as Road ID, Hydrapak, Patagonia, Smith Optics, and Wolverine.
In 2012, he earned a degree in Outdoor Education and Leadership from Central Wyoming College. Following that, he participated in a month-long expedition with the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Outdoor Educator Course.
In May 2014, Casey attempted to complete the Appalachian Trail. Sadly, a knee injury prevented him from fulfilling his dream. This experience inspires his writing and helps him advise others how to avoid coming to the same fate.
Casey has guided backpackers, kayakers, and skiers on backcountry trips all around the US. He taught Alpine skiing at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah for several seasons before transitioning into freelance writing. As well as writing and field-testing outdoor gear, Casey teaches hiking skills online for the Hike With Less website.
When he’s not working, Casey enjoys fishing for bass and participating in adventure and orienteering races.
Casey’s outdoor adventure website
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Richard Bailey
Richard is a freelance content writer specializing in cycling and mountain biking who originates from the UK. He works as a professional mountain bike guide and writes for outside adventure and cycling-focused websites such as The Adventure Junkies, RAD Season, Bike Exchange, and OutsidePursuits.
Over the years, his beard has become his trademark. You’ll see Richard’s hairy chin featured in cycling industry websites and magazines around the world.
He always seeks out the latest cycling experience, from helibiking in Nelson, New Zealand to navigating the adrenaline-pumping volcanic trails of La Palma in the Canary Islands. A keen amateur photographer, Richard records his biking adventures on Instagram.
When Richard is not guiding adventurers around mountains, he is traveling the world with his bike. It is his mission to ride in as many places and in as many ways as possible. Richard is happiest when he is on a mountain bike and loves to share his experiences with others.
Richard’s freelance writing website
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Shayanne Weeks
Shayanne is a freelance writer and marketer based in LA, California. Describing herself as a nomad, she has lived in many different cities including Boise, Idaho and Seattle, Washington as well as Guadalajara, Mexico. She is forever on the move.
Being an extremely active person, she loves to snowboard, skateboard, and ski. She enjoys sharing her love for active sports with others through her “how to” sports guides and sports equipment reviews. Her love for active sports shines through every paragraph. While she travels, Shayanne loves to experience the most thrilling outdoor pursuit in every location, from ziplining in Mexico to snowboarding in Idaho. If there is an adrenaline-fueled outdoor sport in your town, you will probably meet her one day.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
James McKenna, MA
James is a Scottish freelance writer based in Barcelona, Spain. He enjoys camping, running, and cycling. He has completed many epic cycle rides including Budapest to Vienna, London to Barcelona, and Krakow to Amsterdam.
James studied French and history in the University of Edinburgh before becoming a copywriter for first the EU Business School and then the Geneva Business School, both in Barcelona.
His extensive experience of professional writing combined with his love of tour cycling and camping makes him a perfect contributing author to OutsidePursuits. He has hands-on experience of all the camping and cycling gear he reviews.
James’ other main interests are music and gardening. He entertains his friends and family with the electric guitar and the piano.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Monisha Pillai, BA
Monisha is a freelance writer based in New York. As a nature lover, she loves to explore the great outdoors, especially around Asia.
She has spent a large amount of time in China, hiking to the top of famous accessible mountains like Huashan and admiring the stunning scenery of Shaanxi Province. She participated in the prestigious Fulbright-Hays Advanced Mandarin Immersion Program in Xi’an, China, and completed an internship at the Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
After studying Media Theory and Mandarin at New York University, Monisha became a public relations executive for a cutting-edge NY PR firm. There she is responsible for guiding her clients through press briefings, exploiting media opportunities, and writing press releases.
Other than exploring national parks around China, Monisha loves blogging about Chinese and Korean celebrities and watching Mandarin-language films.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER & EDITOR
Robert Edward Baker, MA (Cantab)
Robert is a content writer and editor at OutsidePursuits where he shares his love for and experience of the great outdoors. He has extensive experience in travel writing, creating “how-to” guides for outdoor activities, and reviewing products relevant to outside adventures.
In the 1980s, he studied Archaeology & Anthropology at the University of Cambridge and after graduation taught English at Guizhou University in China. In the ‘90s, he first trained and then worked as an accountant with Ernst & Young in England.
Robert moved into retail management and worked for Shell (UK) in the late ‘90s before becoming self-employed and transitioning into the hospitality industry at the turn of the century. Finally, he decided to transition into SEO content writing.
He has traveled extensively around Asia, North America, and Europe. Born on a sheep farm in northern England, he has been involved with outdoor activities since infancy and is as familiar with the interior of a tent as the inside of his bedroom at home.
Over the years, Robert has survived a typhoon in the South China Sea, a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, and a road trip across the US. At home in England, he enjoys camping, hiking, and horseback riding. He hopes his adventures will continue for many more years to come.
Robert is passionate about the environment and aims to educate as many people as possible about the advantages and importance of sustainable living. He believes that unless we live well today, we will not live for long tomorrow.
He loves creative writing and has published poetry and fiction. You can sample his poetry and short stories at Writing.Com. His children’s book Sally Hemings & the Good Associates won the Children’s Fiction section of the You Write On Book of the Year Award in 2009. Robert also founded a website about romance fiction that provides information for aspiring romance writers alongside romance novel reviews.
When Robert is not writing or exploring the wilderness, he enjoys traveling with his family to famous cities around the world where he loves to visit historic buildings, museums, and art galleries.
Robert’s Website: The Romance Bloke
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Madison Haire
Madison is a freelance writer based in Louisiana. She is an expert on all matters concerning Home and Garden, Interior Design, Backyard Design, and Household products. She uses her real-life experience to inspire her blogs and product reviews.
Madison primarily reviews home, patio, and backyard products, such as kitchen equipment, patio furniture, and yard maintenance tools. She actively uses all the products she writes about.
She loves to take her children into the great outdoors and is passionate about products, schemes, and facilities aimed at improving family access to areas of natural beauty. She hopes to inspire her children to love the outdoors as much as she does.
When she is not writing, her main interests are her family, parenting, and Harry Potter.