Jim Rahtz

Jim Rahtz spent a career in park and recreation management with the Hamilton County Park District in Ohio. Once retired, he followed advice to “go take a hike” and rediscovered the joys and challenges of backpacking. As a freelance writer and photographer, his work has won multiple awards; appearing in national publications and websites such as Camping Life, The Boundary Waters Journal, TrailGroove and The Trek. Rahtz's newest work, "Ohio Backpacking Loops," was released in January, 2022. The work is a detailed guide of the many multi-day hiking options in the surprisingly beautiful Buckeye State. "Boundary Waters 101, a Primer for America's Favorite Wilderness" won the 2018 Outdoor Writers of Ohio "Outstanding Media Achievement" award. A photo from the book won the "People's Choice" award at the organization's annual conference. "Walking in Circles: Backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail" won two awards from the Outdoor Writers of Ohio. The book was named Outstanding Media Achievement and photos from the work were named Best Group of Photographs at the organization's 2017 conference. His 2016 release, "Backpacking's Triple Crown: the Junior Version," compared the author's hikes of the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail and the John Muir Trail. Other books authored by Rahtz, "A Short Book on the Long Trail" and "The Achievable Epic: Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail" have both won awards from the Outdoor Writers of Ohio. He has received certifications as a zipline guide, personal trainer, running coach, kayak instructor and paddleboard instructor. He has earned degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University. Look for Rahtz on a trail near you.