Rich's love of the outdoors began with family camping trips in the early 1960's, when feeding the bears in Yellowstone was still a thing. In the 1970's, his teen years were spent romping through Boise Creek and up Pinnacle Peak in Enumclaw. He took up backpacking and joined the WTA in the 1990's, joining trail work parties with his sons as his career permitted. Since retirement he has taken up trail work in earnest, and is now a WTA Assistant Crew Leader. Rich lives in North Bend near Mailbox Peak with his wife Judy.