Growing up in Alaska and on a horse and cattle ranch in Idaho, Russell never envisioned a life as a world-traveling Backroads trip leader. But after spending a year of college in the Tuscan hill town of Siena and exploring Italy from Sicily to the Alps, all the far corners of the world became too alluring to ignore. Graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in History, he spent the next several years living, working and traveling across the globe, subscribing to the philosophy that life is short and meant to be lived with no regrets. He brought his love of Italy and world travel to Backroads in 2014, leading trips in Tuscany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Yosemite and more. When not leading trips he is often back in Idaho, climbing mountains and rafting rivers.