I spend my time backpacking, camping, fishing, hiking, and kayaking—mostly across Indiana and the Midwest. When I’m not outside, I’m running Linux on a ThinkBook 16 G6 ABP and leaning hard into free and open source software (FOSS) that respects privacy and actually works.
This site exists because something was missing.
The open-source world is great at reviewing Linux distributions, but it largely ignores day-to-day software from the perspective of regular users. I’m not a developer. I’m someone who uses software daily and wants it to be reliable, transparent, and respectful of my data. My reviews focus on real-world usability, not hype or benchmarks.
My educational path has been… extensive. I’ve accumulated eight or nine years of college across history, programming, EMT training, network administration, and IT, before ultimately earning a BA in Educational Studies with a focus on Secondary Biological Sciences. That background shapes how I research, test, and explain things—clearly, critically, and without fluff.
My wife and I live in west-central Indiana, where we’re raising our kids with a strong belief that the best childhoods happen outdoors—running, exploring, and getting dirty. We also run a family blog, We’re The Marts, where we write about parenting, marriage, travel, and food.
Hacking The Hike is about curiosity, independence, and doing more with what you already have.