About Brandon Kowallis

THE MAN

Brandon Kowallis is an active cave explorer, award-winning cartographer and photographer, and author of Cursing at Mountains and Fragile Frontiers. He worked as a leader in higher education for over 10 years where he leveraged his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and project management training to improve processes and make everyone’s work easier and more meaningful. He has a master’s degree in filmmaking and has produced and edited several short films. His photographic works have been published in multiple publications and exhibits across the nation.

THE JOURNEY

From accepting a service call in a foreign country for two years with only one month of language training and just barely enough money to afford one to two meals per day; to suffering a solid two years of extreme baby-induced sleep deprivation; accepting a first-time leadership position in a toxic environment; battling chronic Lyme disease; discovering the body of a neighbor who took his own life; and dealing with the dark shadow of disabling anxiety and depression overshadowing those he loved; Brandon has had his share of challenges and traumatic moments that have shaped his life for the better. But then again, haven’t we all?

These experiences, along with countless other trying moments, have shaped Brandon into who he is today. They have shown him ways to lighten his load, address difficult relationship, enact change without frustrating others, and approach those around him with greater empathy. The journey has never been pretty and his navigation of it less than elegant, but life is far more than peaches and rainbows. There is no neatly packaged ending to our story, just a transition from one phase of life to the next, with beautiful moments scattered randomly in between.

THE MISSION

The last thing Brandon wants to see is for others to have to pass through the challenges he did, but unfortunately, no one gets to choose the challenges they are handed in life, and no one is exempt from hard times. Brandon’s hope is that by sharing the things he’s learned with others that perhaps he might in some way shorten the timeline of their suffering, and lead them more quickly to a life where the challenges they face become opportunities for  growth and improvement.

THE REST

Brandon, his wife Michelle and their two children live in Salt Lake City, Utah where there are lots of caves to explore and rocks to climb. In his spare time, Brandon goofs around with his kids, plays the piano, makes cave maps, serves in his church and community, writes books, looks for wild mushrooms and edible wild plants, works on their small yard, makes repairs around the house, dreams of his replacement motorcycle, and goes hiking, caving, and camping with the kids.