Born in Alberta, Canada, Christine Gabriel grew up enjoying numerous sports and outdoor activities. She learned from her parents to love the mountains and all they offered. After studying Forestry at the University of Alberta, she went on to live and work in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, as well as Haiti and Sudan. But it was in Calgary — in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains — that she raised three hikers and passed on to them her love of the mountains. Retirement now means weekday hikes where she hopes her kids can occasionally join her as well as multi-day hikes, both within Canada and abroad.