About

Welcome to Trails of Grace! My name is Kiel Cary, and this website is a combination of two things: a place to document/journal the outdoor adventures of me and my family, and a testing ground for creating a lightweight web application intended for hikers, backpackers, and campers who want to a simple way to present their adventures to others (and keep track of some fun stats along the way).

Who I am:

I am a Christian husband and father living in Northwest Nebraska. I love being outside, especially in the mountains, and I enjoy bringing others along with me to experience the beauty of creation up close. I work as a software and business application developer for one of my favorite ministries, which gives me the opportunity to both earn a living and participate in the spread of great Bible teaching - what a blessing!

What I enjoy:

Few things bring me more pleasure than to experience God's glory through exploring his creation. Hiking, backpacking, and camping top the list.

I currently reside in Chadron, Nebraska. I was born and raised here without ever truly appreciating the amazing landscape. I hiked, mountain biked, and camped, but did not truly understand the unique opportunities afforded to me. In my 20's and early 30's, I took a tour around the Midwest and the South (Nebraska, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio) before returning to Nebraska and living in McCook for nearly ten years.

It was while living in McCook that my love for the outdoors was rekindled after going through the hardest time of my life - returning to the outdoors offered me the opportunity to reflect on all that was lost and all that was still left to hope for. My sons and I started camping together, then hiking the 14ers of Colorado, and then ultimately backpacking. What a blessing from the Lord this has been!