Steve Hinch has been exploring the Sonoma Coast since 1974. Born in Seattle, he grew up in the Southern California coastal city of Redondo Beach. His wilderness explorations began at a young age, when his avid rockhound parents would pack up the family and head out to remote desert locations in search of semi-precious stones nearly every weekend. He earned his way through college designing gold and silver jewelry for the family's custom jewelry store. Trained as an electrical engineer, Steve has 30 years of management experience in the high-technology industry. He holds three patents and has authored three books. He is an expert on GPS navigation and is the author of Outdoor Navigation with GPS, a bestselling guide to the subject for hikers, backpackers, hunters, mountain bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Steve has two grown children and lives with his wife in the heart of the wine country in Santa Rosa, California. He is also an award-winning photographer who specializes in landscapes of the Southwest.