Canadian Rockies Backroad Mapbook

Trent Ernst has been researching and writing the BC and Alberta Backroad Mapbooks for the better part of the last decade. In 2008, he started researching the entire Backroad Mapbook series, save for Quebec books. Trent has an uncanny knack for digging up often unheard of trails and places to explore.

Trent was born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan because his hometown of Waldheim, found 25 km (15 miles)down the road, was too small to have a hospital. The evening he was born, the townsfolk celebrated with a big party on Main Street, and fireworks lit up the evening sky.

It was only later he learned that it was the simply the annual 4H festival. Since that time, his life has been inexplicably linked with cows.

His family, in particular his father Sergio and brother Wesley, were instrumental in introducing him to the trials and tribulations of outdoor adventure. From camping throughout the parks and recreation sites of BC to hunting and fishing in the Kootenays it seemed every vacation had an outdoor theme. From these early beginnings, Russell grew a strong appreciation of the outdoors.

After graduation Russell, along with Wesley, went about self-publishing their first guidebook called the Backroad and Outdoor Recreation Mapbook: Southwestern BC for a tradeshow in January 1994. By March 1994, the first printing of the book was sold out. But rather than simply reprinting it, they listened to the feedback of the readers and retailers and improved it. This constant desire to create the best book in the most convenient and economical package possible has helped the brothers and their publishing company, Mussio Ventures Ltd., produce over 40 National Bestseller titles. Today, Mussio Ventures, through their signature series Backroad Mapbooks, is Canada's leading outdoor recreation publisher.

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