PJ Solomon

• Title: Author/Gear Tester
• Email: pjsolomon11@gmail.com
• Location: Yosemite, CA
• Pronouns: She/Her
• Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/pjsolomon/

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: hiking, camping, outdoor gear 
• Years in This Expertise: 16
• Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: 5 products, 30 hours

Education & Certifications

• Education: Bachelor in Economics and Minor in Fine Arts, UC Merced

Experience

Adventures outside have always been an integral part of PJ Solomon’s life. From an early age, she went camping and fishing with her family, and spent many summer days exploring tide pools in northern California, and digging for sand crabs on the southern coastline. In the summer of 2006, while still in college, she visited Yosemite National Park for the first time and immediately felt a pull to return. She secured an internship working with Wilderness in the summer of 2007 and explored deep in the backcountry alone, honing new skills and exploring wilderness on and off trail and on many of the walls and domes across the park. Solomon has since worked in the park both as a ranger and has served as the Wilderness and WildLink Program manager for NatureBridge.  

Having hiked nearly all the park-maintained miles, and many destinations far off-trail, Solomon continues to seek adventure, physical challenge, and connection in wild places. She and her husband, Cameron have devoted many winter months to sport climbing both in the US and abroad, backpacking across rugged Hawaiian coastline and adventuring in their backyard in the Sierra Nevada. After the birth of their daughter in 2021, they focussed on learning how outdoor exploration works best for their family and they spend as much free time as possible playing in the dirt, hiking, swimming, and exploring outside. Seeing the magic of a tiny bug or an immense landscape through the eyes of their 2-year-old has reignited their passion for protecting and playing in wild spaces.

In addition to Solomon’s passion for being outside, she enjoys reading and writing about it too. Some favorites on her nightstand at the moment are, Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources by M. Kat Anderson, One Man’s Wilderness by Sam Keith, and My Story as Told by Water: Confessions, Druidic Rants, Reflections, Birth-watchings, Fish-stalkings, Visions, Songs and Prayers Refracting Light, from Living Rivers, in the Age of the Industrial Dark by David James Duncan.

Career Highlights

• Sport climbing in Spain, Greece, and Croatia.
• Combining wilderness patrols with climbing obscure mountains during 9-day tours in the backcountry

Word From PJ

As someone who loves to be physically challenged by long hikes, climbs, and runs, I know I need clothing and gear that will help support me when moving through any landscape and weather conditions. I’ve been inspired by the reviews others have written and I cannot deny that some of my gear, purchased because of reviews, has been the reason my body can continue on mile 25 instead of petering out on mile 9.

I feel honored to be a part of that community now, helping usher others into the next level of their outdoor pursuits, and ensuring they will be as comfortable and safe as possible.