My name is Mike Matenkosky and I was born in Pittsburgh, Pa back in 1965. I graduated from Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa in 1983 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1986. I was originally stationed at Castle AFB, California and spent my last year in the service at King Salmon AFS in Alaska. I’ve been married since 1991 and have two daughters. Around 1995 my life changed when I became a Christian, accepting Jesus as my Savior.
Backpacking, Cars and Photography
I currently live in Atwater California which has one big advantage…it’s only an hour and a half drive to Yosemite, which enables me to spend a lot of time up there hiking and backpacking.
Besides hiking and backpacking I’m a car guy since high school. I currently have a 1968 Dodge Coronet 500 convertible and a 1969 Firebird 400.
I also love photography and started Images in the Backcountry, specializing in fine art landscape, nature, wildlife, black & white and inspirational photography.