James Edward Mills is a National Geographic Explorer and a contributor to National Geographic Magazine, a Fellow of the Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, and a recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education as well as the American Alpine Club’s H. Adams Carter Literary Award. He has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. Mills specializes in sharing stories about outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. He is the author of the new book The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film An American Ascent. In recognition for his work sharing the important history and legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and their efforts at the dawn of the National Park Service, Mills was named a Yosemite National Park Centennial Ambassador in 2016.