Katherine Pioli spent seven years as a wildland firefighter and, in between work seasons with the Forest Service, began writing for local magazines. She became a regular contributor to Jackson Hole Weekly and for many years wrote the outdoor recreation column for Salt Lake City Weekly. Starting out as a staff writer for Catalyst Magazine (SLC) she also became the magazine’s associate editor until the magazine stopped publishing in 2020. During her time with Catalyst Magazine Katherine won numerous 1st place awards for her reporting and feature stories from the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Katherine was born, raised, and still lives, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Growing up between the mountains and the desert she learned to love hiking, biking, climbing, camping and generally being in the wild. Her Utah upbringing, and her four years at the all-women’s Bryn Mawr College, are the two greatest influences on her writing which often focuses on women and the outdoors.
Katherine Pioli is currently at work on a memoir, Young Women and Fire, about her time as a wildland firefighter and the women with whom she worked.
Katherine Pioli 