 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Hickson akakurira muEdmonton, Alberta. Paaiva muduku, mhuri yavo yaienda kuBanff National Park, kuGrand Canyon, uye kuYellowstone National Park, kwaiita kuti aone zvinhu zvakasikwa, kusanganisira makomo anoputika uye makomo anoputika. Somudzidzi muna 1980, Hickson akanga achidzika musasa makiromita 14 kumabvazuva kweGomo reSt. Helens apo gomo rinoputikaAkati chiitiko ichi chakachinja basa rake. Akapedza dhigirii rake re undergraduate muna 1982 uye PhD yake muna 1987, ese ari maviri kuYunivhesiti yeBritish Columbia. Akaita PhD-inoenderana nebasa remunda muWells Gray Park, British Columbia. 