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Guided Trips

Guide Roster

I’m thrilled to have assembled this all-star guide team, and to work beside them. Each one is an expert backpacker and guide — they combine extensive first-hand backcountry experience with a passion for teaching, excellent people skills, relate-able family and work lives, engaging story-telling, and necessary medical certifications.

Our team:

Andrew Skurka

  • Boulder, CO
  • Married to Amanda and adoring parent of Esmerelda and Luxor, our feline fur children
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Since founding this program in 2011, I’ve led over 115 trips and have spent over 550 days in the field with clients. In the first five years, I guided every trip (57 of them) and spent up to 70 days in the field. The program has grown considerably since then, but I guide as often as I practically can while maintaining the overall quality and while remaining married — it’s the most fun and rewarding aspect of my work.

My goal on every trip is to make clients more self-sufficient in the wilderness by teaching them skills, having them lead, and expanding their comfort zones. It’s an extra perk if I can learn from my group, have fun, and explore a new setting.

As a twenty-something I was a prolific long-distance thru-hiker. My most notable trips were the:

  • Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles),
  • Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the
  • Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles).

In my thirties, I focused on high routes and long-distance running. I pioneered and wrote guidebooks for four off-trail backpacking routes in Sequoia-Kings, Yosemite, Wind River Range, and Colorado Rockies. I completed six 100-mile races, and set a fastest known time on the Pfiffner Traverse. Through my early-40’s I’d not yet slowed down, running a 2:27:59 at the 2022 Boston Marathon (5:38/mile pace).

My definitive book, The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail, was published by National Geographic and has sold over 120,000 copies. 

My most flattering testimonial from 2025

“Andrew’s experience in and familiarity with Alaska really shined on the trip.  I’ll remember things like his quick recognition of the impacts of glaciation on the landscape, his earnest awe of the debris path of enormous landslides, his joy at crossing a new pass, his nudges towards friendlier walking terrain for a long time – it was clear that he not only devoted time to moving through this wild place, but also to appreciating it, learning from it, and looking to pass those lessons and excitement forward to others.  Andrew is also a delightful person!  He took time to talk to every group member while moving, gave space for the group to get to know and trust each other, and celebrated vulnerability as a tool to help work through challenging physical or emotional situations that could be overwhelming as a collection of individuals.  He loves to laugh and share experiences from everyday life in addition to talking about everyone’s past adventures and the care he put into forming a group of people that he thought would build each other up was apparent.”

In Gates of the Arctic National Park

Aaron Divine

  • Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Known as “fun Daddy” to my beautiful pup, Frida!
  • he/him

I have been leading outdoor adventures as part of my career journey since the mid-90’s; including work with nonprofits, municipalities, educational institutions, and guiding companies. During that time I have accumulated well over 3000 days of professional guiding and outdoor education field experience – the majority of those days come from over 180 field weeks with NOLS (mostly in Alaska), and another 120 field weeks (in the desert Southwest) for Northern Arizona University, where I teach in their Outdoor Education and Leadership program. And of course, now also with Andrew Skurka Adventures! Another significant part of time in the outdoors has involved leading many Denali mountaineering expeditions, for both NOLS and the Alaska Mountaineering School, respectively. Spending time on Denali is always bound to be a beautiful and humbling experience, one that I cherish. I was recently encouraged to organize my summer work schedule to make availability for work with Andrew Skurka Adventures and was warmly welcomed to join their top-notch program in the Brooks Range for 2025. I am excited to return for 2026!

As a child summer camping trips to California Sierra with grandparents (who had summer months off work as educators) helped fuel a curiosity for the outdoors. Once I could carry a pack, that developed into overnight and extended weekend backpacking trips (Mt. San Gorgonio, Mt. Whitney, etc.). Then as a ‘latch-key’ teenager there was freedom and agency for trial and error on trips without adult supervision, occasionally involving hitchhiking as part of the route mis-adventures. I still use free time continuing to foster that sense of adventure – mostly exploring the wilds of the Southwest, Colorado Plateau, and Alaska moving about via bikepacking, packrafting, canyoneering, and backpacking.

A memorable personal trip of the past 10 years: A 21-day ramble exploring the alpine tundra and rivers between Anaktuvuk to Ambler packrafting trip with close friends – the Arctic has a special place in my heart. We were lucky enough to see 22 bears in 21 days, whoa!

In general, I love being outside for opportunities to interact and engage with the natural world and sharing those experiences and spaces with like-minded people, friends, and clients, both new and old. I appreciate the real challenges, necessary teamwork, playfulness, and unexpected “ah ha” learning moments that living in the outdoors can bring us, sometimes with grimacing smiles or belly-aching laughter.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Aaron is in touch with this land, it is such a pleasure to hear his stories. It was such a pleasure to see his tactical choices – thousands of hours of experience expressing themselves at every moment. The Katie-Aaron combo was a superb match.”
  • “Great sense of humor and level headedness. Open and sociable making time for each client. Very approachable, kept things lighthearted.”
  • “Lovely person, great to talk to. Incredible depth of knowledge and experience.”
  • “I appreciated Aaron’s ability to connect with other members of the group. He made me feel like my goals were heard, and that he tried to help me every day with making progress towards those goals.”
  • “Aaron is great. Extremely attentive to everyone in the group. Extremely knowledgeable.”
Hatcher Pass hike, post-office work day.

Audrey Abbott

  • Virgin, UT
  • Partner to Mike and pup parent to Buckley.
  • Instagram
  • She/her

I grew up in Dallas, Texas but spent most of my childhood summers in Colorado, where I fell in love with the great outdoors. My career as an outdoor educator began in the summers between college when I started to lead canoe expeditions through Quetico Provincial Park, just north of the boundary waters.

After graduating, I traveled and worked internationally, leading weeklong biking and hiking trips. Over the course of those early years I developed a deep regard for adventure travel, as well as the wilderness experience, and I believe strongly in the innate connection between outdoor exploration and self-reflection and growth. By the time I moved to Southwest Utah in 2018, I had lived and worked on several continents, spending the most significant chunks of my time in Catalonia, Spain, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Patagonia, and Southeast Asia.

The dramatic landscapes of Southern Utah deepened my love for rock climbing, and it was here too that I discovered a new passion: canyoneering. I found the exploration of slot canyons intoxicating, and I have had the privilege of sharing that passion with others for the past six years as a canyon guide and AMGA climbing instructor based out of Zion National Park. This will be my second season working with Andrew Skurka Adventures. I genuinely believe that time spent outdoors is the best way to spend time, and the connections you make with others along the way are some of the strongest bonds I’ve ever known.

When I am not working as a guide or instructor, I am planning my own outdoor adventures with friends. In the past few years, those escapades have included climbing big walls in the Spanish Pyrenees, backpacking in the Wind River Range, packrafting the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, and bikepacking the White Rim in Canyonlands National Park.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Audrey is very patient and empathetic, sensing each person’s needs without any hint of judgment. She is an engaged listener and genuinely considers everyone’s input. You implicitly respect and like her.”
  • “Audrey’s such a great teacher. She’s calm and patient, and was excellent at explaining complex topics clearly and simply. Early in the trip I was struggling with stemming and down-climbing narrow slots — all those moves were totally new to me. She spent a while those first few days coaching me through the moves, and by the middle of the trip that stuff had moved from scary to fun for me. I also really appreciated getting to learn from her canyoneering experience, and her willingness to get into the weeds on that stuff with me.”
  • “Superb technical knowledge, skill, and physical ability. Open, authentic, and welcoming presence, including excellent support of a client who was facing fears of their own – Audrey supported them with incredible patience and grace. Audrey fits into the Skurka program and ethos so well that it is hard to believe that this season is her first and our trip was only her second week.”
Audrey in Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Brandon Chase

  • Lives in Southwest Harbor, ME with wife Veronica and 3 y/o daughter, Lupine.
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • he/him/his

I have been involved with Andrew’s program since 2020 in multiple capacities including logistical support, program design, instruction for the Plan Like a Pro course, and guiding. In a previous life, I was a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State and had the opportunity to explore more than 60 countries while serving at U.S. Embassies in Egypt, Cyprus, and Pakistan. 

As a Registered Maine Guide for Whitewater and Recreation, I lead rafting trips, wildlife canoe tours, and guided hikes across Maine. I enjoy sharing my passion for the outdoors and helping others surpass perceived limitations to show that valuable, positive, and memorable backcountry experiences are achievable by anyone, anywhere with the proper skills and mindset.

Along with a 98-day thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, I have summited Mount Kilimanjaro, hiked the West Highland Way, fastpacked in the Himalayas, and trekked extensively throughout New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. I regularly compete in ultramarathons at distances from 50k to 100 miles and write about hiking gear, trail running, and fastpacking for publications including Fit For Miles and TheTrek.

Outside of guiding and writing, I manage a small real estate portfolio, officiate high school wrestling matches, work seasonally as a plumber, build websites, travel extensively, and volunteer with Outdoor Sport Institute to support their mission of building and maintaining inclusive, sustainable trail systems that strengthen community, stewardship, and access to the outdoors in the greater Katahdin region.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Brandon was enthusiastic and always willing to help out or answer any questions. He was a very patient and thorough teacher, and I learned a ton from his lessons.”
  • “Very strong and confident, and you knew you were going to be safe with him in the group in terms of any unexpected difficulties, either with a member of the group or any other aspect of the backcountry adventure.”
  • “Very experienced with off-trail route finding and map and compass use. Also an expert in gear.”
  • “Brandon excelled at clear communication and was a calm, confident influence for the group.”
  • “Brandon has a very practical/succinct approach to things — he cuts right to the important parts when explaining things, both at camp and in the field. Brandon is very calm when things go wrong.”
A proud guide after clients confidently navigated a high Sierra pass.

Scott Christy

This coming season will be my sixth year guiding with ASA, but for over twenty years I’ve taught backpacking skills for NOLS and helped develop the NOLS lightweight backpacking program. In that capacity, I’ve had the honor of backpacking and training a diverse range of participants including NASA Astronauts, MBA students, US Marines, and Google directors. I’m also a river guide rowing expedition rafting trips in the Grand Canyon. As a guide, I am moved by the fact that our lives are richer for the experiences we share with others, and I believe that expeditions succeed together or largely don’t succeed.

When I’m not guiding I do a fair bit of personal adventuring. In 2021 I completed a continuous almost all off-trail end-to-end hike of the Grand Canyon. Additionally I enjoy long packrafting trips in the Arctic and canyoneering explorations of the Colorado Plateau. Also, it turns out that lightweight backpacking systems work exceptionally well for bikepacking and backcountry elk hunting!

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Throughout our trip, I found Scott’s most prominent quality was simply true leadership. Leadership in this case being the ability to rally folks and bring out the best of folks within a group (Not just managing a group or situation). Scott’s experience guiding here shines through as there is a natural ‘vibe’ that simply commands respect and appreciation. In ‘worst-case’ scenarios, he was able to maintain a process and keep folks in happy spirits. It was a true delight watching his experience quickly allow him to navigate stressful, complex and extremely dynamic scenarios while maintaining a good composure and example for the rest of the team.”
  • “Scott is a crystal clear communicator, and he expresses himself with both a genuine sense of joy about being out in the wilderness and a sense that everything will be fine. This communication style sets a tone for the group of shared awe and ease. Scott has an extraordinary amount of backcountry knowledge and it is really fun to talk to him about the landscape we’re traveling and other places he’s been. He is also comfortable answering a question with, “I don’t know,” which is a surprisingly rare and authentic answer, and a sign of a leader you trust. “
  • “Mountain whisperer – Scott knows everything there is to know. Scott is a strong leader and communicator with superb skills and judgment about wilderness situations.”
Scott relaxing atop a slickrock slab in the Grand Canyon.

Tina Currin

  • Boulder, CO
  • Married to Grayson, with Rollie the dumb orange polydactyl cat
  • Instagram
  • She/her

I’m a Park Ranger and Wilderness EMT who joined ASA in 2024, with over a decade of experience in backcountry travel and risk management. Two years ago, I moved to the foothills above Boulder and immediately got to work setting FKTs on two Colorado high routes: the Radical Slam (7 summits, 16 miles, 7,000+ feet of gain) and the L.A. Freeway (24 summits, 34 miles, 20,000+ feet of gain).

Before moving west, my husband, our cat, and I lived the #vanlife dream, crisscrossing all 50 states to hike, climb, and run our way through the country in a glorious, chaotic blur. Somewhere in there, I racked up more than 11,000 miles of backpacking and developed what I can only describe as an obsession with ultralight gear and America’s National Scenic Trails. I’ve thru-hiked seven of them, including the Triple Crown (AT, PCT, CDT), plus the Florida, Arizona, New England, and Ice Age Trails. I’ve learned that lighter packs don’t mean easier days, just better ones.

In a former life, I was a journalist, founded a social justice nonprofit, collaborated with artists like Duran Duran and Dave Matthews, organized music festivals and charity bike races, and somehow ended up with a Guinness World Record for blowing air horns. Raised in North Carolina, I didn’t discover endurance sports or backpacking until well into adulthood, which is proof that it’s never too late to fall in love with hard things… or to decide that walking very far on purpose is a good idea.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Tina gave very detailed gear and equipment analyses both before and during the trip. She connected with every member of the group in a very personable and present way. It made us all feel very confident in her leadership.”
  • “Always positive, fact based, and someone you are happy to have along for those that prefer solo outings most. Park Rangers make great guides.”
  • “Like Andrew, Tina is knowledgeable, motivating and kind. Both world class people that I was honored to spend time with.”
  • “Tina was amazing at being the ‘mom’ of the group and was very much in tune with the physical and emotional needs of everyone. She was also great at fielding any questions about gear or questions about other hikes.”
  • “Very experienced – shared her rationale for approaches to different situations. Always willing to answer individual or group questions in detail.”
Tina on a hike in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado.

Katie Gerber

Since joining ASA in 2021, I’ve spent 255 days in the field with clients in Utah, Alaska, California, Colorado, and West Virginia. At the beginning of 2023, I took on the role of Co-Director of the company.

As an outdoor educator, my goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge, experience, and confidence to safely pursue trips of their own. I enjoy teaching risk-management, sharing about local flora, and creating a group environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

In addition to guiding and co-directing at ASA, I’m a health and nutrition coach for outdoor enthusiasts, creator of the Backpacker Academy online courses and author of Adventure Ready: A Hiker’s Guide to Planning, Training, and Resiliency.

A few of my favorite personal trips include a ridgeline traverse of the Sangre de Cristo range, an end-to-end hike of the Grand Canyon, and a 900-mile off-trail route in the Great Basin. I’ve also completed the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, Oregon Desert, and Colorado Trails, along with a few high routes. I love alpine travel and have summited all of Colorado’s 14ers. I also enjoy backcountry skiing, canyoneering, and volunteering on local trail crews.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “As Andrew said at the beginning of the trip, I would follow Katie anywhere she was guiding. Katie’s ability to teach and her patient, positive attitude are amazing.”
  • “Katie was approachable, kind, and an overall fantastic person to be around. She is incredibly confident and competent in the outdoors – I felt 100% safe under her watch. Katie was so dedicated to sharing her passion and knowledge of the canyons – that attitude provided a great learning environment and set the overall tone.”
  • “Katie was exceptionally knowledgeable about almost everything, from flower names to navigation. She was a patient teacher, and made sure everyone was understanding the material, even when each of us had a million questions (often asking the same questions repeatedly).”
  • “Katie is a very lovely person. Her calm, reassuring nature, professional attitude, and discernment when offering critiques or suggestions makes for a Guide that resonates with just about all personalities. Plus, when she “teaches”, her descriptions and verbiage is crystal clear and concise. She doesn’t need to repeat since “one gets it, on the first go round.”
Katie feeling grateful to be in the Brooks Range of Alaska.

Jessica Guo (“Stitches”)

  • splitting time between Seattle, WA; Hartland, VT; and Colorado Springs, CO
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • she/her

I’m thrilled to be joining Andrew’s guide team in 2026. With roots in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve hiked more than 10,000 miles across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. 

I believe in the healing power of forward motion in the outdoors. Time in nature is a visceral, grounding experience that unlocks your agency. I love type II adventures and am no stranger to suffering, but I’ve seen that you’ll never solve a problem if you can’t have fun with it: the mental game is absolutely essential. This has been a throughline of my professional and personal life, and it is what I hope to leave you with. 

In 2025, I left a corporate career facilitating leadership, design thinking, and innovation workshops to become the first woman and one of only five people to connect the Continental Divide Trail and Great Divide Trail in a season. I documented the journey extensively on social media to draw attention first to the idea of traversing the ridgeline of North America, and later for climate change and the protection of public lands as I walked along the source of the continent’s watersheds. Previously, I also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023 (a record high snow year) and the Colorado Trail including summiting 27 of the state’s fourteeners in 2024. 

In my hiking, I have a strong interest in diversity and women’s empowerment in the outdoors, climate advocacy, Leave No Trace, public lands, and indigenous history. I’m a new but avid birder and longtime stargazer. Outside of hiking, I’m a cyclist, skier, writer, creator, and meditator. I am also a speaker and athlete representing Protect Our Winters, a non-profit focused on environmental issues and civic engagement.

Jess against a backdrop of the American Basin in Colorado. Traditional territory of the Ute (Núuchi) people ceded in the Brunot Treaty, 1874.

Hunter Hall

I’ve been working as an instructor for Andrew’s guided trips and online class, Plan Like a Pro, since 2019. I’m thrilled to be the new Program Manager in 2025!

I love being an instructor and guiding because it gives me an opportunity to share hard-won knowledge with others and empower people with the skills to do their own exploring. In the field, I’m very level-headed, safety conscious, and believe in fostering a culture of risk awareness, open/transparent decision making, and healthy, fun group dynamics.

In another life, I’m a hospitality industry executive, HR professional, lobbyist, government contractor, and management consultant. I’ve led over 50 seminars and workshops in this capacity and have directed teams of 100+ since 2007.

I spend most of my outdoor time in the mountains of California, from the San Gabriels to The Sierra, most of which is off-trail along high routes like the SHR, KCHBR, SoSHR, YHR, etc. I love winter backpacking, snowboarding/skiing, adventure cycling, and packrafting. Recently, I’ve combined these pursuits with things like Bikerafting, Skirafting, and more traditional Bikepacking. I have a newfound fascination with geology and natural history.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Wealth of knowledge. Excelled at understanding and adapting to the group’s emotional and physical state. He was also great at allowing the group to learn by experimenting, only stepping in when necessary to correct or alter a decision if needed.”
  • “Uncanny ability to explain something so you understand quickly and retain it.”
  • “Great at teaching us how to travel in difficult terrain safely. I felt completely safe knowing he was there.”
  • “Amazingly supportive and encouraging. Generous, kind, soft-hearted, and fascinating to talk to.”
  • “Great teacher who made sure each of us intentionally walked the group through how we came to conclusions while we were leading.”
  • …and my favorite (thanks to the beard): “The Most Interesting Guide in The World!”
Hunter on the Kings Canyon High Basin Route.

Melodie Kao

  • Flagstaff, AZ
  • Lots of plant children and enthusiastic cat auntie
  • Website
  • she/her

I explore the natural world, whether it is the physics occurring in faraway worlds as an astronomer as an astronomer at Lowell Observatory or roaming mountains and canyons. In 2019 I got my start as a guide by teaching a semester-long Wild Astro class with a 7-day backpacking trip at Arizona State University. After going to the Brooks Range in 2021 with Andrew’s program, he recruited me to guide in the Sierras, and I’m delighted to be back!

Backpacking skills help us grapple with challenges that we face in the rest of our lives, including at work and at home. On my trips, I show people how to traverse their internal landscapes while they learn how to become skilled route-finders. Wild places and their lessons are a shared human inheritance, so I also work to make nature more accessible including by co-launching our Scholarship Program in 2022.

I especially like analog navigation and spend most of my personal outdoor time soloing on-the-fly routes that I develop in the field with minimal advance planning. I have an abiding relationship with the Sierras and the Wind River Range. I also enjoy pair and small-group travel all up and down the Sierras in early and late season, as well as the Escalante and Grand Canyon. In 2022 I won an American Alpine Club Catalyst Grant for a route in the Brooks Range. The rest of the time, I mentor emerging scientists and backpackers, cross-train, study Capoeira Angola, read, and nerd out occasionally as a civilian tourist at my observatory.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Melodie is a bad ass rock star. She is top of the game in terms of her technical skills, technique, fitness and endurance, backcountry experience, teaching abilities, patience, and ability to read individual and group dynamics. I adore her!”
  • “The route Melodie designed to get to the Yosemite border was awesome. it was a really spectacular route.”
  • “Her knowledge and way of looking at the natural world are mind blowing, she checked in with each of us and made sure we were doing well, she is an awesome teacher!!”
  • “I loved Melodie’s passion for almost everything – especially science! I really appreciated that (despite all of her backpacking accomplishments), she’s NOT primarily a professional outdoors person. This makes her incredibly relatable to me. I learned so much from her.”
Melodie on the Sierra High Route.

Nadine Lehner

  • Puerto Guadal, Patagonia, Chile (US address: Anchorage, AK)
  • Partner: Flaco; cat: Valentina
  • Instagram
  • She/ her

Guiding expeditions was my first job, back in high school, when I started leading river expeditions in northern Canada.  In 2010, I started instructing with NOLS; since then, I’ve led courses in Alaska, Patagonia and Wyoming, mostly in mountaineering and backpacking. In 2017, I started Chulengo Expeditions, to bring backpackers into the backcountry of the Chilean national parks I worked with Tompkins Conservation to establish. I’ve also organized and guided all-women’s expeditions to climb Denali (with Alaska Mountaineering School) and to teach mountaineering skills (with Alaska Mountain Women). I’m excited to join ASA for the 2025 season!

Through leading expeditions, I love helping folks realize they’re more competent and capable of doing hard things than they realized, while building lasting bonds with a community of adventurers and with wild landscapes. 

Over the past two decades, I’ve spent a cumulative six years sleeping in a tent in wild places throughout the Americas. That’s included several first ascents and long traverses on the Northern Patagonian Icefield, backcountry rock climbing trips in Chile, Argentina, and throughout the US, improvised packrafting loops, and lots of exploratory walking out the back door in Patagonia. 

My favorite client testimonials

 Nadine near her home in Puerto Guadal, Patagonia

Joe McConaughy (“Stringbean”)

  • Seattle, WA
  • Married to Katie and Australian Shepherd, Crash Bandipooch
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • He/him/his

This is my seventh season guiding with Andrew. I’ve guided in West Virginia, California, Washington and Utah. My goals on each trip are to explore interesting places, learn, and have fun. I guide because of the wide range of passionate outdoors people I get to meet. I’m particularly grateful to guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures because of the creative routes we draw up in interesting places.

Growing up an Eagle Scout and runner helped cultivate a lifelong interest in the outdoors and my physical limits. I’ve backpacked or run a handful of long trails in the US, including the PCT, AT, JMT, LT, and AZT. I love ultralight backpacking and moving quickly through nature. I’m also a sponsored ultramarathon runner with Brooks and trail running coach. I like to combine the disciplines of backpacking and trail running. The mountains and forests are the places I like to visit to be introspective. It’s my place of zen, and I love sharing that with other people.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Joe surprised me in all of the best ways. What I expected was a super dialed, super fit guide who would push me physically. I got that, but what I also got was just a goofy, warm, teddy bear of a human.”
  • “It was so easy to laugh with and learn from Joe and he constantly shined a spotlight on the small treasures of the landscape and environment.”
  • “Incredible teacher about everything but especially map and compass. I understand it now!”
Selfie on the PCT

Nikki Mann

  • Lander, WY
  • Lives with Jeff Wohl and two…maybe now three (gulp) rescue dogs.

Nikki has been balancing jobs that are extremely physical with Multiple Sclerosis since 2008. Nikki has only worked one course for Skurka adventures, not because she didn’t love the work and the clients (many of which come visit us in Lander), but because it’s hard to find dog sitters for three weeks and the cost is quite high.

Nikki has worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School, as a naturalist and guide for the Nature Conservancy, is always sawing her way into one construction project or another. She is currently attempting to finish their second natural history guide, “The GYE: Illustrated Guide for the Curious,” if she stops building insulated dog houses for rescue dogs long enough to do so. She hiked the CDT with Jeff in 2011, and even had a rescue dog join for part of the adventure.

Jose Mendez

For the past five years I’ve worked in outdoor education and guiding as a camp instructor, day guide, and multi-day guide teaching backpacking, climbing, canyoneering, and kayaking. I started with Andrew Skurka Adventures in 2022 guiding trips in the Sierra and have now also guided in Utah, Alaska, and Yellowstone. I’ve also worked as a NOLS field instructor for the past few years leading hiking and climbing courses. I currently work as an adaptive climbing guide, teaching indoor and outdoor climbing to people who have experienced trauma, youth experiencing homelessness, and individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

I’ve gone on some long walks on the John Muir Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail and routes like the Lowest to Highest, Hayduke Trail, Wind River High Route and Yosemite High Route. I’ve also done a lot of technical climbing all over the west including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Tahoe, and the Grand Tetons among many other places.

Guiding gives me the opportunity to share my newfound love of the outdoors with those who also haven’t had the ability or resources to discover these amazing places and experiences. On each trip I lead, I try to share all the skills I’ve acquired as an outdoor enthusiast and my passion for preserving these beautiful wild places. I love to focus on the natural and indigenous history of the area I’m guiding in in order to expand a client’s perception of these wild and wonderful places. This year I’ve also taken up birding and I’m hoping to add a few more to my life list.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Clear communication and expectations. Warm, welcoming, kind and inclusive.”
  • “Excellent leadership skills, communication but also laid-back and not micromanaging. Has the soft skills for fostering a great learning environment- I felt safe but encouraged to explore my perceived limits. Really good assessment of what the group/individuals could tolerate. Seemed really invested in the group and individual experience.”
  • “An excellent teacher, and constantly providing valuable input on hazards and methods. Love the dry humor. Very intelligent and experienced.”
  • “He was patient and he explained things very well. His knowledge of the outdoors is exceptional, and he knows a lot of interesting facts about geology and plants! The bidet demonstration was awesome.”
Jose in the Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska

Samuel Novey

  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • Lives with: Partner – Ashley; Boston Terriers – Sigmund, Birch, and Margot; Pit Bull – Rosie; and usually one or two foster dogs
  • Instagram

Born and raised in the bay area I grew up hiking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada. I mostly like mellow nature walks but I’ve also been serious about climbing mountains for almost twenty years. I’ve climbed difficult routes on big mountains all over the world. I’ve hiked, run, climbed, or skied every peak in my local Wasatch mountains, including completing the WURL. My experience in alpine climbing distills a lightweight and physical approach to backpacking. This will be my fourth season guiding with ASA.

I just completed my graduate studies as a Nurse Practitioner, after 10+ years as an Emergency/Triage nurse and Wilderness First Responder instructor. On the side I work as a coach for mountain athletes and I volunteer as the Salt Lake Chapter Chair of the American Alpine Club.

Some of my personal experiences include:

  • Climbing Highlights: Multiple climbs in the Khumbu region of the Himalayas; the Cassin Ridge on Denali; Mt. Rainier’s Liberty Ridge in 24 hours; The North Face of Quitaraju in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru; and the three tallest peaks of the Rwenzori Range, Uganda
  • Off trail scrambles, high routes, rock climbs, ice climbs, and peak bagging adventures in the Cascades, Sierras, Wind River, Teton, San Juan, Front, Lost River, Wasatch, and Uinta mountain ranges
  • Backcountry hiking and rock climbs all over the desert southwest, including: Grand Staircase Escalante, Canyonlands, Greater Moab area, Bears’ Ears, Vermillion Cliffs, and the Grand Canyon

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Sam was committed to creating exceptional group cohesion, came prepared with knowledge about the flora and fauna, and approached the environment with a sense of joy.”
  • “Sam was very fun and friendly and also inspired lots of confidence. He demonstrated significant expertise, particularly with navigation, and had lots of interesting knowledge that he shared with the group. I appreciated his willingness to push the group beyond our comfort zones in order to really attain the “adventure” part of the trip.”
  • “Sam is a bonafide legend. I’d do another trip just to hang and learn more from Sam”
  • “Sam was super knowledgeable and complemented Scott well in terms of areas of expertise. Both Scott & Sam were among the best guides I’ve ever had on trips.”
Sam in in Little Box Death Hollow, Escalante, UT

Ella Nuttleman

  • Boulder, CO
  • Married to Charlie and mom to Logan (4 year-old)
  • Coaching

I began working with Andrew in the summer of 2022, though my guiding roots stretch back to my early 20s at a YMCA camp, where I led youth trips into Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness. From 2012–2021, I guided backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center throughout western Colorado and southern Utah.

Human-powered travel in wild places is what makes me tick, and I’m passionate about sharing that experience with others. I believe outdoor recreation is an essential human need and inherently therapeutic. My goal as a guide is to teach practical outdoor skills, build confidence in backcountry travel, and help people carry the lessons learned on the trail into their everyday lives.

Beyond guiding, I work as a coach, helping athletes train for goals ranging from their first half marathon to 100-mile races and expedition objectives. I also personally love trail running, skiing, and biking. With family as my top priority, my personal adventures have become a bit shorter as I nurture a love for the outdoors in my four-year-old—while also trying to help him develop into a well-rounded individual.

Personal highlights include:

  • Traversing the Grand Pacific Glacier (AK)
  • Hiking the length of the Grand Canyon (AZ)
  • Trail running the Rockwall Traverse and Lake O’Hara Circuit (Canadian Rockies)
  • FKTs on the Mosquito–Tenmile Ridge, East Ridge of Edith Cavell, R2R2R.alt, and Big Sister
  • Mountain biking the White Rim (3x) (UT)
  • Completing the Grand Traverse of the Tetons (WY)
  • Fastpacking the Hardrock 100 Course (CO) and Wonderland Trail (WA)
  • Climbing the Kautz Route on Mount Rainier (2x) (WA) and Gannett Peak (WY)
  • Guiding rafts down the Tatshenshini-Alsek and through Hells Canyon

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Ella seemed to fill every role the group needed seamlessly, always with a smile on her face and ready to bring one to someone else’s. She was a great leader to bounce navigation or route ideas off in the front of the group and was a joyful conversation companion who made a real effort to get to know people and share her experiences when following others. She facilitated a lot of reflection and sharing at group meals. She naturally and consistently checked in on clients and always seemed to be there to bolster anyone who wasn’t feeling their strongest. She also busted out the perfect group snack at the exact right moment of the trip. Ella also was also a huge help in getting the group comfortable with the early challenges –she took time to explain routes through steep and loose terrain or coach eddy lines and it was clear that she has a ton of her own experience to draw on in that make her a great leader and teacher for how to move in complex environments. She was also just as eager as the clients to learn about moving through the Brooks Range.”
  • “Ella was the epitome of kindness and empathy, going above and beyond to check in on us regularly throughout the day – and giving much-needed pep talks when we needed them most. Ella is passionate about helping others achieve their goals, which was evident in the way that she patiently answered questions and took the time to teach new skills outside of the curriculum. I’ll never forget her patient guidance as she helped Chelsea and me master knots. Her thorough and selfless teaching approach was truly empowering, fostering a supportive environment where I felt valued and capable. Secondly, Ella’s undeniable badassery in real life served as an inspiring
    reminder of what women are capable of in the backcountry.”
  • “1) Humble and competent powerhouse 2) Connecting with the group and bringing the group together”
Ella hiking in the Grand Canyon.

Mikaela Osler

This is my fifth season guiding with Skurka Adventures; I have over 150 days with the program. I also have more than a decade of experience in outdoor education with kids and young adults.My favorite thing about guiding is helping others gain the skills and comfort they need so they can challenge themselves, grow, and–maybe most importantly–have fun.

I hiked the PCT in 2016. Since then, I’ve completed the triple crown and have set FKTs on the Colorado Trail and Long Trail. These days, I’m a ski patroller at Ski Santa Fe and volunteer EMT in rural New Mexico. I’m also a writer; I completed my MFA in creative nonfiction in 2022. You can find my writing about the outdoors in places like Fourth Genre, Trails Magazine, and Blood, Sweat, Tears, an anthology about women outdoors

This year, I’m excited to be stepping into the role of Curriculum Manager. It’s my third year involved with the planning curriculum, and I have three years of experience prior to that teaching college-level English, mostly online. Whether I’m teaching how to structure a paragraph or read a map, I love finding creative ways to help people connect with new skills and ideas.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Mikaela’s radiant energy gave us, a group of strangers from the internet, permission to be silly, vulnerable, authentic, inspired and humbled, as we walked together…she worked hard to keep us safe, but gave us room to be uncomfortable at a growth edge. I saw her hold space for people to shine and to cry.”
  • “Strong dynamic positive personality that kept everyone focused and engaged. She was especially good at teaching navigation in a clear non technical manner that everyone could understand.”
  • “She’s caring, empathetic, funny, a CalTopo whiz, and tended to our medical and self care needs.”
  • “I am a REAL introvert and yet she made me feel relatively comfortable sharing with the group. This is no small task.”
Mikaela enjoying a snack break in Yellowstone.

Andy Paul

  • Palmer, AK
  • Partnered to Annie, dog Bogi (from Togiak, AK)
  • Instagram

I joined the ASA team in 2025. I’ve been professionally working in Alaska since 2013, predominantly for NOLS (the National Outdoor Leadership School) where I’ve worked a variety “surf and turf (and ice)” trips of sea kayaking, hiking, and mountaineering across south central AK. I have over 100 field weeks for NOLS ranging from canyons in Mexico’s San Pedro Martir mountains to the Talkeetna’s tundra. 

I grew up spending time between California’s Sierra Nevada and southeast Alaska, in the community of Gustavus, at the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. As soon as I was able to drive, I was planning trips with friends and checking off trailheads on the East Side of the Sierras while exploring on- and off-trail options in this granitic alpine wonderland. 

My career outdoors has spanned from ski guiding and avalanche education to doing habitat restoration along the Tijuana River Valley corridor along the U.S./Mexico Border. From 2019-2024, I ran and supervised the mountaineering program for NOLS Alaska which operates in the Alaska Range and Chugach mountains. Through that program, I had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients from business schools to the military and lots of folks in between. 

Some personal and career highlights:

  • Traversing the Garhwal Himalaya in northern India (40 days walking/mountaineering traverse with several high points above 18,000’)
  • Guiding Denali’s West Buttress route (20,310’)
  • Thru-hiking the JMT (2011)

I currently live in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and spend my winters forecasting for the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center and teaching for the Alaska Avalanche School. When not at work in the hills, you can find me packrafting, scheming surf trips, and playing mandolin in a local bluegrass band. 

My favorite client testimonials

  • “I appreciated that Andy would make a point to have personable conversations with each member of the group, would remember details and reference later in conversations. He made sure everyone gained knowledge, were made to feel welcomed, but didn’t overwhelm you either. In short, if you told me I was going on the most miserable trip, but also told me that Andy would be leading…I’d be motivated and would look forward to the adventure…he brings that much to a group.”
  • “Andy was extremely friendly and made everyone feel very comfortable to be themselves, which allowed everyone to feel comfortable and helped the group become a team. He was very helpful in re-enforcing the “why” for the skills we learned, and was especially helpful with the knot portion of the course.”

Hazel Platt

I began guiding with ASA in 2021, but my love for helping people of all ages connect with nature started in college with Penn State University’s Outing Club, Adventure Literature and Outdoor School programs while I was pursuing my Bachelor’s in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management. For the last two years I’ve been working full-time as a conservation corps Crew Leader, spending more than half of my time in the field leading trail and environmental restoration crews all over Northern California. You can often find me deep in the backcountry maintaining sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail in the summer season. 

I have hiked well over 5,000 miles all over the US including thruhikes of the AT, PNT and sections of the PCT. More recently, I’ve been tackling more technical terrain on high routes in the Sierras, other mountain ranges on the West Coast, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. When I’m not backpacking, I like to spend my free time backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, cycling and chasing rare wildflowers. I also hope to pursue more whitewater in the near future after witnessing the majesty of the Grand Canyon on a raft trip down the Colorado in 2025.

When I guide, my goal is to evoke a sense of deep curiosity in each client, to help them look closer at flora and cure their “tree blindness,” an insidious condition that prevents full appreciation of nature’s most majestic beings. I like to say that my gear is ultralight to support my field guide habit – I’m probably carrying at least two anytime I’m on the trail. I love to investigate the bigger picture of the places I explore – the interconnected ecology of the human and more-than-human worlds, and the ways that queerness is present all around us in nature.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Hazel’s detailed local knowledge brought the landscape to life. I did not think I was interested in trees. I was wrong. Talking to him helped me understand human impact and why it’s so important to follow Leave No Trace principles. I’m very thankful to have had Hazel on this trip.”
Hazel on the Sierra High Route in 2025

Dahn Pratt

  • Ojai, CA
  • Two dogs (one tripod courtesy of Jeff Wohl!)
  • Instagram

The outdoors have always been my refuge. In-between semesters at college I worked on a helicopter-assisted sled dog camp in the Panhandle of Alaska on the Denver Icefield. Post-grad I have worked with various non-profits focused on interpersonal and leadership skills in an outdoor setting logging over 500 nights in outdoor classrooms. I have also guided with Andrew since 2020 and plan on guiding for many more years to come!

I’ve hiked and guided extensively on six continents and each time I meet new people or witness new places I look forward to learning more and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained from a life lived exploring. There hasn’t been a day spent outdoors where I haven’t learned something new and I intend to keep that streak going in 2025 🙂

A lifetime ago I was a Bronze Medalist at the Canadian Track & Field National Championships in Triple Jump. After graduating I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and have been longing for outdoor exploration ever since. Between late 2017 and early 2020 I hiked well over 10,000 miles in perpetual summer along national scenic trails in various countries, even pioneering a 1,250 mile loop in the Middle East called the Peace Trail, a combination of the Israel National Trail and the Jordan Trail.

After University I was a teaching assistant for a travel abroad program and also taught Human Kinetics, Geography, and Orienteering at an International School in Tokyo.

Special areas of interest for me in the backcountry are wild edibles, hydrology, and geology.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Dahn had an ever positive attitude, fun loving personality that was great to be around when things were good. He had quite an accomplished backpacking career as well, which he lent a lot of during conversations. It was awesome to hear about different birds, trees, plants, mushrooms, wildfire, geology, etc. Such a nice bonus to get all these tidbits of knowledge and learn about the world around us, rather than just how to navigate through it. Makes it more about living with it and less about getting past it.”
  • “Dahn’s enthusiasm and energy was infectious. He always had a cool or funny story to share; talking with and getting to know him was great. He approached leading the team more in the role of a coach, never really giving instructions but instead pointing out information, giving feedback, and talking through options.”
  • “Early in the trip Dahn shared that he feels like he is his best self when on the trail, and I think his example helped set the extremely positive, constructive, and helpful tone for the expedition. Dahn has an impressive amount of hiking and general life experience that he was able to draw on to illustrate the teaching he did during the trip, in a characteristically humble and understated way. I learned a lot about navigating (including specific skills like triangulating my location, and being systematic about trying to disprove my navigator story), and about picking good lines, and about safe backcountry travel. Dahn can also do a pretty good Australian accent.”
Dahn glissading in the High Sierra.

Lindsay Priefert

I’ve been an outdoor educator since 2014, including 94 weeks in the field for NOLS courses in southern Utah, the Wind River Range, and Alaska. I’ve also guided multi-week backpacking and horsepacking expeditions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. When I’m not guiding, I’m in Lander enjoying community life with my dog and working as a coach.

On trip, expect me to be present, steady, and ready to laugh. I care deeply about the connections we create in the backcountry and about building the mindset that helps us meet the weather, the terrain, and ourselves as we are.

Lightweight backpacking is my primary passion, and I love the puzzle of building simple, efficient systems that make big days feel more doable and more fun. I’m especially drawn to off-trail travel, where the learning is immediate and the experience feels immersive and real. My background blends expedition logistics, teaching, and leadership development, and I’m continually curious about how people and groups move through uncertainty and challenge together.

My personal and professional experience also includes technical canyoneering in southern Utah, packrafting and backpacking linkups, including a self-supported packraft expedition through the Grand Canyon, and integrating horses into wilderness travel through backcountry horsemanship and horsepacking.

Lindsay canyoneering in Robbers Roost.

Christy Rosander

  • Tehachapi, CA
  • Married to Dan with three adult children and 4 grandkids
  • Instagram
  • Website

This coming season will be my 7th year as an Andrew Skurka Adventures guide with 165 days in the field throughout Alaska, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. Guiding gives me the opportunity to share the outdoors and empower others with the skills and confidence to plan and execute future personal trips. In addition, I love to encourage, support, and have fun with new and old client groups.

As an elementary school teacher for over 20 years, I took advantage of my breaks to hike solo or with family and friends. I love hiking in remote and wild places and documenting trips through writing, photos, and video.

My most notable trips include:

  • Long-distance trails like the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, Great Divide, John Muir (6x), Theodore Solomons, Arizona, Wonderland, Uinta Highline and Tahoe Rim Trails
  • Off-trail adventures like the Kings Canyon High Basin Route, Yosemite High Route (4x), Sierra High Route (4x), Lowest to Highest, Scotland’s Great Outdoor Challenge, Wind River High Route, Sky Island Traverse, Northern New Mexico Loop, and Southern Sierra High Route, plus many DIY itineraries in the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Sierras, southern Utah and Death Valley;
  • Big peaks like Rainier, Shasta, Whitney (via the Mountaineers Route, 6x), Russell, Williamson, Tyndall, Sahale, Mount Brewer, Banner and Ritter.

In addition to backpacking for over 35 years, I backcountry and alpine ski, road and mountain bike, paddleboard, and rock climb. I’m committed to staying healthy, fit, and having fun. A positive attitude, good planning, a bit of spunk, and lightweight gear are a few of the keys to longevity in this sport.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “On top of a seemingly endless pool of unconditional stoke, I was extremely impressed with Christy’s ability to meet everyone at their level. Having worked/traveled with guides before, I know many are adept at lifting others up to their level when the going gets tough or someone is exposed to a challenge outside of their comfort zone. This being said, what sets Christy apart was her ability to step down from the considerable heights of her own achievements/abilities and accompany our group at the pace/level of effort/emotion that we were at during any given moment of the trip. She was so incredibly empathetic, sincere, and supportive to all of us in various ways that really helped foster a sense of vulnerability, trust and humility that resonated through the 7 day trek. Put plain and simple, I couldn’t imagine a better guide to have on my first Skurka adventure.”
  • “Christy took risks around Class 3 descents seriously, but let the group navigate down. Overall she is an amazing guide and I hope that she guides in her 70s!”
  • “Christy was like the awesome adventure aunt you never knew you wanted but always needed. Her clear mastery in tackling gnarly terrain inspired confidence in the group. Her strict enforcement of best practices solidified the skill sets we learned.”
  • “Very people-oriented and observant, always making sure everyone is included and comfortable with what we were doing. Incredibly skilled, in excellent physical and mental ‘shape’, also a great communicator and a great role model for us older athletes!”
  • “Infectious enthusiasm for the Sierra peaks and routes. Mind-boggling level of experience, accomplishments and bad-assery. I would absolutely consider her a role model.”
Christy loving life in the Sierra.

Sarah Stratton

  • Virgin, UT
  • she/her

Since joining ASA in 2023, I’ve been on over 13 trips in Utah and California. I spent my college
summers and a few years after in Estes Park, Colorado, leading and teaching hiking and
backpacking to teenage girls in the high peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park. I got swept
into the climbing scene there in the mid-2000s and gained a ton of rope and technical
knowledge, eventually working for the wonderful Kent Mountain Adventure Center in Estes
Park. But, after my first trip to Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas, I fell in love with warm,
sunny sandstone and the following season, I started working in the Zion area as a climbing and
canyoneering guide.

Since 2008, I have called Zion Canyon and the Arizona Strip home and have led and taught
hundreds of hikers, bikers and canyoneers through the landscapes of Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef,
Escalante, Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon. I am a true multisport lover! I love
backpacking, trail running, hiking, climbing, biking and ski touring, and have been especially
lucky to be invited on and organized some exciting trips into the deep canyons and backcountry
of Southern Utah and the greater Grand Canyon.

I have been lucky to work in public land service. I’ve dabbled in frontcountry and backcountry
seasonal rangering and native plant landscaping work in the NPS, am a member of the Zion
Search and Rescue Team, and a backcountry volunteer in the Grand Canyon.

Lightweight packing and off trail travel play a huge role in all of my trips and I am excited to
share the freedom and ease in the outdoors that it can bring. My personal trip experience
includes long stretches on the AZT and Southern Arizona hiking, a portion of the Long Trail in
Vermont, hiking/canyoneering/packrafting in the remote Grand Canyon and Glen
Canyon/Escalante, high routes in the Wind River range, and wandering 10 day trips in the
Death Valley wilderness.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Incredible skill set that she willingly shared with group (general backpacking, navigation, geology, some rope work and much more), Sarah’s competence and confidence spread to the group and I think our overall performance and ability to take on risk increased as a result.”
  • “Very kind and encouraging, and highly skilled in a desert environment.”
  • “Sarah is freaking awesome. A patient, empathetic leader who pushes boundaries.”
  • “Sarah is knowledgeable, approachable, and inspires confidence.”
Sarah at the edge of the Western Grand Canyon.

Nicco Tyson

  • Oakland, CA
  • Partner: Shelli, Daughter: Ayelet
  • Facebook
  • he/him

Over the past 22 years, I have guided over 160 trips with the Pacific Outdoor Connection, Unalayee Backpacking Camp, H2OO, Andrew Skurka Adventures Fieldguides and on my own. I have guided groups of adults, children and teenagers on adventures in California’s Sierra Nevada and Trinity Alps, the canyons of the Escalante River in Utah, Olympic National Park, Yellowstone, and the desert landscapes of Joshua Tree and Baja California. A major professional accomplishment of mine was leading a group of 13 -16 year-olds on a 30-day backpacking trip that included a circumnavigation of the Trinity Alps High Route on a record snow year.

On an expedition, I aim for everyone to be challenged by the adventure and also be able to enjoy the wonder and beauty of the wilderness. An important part of the process is connecting and supporting each other as a group, especially as we step out of our comfort zones. I seek to empower participants to make sound decisions in the backcountry, navigate without trails, and have so much fun on their adventures.

When I’m not wandering in the mountains, I’m a performing musician, and harmonica, guitar and ukulele teacher in the Bay Area. I love teaching as it gives me a wonderful opportunity to share my experience and help others develop joy in playing music. For performing, I have crafted a unique sound after spending decades studying West African, Brazilian, and Cuban music as well as blues and American folk.

My other big passions are contact dance and storytelling. On many trips, I have performed entire movies and novels under the starry night sky or while cruising through long dusty trail miles. As a dancer, I have extensively studied Axis Syllabus Movement, Fighting Monkey Training and West African. I enjoy helping others move their bodies with playfulness, power and long term sustainability.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Vibes, education, entertainment, kindness, and keeping things light even in tough spots!”
  • “Nicco’s knowledge of the Sierra botany and geology was helpful and interesting. These insights were especially helpful in breaking up the ‘trail slog’ day 2 of the trip. Nicco’s persona was notably less serious than Andrews, and I think this worked extremely well for having the dynamic between the guiding pair and how it interacted with the clients. He kept the group laughing and laid back and helped us decompress after a long hard day of hiking with guitar, stories, and hilarious insights.”
  • “incredibly accessible, easy to be around, and brought a warm, “mama bear” energy to the group—which was truly lovely. He generously shared his knowledge of geology and wildflowers throughout the trip, and he also took the time to give me a personal topo map tutorial that was absolutely invaluable while we hiked on day 2. I now understand better how to look at a map and change that into a 3D picture in my mind.”
  • “Compassionate and multi- talented.”
Nicco and his ukelele in the Olympics.

Kat Weyland

  • Morgantown, WV
  • Live with my partner David and our mischievous dog, Murphy
  • Instagram
  • she/her

I’ve been guiding with Andrew since 2022 and have loved welcoming new clients each season while continuing to learn from an incredible and experienced guide team. Collaborating with guides who value thoughtful leadership, efficiency, and strong group dynamics has been a highlight of my recent work.

My outdoor journey began in 2004 at Experience Learning, an outdoor education center in wild and wonderful West Virginia. Over the years, I’ve served as an instructor, guide, and manager, spending much of my adult life helping people build confidence and capability in the backcountry using only what they carry. A core focus of my guiding style is ensuring that learning extends beyond the trip—by weaving in lessons on geology, forest ecology, and natural history, participants leave with skills and knowledge they can apply long after the hike ends.

Over the past 20+ years I’ve led trips throughout the U.S. and Europe, including hut-to-hut routes in the Alps, backpacking trips in WV,  and canoe expeditions on the Delaware River. I’ve thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, and backpacked internationally in places like the Swiss Alps, Scotland’s West Highland Way, and New Zealand’s Routeburn Track.

I currently call West Virginia home, where I spend my days exploring local forests and staying deeply connected to the landscapes that first drew me outdoors.

My favorite client testimonials

  • ‘Kat was the heart of the trip. Everyone comes to the wilderness with things on their mind and spirit, especially with many folks in our group at major life transitions. Kat was really effective at inviting the group to reflect each night and at the end of the trip. I was moved in ways I didn’t expect.”
  • “Excellent instruction and positive attitude at literally all times, it’s impressive.”
  • “Kat was unfailingly upbeat, helpful, and positive.”
  • “Kat is a gentle and kind soul that seems to have a sixth sense about how to create a sense of unity and camaraderie among groups of strangers. We laughed together, we cried together, and Kat was the benevolent puppet master behind it all.”
  • “Positive energy and wilderness skills.  Calm and easy to speak with, great map and compass lesson.” 
Kat on Copper Mine Pass in the High Sierra.

Jessica Winters

  • Renton, WA
  • Live with my husband and our 2 dogs, Noodle the Berner, Crash the Great Pyrenees. 
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • she/her

This is my 9th season guiding for Andrew and I truly enjoy spending time with our amazing clients! I love making connections and learning about each individual I get to work with in my groups. My goals are to support clients, share my expertise, and ultimately just have a really good time and a lot of fun in the backcountry.

I love creating the human connections and building relationships. I’m a full-time yoga teacher and business owner running a small yoga school in Renton, WA called Cedar River Yoga. I specialize in Wilderness Adventure Yoga rafting expeditions in places like the Grand Canyon, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and even Patagonia. As a former math teacher, I’m an educator at heart and I love planting seeds of empowerment and knowledge for whatever goals you have next.

I completed the Triple Crown in 2007 by thru-hiking the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide Trails. I thru-hiked across Iceland, the Arizona Trail, and have logged thousands of miles in the Cascades, Olympics and all the places adventure has called. I’ve climbed two of the seven summits; Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro, and love peak bagging and climbing in the Cascade mountains.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Jessica is an amazingly intuitive person who is super in touch with people. Very perceptive and a great communicator. She is also an excellent outdoors person with so much knowledge and experience.”
  • “Jessica is an incredibly experienced, humble, down-to-earth, kind human being. She is an open communicator and exceptionally patient. I felt like she was relating to us as if were hanging out on each other’s couches but there she was pushing me beyond my expectations in a way that allowed me to thrive in the wild setting.”
  • “Stretching and yoga in the mornings helped me prep my mind and set the tone for the day. Jessica had an enthusiasm that was contagious and was also a joy to be around that included everyone.”
  • “What a bad ass rock star in her backcountry experience, technical skills and technique, endurance, compassion, ability to explain new concepts and teach materials with an incredible sensitivity and compassion for others.”
Jessica in the North Cascades.

Witt Wisebram

  • Santa Fe, NM
  • Cat Dad to Rutherford (Trail Name: Catmandu), Dog Dad to Agnes (17 year-old Chihuahua), Partner to Megan
  • Instagram
  • he/him/his

This is my fourth season guiding with Andrew. I am excited to continue learning from such an experienced team, and I am also looking forward to bringing my skill-set, experience, and perspective to our clients this season. I have guided close to 100 days in the field for Andrew and over 100 clients. I grew up backpacking in the Southeast. I worked as an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner, patrolling 55 miles of trail between Harpers Ferry, WV, and Shenandoah National Park in the years before guiding for Andrew. In the past I have guided for REI and privately guided in Chilean Patagonia.

Some of the most profound and enriching outdoor experiences I have had in recent years have been helping others to achieve their goals. It feels like a natural extension, after achieving many of my own goals and dreams, to help others find their way to their own goals in the outdoors. From helping Stringbean achieve his amazing Arizona Trail FKT to helping friends finish their first 100 mile races to encouraging hikers as they begin the 2nd half of the Appalachian Trail, these experiences have helped broaden and expand my own relationship to the outdoors. I hope to help clients not only learn and grow, but to do so in a way that fosters respect, connection, and a deeper relationship with the natural world.

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2003, at the age of 19. Since then I have completed the Triple Crown of long distance hiking, and I have been able to find strength and push my limits in the outdoors in ways that I never thought possible. I have held FKT’s for the 100-mile-wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail (unsupported), the Arizona Trail (self-supported), the four-state-challenge of the Appalachian Trail (unsupported), and the Appalachian Trail through all of Shenandoah National Park (unsupported). I have been competitive in a broad range of ultra marathons, including top 5 performances at the Moab 240 and the Cocodona 250. Most recently I took 2nd place at the Across the Years 10-day-race by running 630 miles in the 10 days. I am a Wilderness EMT as well as a Leave No Trace educator. Lately I have been enjoying instructing Wilderness First Aid classes for the Skurka program.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Witt demonstrated deep experience with the area and with backpacking generally. His instruction was clear, comprehensive, and very well done. Witt has a wonderfully calm and quiet, but humorous demeanor, and he exhibited great care and empathy… I really enjoyed my conversations with Witt. I think everybody in the group had complete trust in his abilities. I would not hesitate at all to be guided by him again.”
  • “Witt was an outstanding co-guide, helping to amplify points Andrew made. He was a thoughtful and interesting conversationalist, a great instructor, extremely dedicated to the well-being of the clients (like running back to get my buddy’s lost knee brace), and just an overall pleasure to hike with.”
  • “Witt was just fantastic listening to and learning about each of us. He always took time to explain technical topics in detail. Witt asked us every night what were our Lows, Highs and Lesson’s Learned. That led to great conversations.”
  • “Witt was phenomenal at managing expectations and energy within the group. Early on some members were experiencing health issues, and others in the group expressed their frustration at the potential impact that might have on the success of their trip. Witt was able to diffuse the situation, address the concerns of the group and realign everyone’s expectations accordingly. Secondly, Witt is an exceptional teacher. He has unparalleled patience and his deep experience with all the teaching modules was clear. I also appreciated that he would also step back and let us try out our new skills in a way that felt authentic but also safe.”
Hanging out with a real fungi in the Sierra

Jeff Wohl

  • Lander, WY
  • Live with partner, Nikki Mann, 2 dogs, sometimes ravens, magpies, or other rescue creatures
  • Social Media is no fun in rural Wyoming! You should see how long a text takes. 
  • he/him

In the past, I have worked four of the Skurka locations, and really enjoyed connecting people to nature, as well as teaching skills and decision making that empowered people to embark on their own adventures.

I grew up in Wyoming and climbed my first 13’er when I was six, yet I still get excited about outdoor adventures! I’ve been an outdoor educator for over twenty years and spent 200 weeks in the field instructing: backpacking, climbing, horse-packing, caving and winter programs for NOLS. I also took time off from teaching to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail. I love technical mountaineering and canyoneering.

I have worked for the Nature Conservancy as a guide/naturalist alongside experts such as ornithologists David Allen Sibley, bear biologist Chuck Jonkel, and Smithsonian paleo-botanists Scott Wing. My book, Alaska: Illustrated Guide for the Curious, is a guide to common land and marine creatures and their habitat.

I am a Wilderness First Aid instructor.

My favorite client testimonials

  • “Jeff is a walking encyclopedia of the outdoors- backpacking, biology, animal identification, history and geology.”
  • “Jeff is truly brilliant about finding routes and navigating terrain.”
  • “I learned more from Jeff in five days than other person or content channel in all of my backpacking experience.”
  • “The way in which Jeff excelled for me personally was being a safe place I could depend on.”
  • “His experience is off the charts.”