Meet the Team
Our guides are local experts, and our service is world-class.Staff & Guides
Good Trip guides are professionally licensed. We are vetted thoroughly, trained often, and prepared for the unexpected. But most importantly, we love what we do.
Our team is made up of Master Naturalists, Wilderness First Responders, rock climbers, thru-hikers, kayakers, conservation volunteers, scientists, inspiring storytellers, and Master’s in outdoor education, environmental education, and sustainability education. We regularly volunteer with local non-profits to improve trail conditions, remove invasive plant species, and improve wildlife habitat.
Megan Kennedy
She/Her
Chief Adventure Officer &
Senior Guide
Megan got her start in the travel industry as a kayak guide at an eco-lodge in Wales. After returning to the States, she continued leading day hikes for adventurous New Yorkers. Day hikes became multi-day trips in the Northeast, which turned into week-long adventures around the world. During this time, she also began working on the logistics side of travel – creating itineraries, booking vendors, and building partnerships.
In 2017, she headed to the University of Edinburgh to pursue a Master’s in Outdoor Education. After completing her degree, she headed to Montana to guide in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. As a Montana Master Naturalist, she is well-versed in the flora and fauna of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and she has found a particular passion in sharing stories of the human history of the area as well. As a Wilderness First Responder, she will make sure you’re safe in her care.
Megan is a passionate environmentalist who uses her experience to run a more sustainable and inclusive outdoor travel company.
Lauren Skonieczny
She/Her
Chief People Officer & Senior Guide
Lauren has been a professional guide since 2013, leading groups of diverse backgrounds to destinations such as Yosemite, Mount Rainier National Park, New England, the North Cascades, and Mount Kilimanjaro. An extremely capable leader, Lauren has worked several years at the director level in the travel industry, training and managing guide teams and overseeing brand growth from a local to national level. Outside of work, Lauren sits on the board as secretary of the United States Australian Football League and plays with the local women’s club. She also volunteers as an EMT with Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, teaches wilderness medicine, and learns important life lessons as a mom of a toddler.
Alex Wehrle-Garsh
She/They
Chief Experience Officer & Senior Guide
Alex is an Outdoor Advocate and professional Recreation Therapist. Beyond being passionate about the outdoors, she loves helping others see their abilities, and say yes to any outdoor adventure. She’s usually found with the biggest of smiles laughing at the cheesiest of jokes.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, is Masters Certified in Leave No Trace and is a Wilderness First Responder. Alex’s professional guiding experience began leading leave no trace workshops, in Southern California, teaching others how to recreate responsibly. Her passion for the outdoors now has found her leading multi-day adventures in the Utah National Parks and planning your next southwest adventure. Alex is not only well versed in the ecosystems of Utah, but has a deep appreciation and love for the Greater Yellowstone area.
Most days you can find her hiking, camping, doing yoga, or attempting to mountain bike- her favorite adventures include the ones before the sun is even up. She believes there is nothing like being the only one at the summit watching the sunrise.
Liz Vonderhaar
She/Her
Office Manager
Liz grew up in a town near Chicago,
Went to school in St Louis for Bio,
Then she travelled out west,
Worked at camp (it’s the best),
And from there moved around for her dough.
Alaska, Antarctic, New Zealand,
To Montana and later to Greenland.
She loves wild places
And meeting new faces,
And singing in all her pals’ bands.
Liz now lives in Bozeman, MT, and is excited to stay in one place for a while.
Ariella Nardizzi
She/Her
Social Media Manager
Ariella is an adventure journalist, thru-hiker, and outdoor enthusiast. Originally from Boston, she’s had a myriad of opportunities to live and play in stunning destinations around the globe, ranging from the jagged peaks of Glacier National Park to the remote valleys of Albania and beyond, now settled in Colorado’s Front Range. Her adventures have taken her up Mount Tahoma (Rainier), from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon, and she is hooked on thru-hiking. A rock climber, backpacker, mountaineer, and journalist with an unfettered curiosity for new experiences and unique cultures, she’s turned to creative storytelling as an outlet for adventure.
Ariella has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Global Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and is the co-founder of Backcountry Broadcasts, a multimedia platform exploring feminism and gender inclusivity in the outdoors. She is always in search of Type II fun and is only a morning person if climbing a mountain is involved.
Victoria Alvarez
She/Her
Operations Assistant & Rockies Lead Guide
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria first gained her footing in the outdoors through her college outing program and summer adventure camps. Now an outdoor educator and guide, Victoria lives in full pursuit of the expedition lifestyle. She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and Colorado Class III River Guide. She brings to Good Trip her unique experiences as a raft guide, gear specialist, and trip leader for youth and young adults across the US. Victoria feels most alive when she’s outside and is inspired to help others uncover their strongest, truest selves through the wilderness. When she’s not playing outside for work, she’s busy scheming and designing her next great adventure.
Beau Reed
They/Them
Lead Guide
Beau grew up in the wilds of rural Tennessee. They spent their summers as a kid camping, fishing, jumping in muddy swimming holes, catching fireflies, and spending hours a day with their horse out in the woods. As an adult they now live on occupied Duwamish territory (aka Seattle, WA) and have grown to love backpacking, rock climbing, mushroom hunting in the northwest and saying yes whenever an opportunity arrives. They have trekked across Scotland, many National Parks, California, and sections of the Appalachian Trail. They have dedicated their life to educating and instructing others so they too can enjoy the backcountry.
Malorie Javier
They/She
Lead Guide
Malorie’s outdoor adventures started at a young age, learning to boogie board from 4 years old to camping religiously with her pops down in remote & isolated parts of the Baja coast. She loved anything that got her in or close to water. It wasn’t until her first trip to Redwoods that her love affair with forests truly sparked, seeing the beautifully preserved old-growth trees lit a fire in her soul. From then on she has enjoyed day-hikes, ziplining, swimming & meditating in: Michoacan, Mexico, between the Pyrenees & Massif Central mountain ranges in France, throughout the Doi Wiang Kaeo Forest in Northern Thailand, the Virginia side of the Appalachians, PNW, California, Nevada & Zion. In her spare time she volunteers at a community garden and with a group to reduce single-use plastics from LA eateries. Having minored in Sustainability and being adventure hungry, it’s become her life’s mission to guide others to experience this planet with the same excitement & passion she’s had.
Colin Snider
He/Him
Operations Assistant & Senior Guide
Colin grew up in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, hunting, fishing and foraging for mushrooms with his family. Those formative experiences instilled a lifelong passion for protecting the environment and sharing it with others. He has followed that passion by working several seasons in the Northern Rockies with occasional stints in other areas of the US.
Colin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Human Ecology from Indiana University and a Master’s in Environmental and Sustainability Education from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He is a Montana Master Naturalist, AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, Wilderness EMT, and holds his Avalanche Professional 1 certification. When he isn’t in Yellowstone, he’s somewhere in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem rock climbing, mountaineering, or backcountry skiing.
Matt Bloomfield
He/Him
Lead Guide
Matt grew up as a Midwesterner with a love for geology and the outdoors. His home state of Indiana fostered the start of those passions but the western US soon commanded his attention with its variety of terrain and extensive wilderness. At the age of 23, he made the leap out West and began studying geology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. His knowledge of geology now allows him to read and understand the landscapes before us today and teach others about how these incredible formations came to be. His passion for the outdoors is evident not just in geology, but in all forms of nature and through his many activities within it. Matt has spent several years seeking out remote corners of the Southwest through backpacking, canyoneering, climbing, and peak bagging. Seeing the beauty of the landscape around him during these adventures, he also became an avid landscape/adventure photographer and loves to capture guests’ experiences in these wonderful spaces. Today, Matt’s work as a hiking guide allows him to combine each one of his passions and teach others every facet of what makes the southwest such a wonderful place to explore.
Kimberly Rivers
Lead Guide
After 20 years of growing up in North Carolina, Kimberly began taking frequent trips to the western US, where she became enamored with the wild and diverse landscapes of Utah, California, Montana, and more. In 2019, she hiked much of the Pacific Crest Trail, determined to spend even more time in the natural places she loved. On her hike, she visited Oregon for the first time and promptly fell in love with central Oregon and its surrounding beauty. She knew she had to make a big move, and has since split her time between living in Bend and guiding in National Parks across the west. She is passionate about sharing her love for natural spaces with others through tours and her landscape photography. On any given day, you can find her out on the trails or on a wall, hiking or climbing with a camera in her hand and her two adventure pups, Ande and Lucy, by her side.
Tyler Tennant
He/They
Senior Guide
Tyler is a professional, full-time guide with years of experience leading and educating the public. With seasons of personal and professional experience in Yellowstone, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Pacific Northwest, Tyler is more than comfortable in the backcountry. Tyler has administrative, operational, and managerial expertise in his field, a Master’s degree in Outdoor Education, and is certified a Wilderness First Responder, and Master Naturalist. His passion for outdoor recreation and exploration is matched only by his desire to educate about and preserve the beauty of the natural world.
Michelle Zizian
She/Her
Lead Guide
Lori Taylor
She/Her
Lead Guide
Lori grew up adventuring in the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. After raising a family and spending some years in Florida taking groups on expeditions into Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, she chased her dream to be a professional guide by moving to North Carolina and starting Mountain Treks, LLC. At Mountain Treks, she creates custom experiences for individuals and groups seeking adventure, renewal, and personal challenge. She believes trekking through wilderness opens pathways to live great stories. With a Doctorate in Spiritual Formation, as well as training as a NOLS Outdoor Educator and Leave No Trace Master Educator, Lori has a passion to combine wilderness education with personal character and group development through transformational wilderness experiences that are inclusive, supportive, and fun.
Nathan Duclos
He/Him
Lead Guide
Nathan grew upon in New Hampshire hiking and climbing in the White Mountains. Since that time he has gone on to climb across the globe submitting many of the worlds highest peaks. Nathan has lead expeditions in Argentina, Nepal, Iceland, Peru, the Alps, Mongolia, Alaska and beyond. He is a Wilderness Paramedic and licensed EMS instructor, he teaches wilderness medicine classes domestically and around the world. He is also a mountaineering instructor and has focused much of his time understanding and treating high altitude illnesses. He has established backcountry hospitals in remote areas of Africa, Haiti and Panama. His other passions include ocean kayaking and road biking.
Jason Linguanti
He/Him
Lead Guide
Jason grew up in New York State, spending most of his childhood exploring the outdoors (barefoot!) and camping with his family. He got more into backpacking while travelling through Thailand, Australia and New Zealand on an extended adventure. Since then, Jason has worked for NOLS and Outward Bound leading wilderness expeditions in the Everglades, Wind River Range, and Blue Ridge Mountains, teaching skills in backpacking, white water canoeing, rock climbing, and marine canoeing. He has hiked all over the world: from the tall peaks of Mexico’s volcanoes to the deep canyons of Namibia. Jason is passionate about bringing folks outside and helping them to develop a sense of wonder towards nature and outdoor activities.
Troy Miller
He/Him
Lead Guide
Troy grew up in the glacial carvings of upstate New York. An Eagle Scout, he spent his early years romping around the Adirondack’s, avoiding bugs and bears alike. He moved out West in search of adventure and boy did he find it! Across the country, Troy has been a kayak guide, a lifeguard, a parasail mate, jet ski guide and a mountain guide. An avid learner, Troy will stop mid hike to identify trees and flowers, describe geological history and processes, and speculate over various animal stools. In his spare time, he white water kayaks, rock climbs, bikes, backpacks, skis, anything really to seize the day.
Sam Combs
He/Him
Lead Guide
Sam considers himself very fortunate to get to spend his time guiding adventuresome outings in astonishing places with people from all different walks of life. A lifelong student of the natural world, Sam does his best to infuse all of his guided journeys with opportunities for deeply immersive learning experiences. Holding space for groups and individuals to connect with themselves and the people and places that they are visiting is an intrinsic part of Sam’s mission on any excursion, and he’s going to have a blast fulfilling that objective. Sam has been guiding professionally for the better part of a decade, and when he’s not plying his craft on the trail, he’s helping to manage a retreat center and permaculture farm in Belize, where he makes music, movement and chocolate with his growing family.
Molly Brennen
She/Her
Lead Guide
Molly grew up in Michigan where she fell in love with the outdoors at a young age. Molly got her start in the conservation world after she graduated from Western Michigan University and joined a conservation corps doing trail work where she found a passion for protecting, preserving and respecting the environment. Since then, she has gained both personal and professional experience in the outdoors: she was a Conservation Educator for youth where she taught outdoor education and led backpacking trips and a Park Ranger with the Bureau of Land Management where she enjoyed leading a variety of different groups on interpretive hikes in Northern California. In her free time she loves exploring, backpacking, camping, kayaking. During the winter, Molly enjoys sports such as snowboarding, cross country skiing, and ice skating. Molly finds joy and enthusiasm in connecting with people and the environment through interpretation and is looking forward to more opportunities to do so!
Humsini Acharya
She/Her
Lead Guide
Humsini was born and raised in Boulder, CO. Her relationship with the outdoors bloomed from weekend hikes with family and friends that always ended with a delicious Indian potluck in the park. Her first summer after high school, she went backpacking in Zion and scuba diving in Guadalupe to see the great whites. Those experiences gave her the confidence to step out of her comfort zone and pursue adventure where it finds her and solidified her love for the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, rock and ice climbing, and scuba diving. (Though she doesn’t get to do a ton of that in Colorado.) Having grown up as a first-generation Indian/Asian-American, she is passionate about equity and diversity within the outdoors space and allowing people of any background to enjoy nature, find adventure, and push what they thought was possible for themselves.
Ally Petrilla
She/Her
Lead Guide
Ally grew up in the Cumberland Plateau of east Tennessee. With Appalachia as her backyard, she learned from an early age to love and enjoy the outdoors biking, hiking, backpacking, and studying the local flora and fauna of her hometown. A multi-sport athlete, Ally started her career in the outdoors as a fitness and cycling coach and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. While earning her Master’s Degree in Global Public Health she coordinated and led outreach trips in Latin America, which expanded her love of travel, trip leadership, and advocacy. In 2015 she shifted gears in order to marry her passion for the outdoors with her education in public health and became a professional bicycle tour guide. She has led multi-day excursions in locations around the globe including Ecuador, Spain, Costa Rica, and National Parks across the U.S. On her own, Ally enjoys bikepacking, hiking, and camping with her dog Chevy and her partner Jeremiah.
Forrest Edwards
He/Him
Lead Guide
Forrest had always spent time outdoors with his family and the Boy Scouts, however, after a climbing trip to the Red River Gorge during college, he decided to focus on becoming an outdoor professional. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Human Ecology, he worked as an assistant instructor with the North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits program in Coeur d’Alene, ID. While in Idaho he helped teach classes such as Intro to Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Cross Country Skiing and Avalanche Awareness. These courses developed a love for the mountains and led him to Utah where he currently resides in Salt Lake City.
With its many beautiful national parks, Southern Utah quickly captured his heart as well. He has climbed several walls in Zion National Park and desert towers surrounding Moab, learning to canyoneer in other wild places along the way. Forrest is an avid backcountry snowboarder, and ice climber, taking full advantage of every season to get outside and recreate. He is Wilderness First Responder/CPR certified and has plans to pursue AMGA and Avalanche certifications.
Ash Harris
He/Him
Lead Guide
Ash was born and raised in the shadows of Southern Arizona’s rugged rocky mountains, and at a young age fell in love with the West and America’s National Parks. He spent his childhood hiking and backpacking in Coronado National Forest and Saguaro National Park, exploring the many trails and secluded canyons of the mountains around the Tucson Basin. As he grew older Ash pushed further away from home and went on to explore every corner of Arizona, and into California, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Ash loves visiting archaeological and abandoned sites across the state, from ancient ruins to mining camps and everything in between, the further of the beaten path, the better. He also loves visiting vast untouched wilderness, seeing nature flourish absent of human life. At the drop of a hat, he will go anywhere for any reason, all for the promise of a little adventure. He is down for anything and embraces side tracks and uncertainty.
Ash is a history nut and loves everything Arizona. Currently studying Archaeology, Ash hopes to spend his career everywhere but behind a desk, uncovering lost stories of humanity’s past.
He is a Wilderness First Responder and has over eight years of experience in Arizona’s backcountry. He is honored and blessed to be able to share his love of the outdoors with others.
Fox Stoddard
They/Them
Lead Guide
Fox was raised in the deserts of the Southwest and enjoyed many camping trips to some of the classic spots in North America. Early in their working career, Fox became passionate about experiential and outdoor education. They have worked for multiple environmental education centers, a Montessori school, as well as NOLS. When it comes to outdoor recreation, Fox is a backpacker and rock climber. They have been fortunate enough to backpack and climb in so many beautiful places across the “Lower 48”, as well as Tanzania and Alaska. They have summited two of the seven summits (Kilimanjaro and Denali). Fox feels an ineffable connection to the planet when climbing and living in the backcountry. They are excited to share that energy with folks as they set out on their various adventures. Fox hopes to facilitate intentional experiences for others to absorb the majestic and glorious energy this magical planet generates.
Taylor Fairman
She/Her
Lead Guide
Taylor was born and raised in the Lake Tahoe Basin where she grew a deep love for the natural beauty of high alpine lakes and rugged forestry. She grew up hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, boating, and skiing throughout the greater Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges. Taylor got her start in the outdoor recreation industry as a Ski Patrol for a local resort in Lake Tahoe. As she gained more experience, she decided to move to Montana to explore the great plains of the West. While in Montana, she continued her Ski Patrol career and attended Montana State University. This move allowed her to indulge and immerse herself in the wild and jagged promises of the Rockie Mountains.
Taylor has now lived in Montana for going on five years and has explored the vast majority of the state in one fashion or another. Taylor currently holds two Bachelors of Science, her EMT license, and various outdoor recreation certifications (ranging from backcountry skiing to international water’s captain’s licenses) which enable her to turn her passion for getting outside and being active into a full-time career. Taylor hopes to complete the Pacific Crest Trail in the near future and travel / backpack in international locations such as Europe, Argentina, and Costa Rica.
She is excited and eager to learn, is dedicated to the outdoors, and is motivated to share experiences, stories, and knowledge with others. Her hope is to reach as many individuals as possible to create a larger impact through outdoor recreation and healthy habits!
Justin Carter
He/Him
Lead Guide
Justin is an explorer. He aims to know something about everything in our physical and natural world. Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, he spent summers traveling, camping in national and state parks across the US. During the school year, he pestered his teachers, particularly his science teachers, with question after question after question.
Chris West
He/Him
Lead Guide
Chris grew up exploring the fabulous public lands the US has to offer. Family vacations eventually grew into dedicated road trips and backpacking trips to some of the most spectacular places in the country. His life of outdoor exploration has made him equally at home from montane forests to lowland deserts, from tundra to tropical rainforest. When he was 19, he started guiding in Southern Arizona, which quickly grew and expanded to lead tours all over the US and Latin America. Between tours, he has worked, among other things, as a naturalist, ecologist, and National Park Ranger. Interested in all parts of the natural world, his tours include stories and tidbits of information in subjects ranging from geology, ecology to cultural and natural history, and background of scientific names and the people who named them. He loves knowing the whys of things and teaching them to others. When he’s not guiding, you can find him exploring forgotten trails to hidden waterfalls, high peaks, and deep canyons around the world.
Amy Sleeper
She/Her
Lead Guide
Amy is a life-long outdoors enthusiast. Growing up in the woods of Vermont and the Adirondacks she spent her free time hiking, biking, skiing, boating and just plain exploring. After college a few years in the Rockies reaffirmed her love of adventure and she took everything up a notch – conquering many of Colorado’s famous 14ers, completing Century bicycle rides, and spending all winter on the slopes. Now Amy spends her free time recreating in the Olympic Mountains, usually with her adventure pup by her side!
Bailee Doman
She/Her
Lead Guide
Bailee has been guiding in Montana for the last several years. She grew up in Washington State and fell in love with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest as a young child. She moved to Missoula to complete a bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at the University of Montana. She has led large groups of adults and teens on backpacking trips for hundreds of miles throughout the great state. Bailee has experience working with youth and young adults groups since 2017. She loves hiking, canoeing, rafting, camping, backpacking, and getting to explore the hidden places left in the world. Her favorite places include Flathead Lake, The Rocky and Cascade Mountain Ranges, and the National Parks in Washington, Montana, Utah, and Arizona. Bailee is a savvy guide who will bring excitement and passion for the outdoors on your next adventure.
Erin Quinley
She/Her
Lead Guide
It is the pleasure of a lifetime to discover that one can make a living hanging out with nice people, outside. “Life is to be enjoyed” and Erin insists on having fun! To that end, Erin has been an outdoor educator since her first ropes course facilitation and team building gig, in 2006. Since then she has talked countless people into stepping off platforms and trusting a zip line, climbing up a rock face and trusting me and a rope, and walking through the woods and trusting that if we encounter a bear we’re still going to be alright. Erin believes that we are all “outdoorsy” because we are made of the same stuff as a tree, and the water in our bodies has been part of the earth’s story since its beginning; we can’t make anything without a natural source so even if we “don’t like going outside”, the items inside our homes are just extensions of the natural world! Erin has found during her years of camping, backpacking, rock climbing, and hanging out in trees that the walls we build up to separate ourselves from nature and each other can’t resist the gentle force of opening provided by time spent outside. We are so lucky to have National Parks established to provide access to those life changing experiences, and she cannot wait to be there with those who choose to get outside with us this year.
Justin Chan
He/Him
Lead Guide
Justin grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania. He spent his twenties working with his hometown fire department and learned the importance of community, team building and safety. He graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a bachelors in LRTM Hospitality (Lodging, Restaurant and Tourism Management). He managed several different restaurant concepts throughout the rest of his twenties and then decided to take his adventures west to Boulder, Colorado. There in the beautiful Rocky Mountains he began diving deep into backpacking and camping excursions that developed his love and appreciation for the outdoors. His desire to learn from the outdoors challenged him to take on the John Muir Trail in the High Sierra’s of California. This multi-week thru-hike fueled his interest in learning new cultures and he found himself traveling overseas to New Zealand. He remained abroad for two years learning sustainability, permaculture, backpacking and vanlife. Upon returning to the United States, Justin moved into Wilderness Therapy with companies based out of Utah and the Big Island of Hawai’i. There he developed a love working in direct care with adolescent teens and teaching outdoor education from a therapeutic approach. Based out of Salt Lake City, Justin has been in the guiding industry for 5 years. He continues his passion to travel, learn and share experiences all while guiding throughout the American Southwest. You most likely will find him hiking or camping throughout the desert or mountain wilderness and spending time with his husky pup Ziggy
Billie Henry
She/Her
Lead Guide
Billie has been an outdoor educator since 2018, but has been a lover of the outdoors since she was a child. Growing up in the Northeast, she spent her childhood exploring the deciduous forests of her hometown, chasing deer paths and playing in the creeks. Eventually, she transitioned to hiking, camping and rock climbing with friends, which led her to pursue a career in the outdoors. Billie has a passion for working with communities traditionally excluded from the outdoors spaces and those just venturing out for the first time. Through her career, Billie has been able to share her love of the outdoors with hundreds of individuals of all ages and experience levels.
Regardless of where she is working or adventuring, she takes the time to learn and educate others of the local customs, history, ecosystems, and wildlife that they may be encountering and strives to educate from a decolonial perspective. When she isn’t spending weeks at a time in the backcountry leading backpacking and climbing trips, you’ll find Billie practicing her woodworking, buried in a book, advocating for workers rights, or at the climbing gym with friends.
Lærke Nielsen
She/Her
Lead Guide
Lærke is a professional guide, instructor, and outdoor educator with global experience. Growing up in the woods of Scandinavia, Lærke decided to turn her love for the outdoors and environmental stewardship into a full-time career, and she now holds a postgraduate degree in Outdoor Education, is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Mountain Leader, and has worked trips and expeditions out of Norway, Scotland, Greenland, and the US Southwest. Lærke’s main guiding passion is sharing that perfect combination of exhilarating adventure in and meaningful connection to the landscapes we journey through. Having worked a few good years in Scotland as a climbing instructor and wilderness therapy guide, Lærke has just relocated to Southern California, where she finally gets to experience the joy of being able to climb under the sun all year round.
Ashleigh Bicknell
She/Her
Lead Guide
Ashleigh is always looking for and planning her next adventure. As a lover of all things snow, rock, and nature, you can find her teaching skiing and yoga in Salt Lake City, UT, sea kayak guiding in Alaska, and ski touring all across North America. She is always running up the nearest mountain, scrambling ridgelines, doing headstands in front of glaciers, being distracted by a young spruce tree, and finding any place she can to sleep outside. One of her favorite things is getting to know new areas and new people, which is why she loves to spend time working with individuals in the outdoors.
Nicholas Swatz
He/They
Lead Guide
Nicholas was born in rural Michigan and got his love of “outdoorsing” from his grandparents when they started taking him camping at a very young age. By 2012, he had officially marked off 48 of 50 states in camping excursions, including a summer-long exploration to Alaska! Over the years, through camping, exploring and ranking through Boy Scouts of America, Nicholas began to turn his career focus towards life-long memory-making in the form of adventure elopement photography. He believes that by capturing images of our beautiful world, we can live by Chief Seattle’s wise words, “Take only memories, leave only footprints.”
Zo Talkin
They/Them
Lead Guide
Zo’s childhood spent hiking, camping, and cavorting in wild places on the east coast inspired a fondness for time outdoors spent with community, a curiosity about our vibrant ecosystems, and an enthusiasm for physical challenges and exploration. After years of seeking weekend escapes from city life, Zo relocated to Utah in 2020 to work as a wilderness therapy guide. Since 2021, Zo has worked as an outdoor educator, guiding backpacking courses in Utah, Wyoming, and the Adirondacks. A Wilderness First Responder and LNT Master Educator, Zo is excited to facilitate hiking, camping, and backpacking experiences in the West. Zo seeks to connect travelers with their own deep and innate sense of wonder for the wild places we visit by offering interpretations of the landscape, connections to its history, and a sense of adventure.
Max Ginkel
He/Him
Lead Guide
What Max loves about being on trail is the ability to slow down and notice the details. A naturally curious person, he finds joy in learning as much as he can about the history and wildlife of whatever surrounding he finds himself in. He is also extremely passionate about educating and inviting all people into outdoor spaces. With a professional background in the film industry, the outdoors have always been an escape and he’s excited to share that love with other people. Max is also an avid cook, both on trail and off, and loves to test backcountry recipes with anyone willing to try!
Lia Rabellino
She/Her
Lead Guide
Lia grew up on the central coast of California and is currently settled on the Wasatch Front in Utah. She has been guiding for Good Trip since 2022, and appreciates the opportunity to work with a company dedicated to creating an inclusive outdoor space for everyone. Learning about and sharing the wonders of nature is one of her passions! In addition to leading trips in the southwest, Lia works for a non-profit to complete reports on wilderness character and volunteers with the local Audubon Society to collect data on light pollution. Her professional experience includes leading backpacking trips for at-risk teens, facilitating corporate teambuilding events, vocational training for neurodiverse adults, and restaurant management.
Lia has a B.S. in Integrated Studies with minors in Biology and Environmental Studies, is a certified CA Naturalist, and is a Wilderness First Responder. In her spare time, she enjoys eco-conscious gardening, biking, canyoneering, and putting fruit in salads.
Sierra Mahoney
She/Her
Lead Guide
Sierra found her love for the outdoors in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York where she grew up as an avid hiker and rock climber. Eager for a new adventure, in 2017 she moved out to San Diego to attend college where she now holds a Bachelors’s degree in Recreation and Tourism Management from San Diego State University. Her love for nature and environmentalism alongside her experience working as a ropes course guide inspired her to want to pursue this career path. Sierra loves adventure and is always searching for ways to help others find new ways to enjoy the outdoors. She currently lives in San Diego and loves to spend her free time traveling, hiking, and photographing the outdoors.
Lydia Kopecky
She/Her
Lead Guide
Lydia is a deep lover of all things outdoors. An avid climber, mountaineer, and backpacker, Lydia loves to help push others to their limits and see what they’re truly capable of. From the Annapurna range in Nepal and the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, to the eastern Sierras and the Alps, Lydia loves to help others explore and revel in the beauty of our natural world. Lydia has been an outdoor guide since 2012 and is a mentor for Young Women Who Crush, a climbing and leadership program for girls in New York City. Lydia is a member of the US Fencing Team and potentially too much in love with her two cats, Spoon and Canoe. She’s based in Brooklyn.
Alexis Krauss
She/Her
Lead Guide
Alexis is a longtime lover of the outdoors and teaching. Alexis has been guiding adventures in the outdoors since 2016 and especially loves sharing the transformative power of nature with youth. She is an outdoor educator for Wild Earth and a Wilderness First Responder. An avid climber she recently passed her AMGA Single Pitch Assessment and is a NYS licensed climbing guide. She is co-founder of Young Women Who Crush, a climbing and leadership program for New York City girls. Alexis is a working musician and one half of the band Sleigh Bells.
Marc Leone
He/Him
Lead Guide
Marc was born and raised in the northeastern US. He has always felt at home in the woods and believes that the beauty of every outdoor landscape, even city parks, must be preserved so future generations can benefit from the healing power of nature. Marc spends his free time in the mountains of upstate New York, but the Canadian Rockies are his favorite place to explore. He loves dedicating time to honing his naturalist skills and enjoys helping others cultivate their own appreciation and respect for the natural world. Marc has been guiding groups of hikers since 2012 and lives in New York City.
Dustin Jones
He/Him
Lead Guide
Growing up on the East Coast, Dustin discovered his love of the outdoors at a young age, working as a snowboard instructor starting at the age of 16. Shortly thereafter he learned to follow the snow downstream when it melted and became a river guide. Dustin has been a steward of the outdoors through both guiding and teaching for 20 years now. He has guided whitewater and other multi-day adventures all over the country, ranging in states from West Virginia, Maine, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania spanning all the way out to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and others. Having lived and led trips through a multitude of National Parks, dozens of rivers, and a variety of different backcountry, the only passion he has greater than his love for the wilderness is sharing it with others. Dustin maintains certifications as a snowboard instructor, ACA whitewater kayak instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and First-Aid as well as CPR.
Marc Cassone
He/Him
Lead Guide
Marc is an ER Physician and outdoor guide who grew up hiking and paddling in the Adirondacks of upstate NY (46-er!). He has worked as an outdoor guide since 2010 leading multi-day trekking trips across the US, Alps, Pyrennes, Andes, Morocco and two ascents of Kilimanjaro as well as bike touring trips across the US and Europe. His next big goals are to summit the highest points of all fifty states (30/50!) and complete the Winter Haute Route. He’s passionate about wilderness medicine, global health, outdoor sports (you name it!), crossword puzzles and sharing the outdoors with new and veteran adventurers.
Savannah McCauley
She/Her
Lead Guide
Savannah’s love for the outdoors began in her backyard in Northern CA. A lush and vast Redwood grove gave life to her love for all things outside. In 2018 she jumped head first in to the life of multi-day backpacking, hiking, guiding, and outdoor photography. She loves the strong yet gentle environment the outdoors gives to everyone and the mental and physical change that emerges from spending time in it. Her favorite places to backpack include the Northern Cascades, Escalante and by far the Wind River Range. Savannah now works full time as a professional photographer in the outdoor realm and strives to create a safe, exciting, and all-welcoming environment in all spaces within the outdoors. She currently lives both on the East Coast in Brooklyn, as well as the West Coast in Seattle. Savannah always has her trusty pup sidekick Sequoia by her side as well as a camera in her hand. No doubt you’ll find her either up on a wall, out in the ocean, or deep in the backcountry.
Emma Capulong
She/Her
Lead Guide
As a AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide and Mayo Clinic trained & Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Emma Capulong (pronounced like a cup of oolong tea: Cup-Oolong) helps clients explore nature within and outside. Emma loves getting to know her clients and helping them reach their goals. Whether you want to climb a mountain or explore the National Parks with your family, Emma meets you where you are. Since 2014 Emma has been guiding individuals, groups, children, and families through every season with transformative coaching, mindfulness education, and outdoor play.
Diana Proemm
She/Her
Lead Guide
Diana started her outdoor adventures with skiing at an early age. Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, trekking, and white water paddling have carried her to places she would never have imagined. She took her love of the mountains to explore Montana and Alaska, spending time camping, exploring, and biking. Traveling for months alone as a woman in the 90’s was not the norm, but it helped her expand her love for adventure and grow confidence and resilience along the way. Learning how to navigate her way safely during solo travels slowly blended into her personal life. Eventually, she headed back to school to become a Recreational Therapist. She has led backcountry adventure programs, taught and directed adaptive outdoor adventure programs, and retreats in the great outdoors. Currently, she keeps busy in her off time by climbing mountains, rolling downhill on her mountain bike, or floating the river.
Bryce Thayer
He/Him
Lead Guide
Bryce is an avid outdoor adventurer and environmentalist. His passion for the outdoors started early with family trips to national parks and over a decade in the Boy Scouts of America. Since then, Bryce has developed this passion though a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, and he strives to learn more every day. Beyond his love of nature, Bryce loves connecting with new people and helping them create lasting relationships with the great outdoors. In his free time, he loves mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, making music, and trying new things!
Caitlin Winterbottom
She/Her
Lead Guide
Caity grew up in the SF Bay Area and was just a short drive from the beach, redwoods and the mountains. She spent much of her time camping with her family and has always had a fascination for the natural world. This led her to complete her undergraduate degree in Botany at Humboldt State in Arcata, CA. What a magical place to fall in love with plants! She then went on to complete two MS degrees in Environmental Science & Policy and Biology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. During her graduate work she focused on plant-fungal interactions as well as cactus pollination systems in the desert southwest. She has spent the last few years working as a ski instructor and a fire ecologist in the Sierras around Tahoe. Currently she works as a Botanist in Eugene, OR. In her free time she plays competitive ultimate frisbee, skis as much as possible, and loves to paddle, camp & backpack with her dog Koda!
Sara Feinberg
Lead Guide
Sara grew up in a concrete jungle just outside New York City, with minimal time spent in nature. After taking her first cross country road trip during college, she fell in love with the mountains, diverse landscapes, and epic beauty of our national parks and country. She’s since become an avid road tripper and has visited almost all of the US national parks. Sara is a Wilderness First Responder and certified Washington State Raft Guide who enjoys pretty much anything that will get her outside in nature. From reading a book in a hammock, to rock climbing, to swimming in an alpine lake, and anything in between, a day spent outside is a great day in her book.
Sara is passionate about helping others find their confidence in the outdoors through shared experiences, education, and preparation, with a special interest in adaptive activities. She serves as a board member for an alternative high school in New Hampshire, with a mission to help kids who have not thrived in traditional home or academic settings find their place in the world. Outdoor recreation and education is a key component of the school’s curriculum and students’ growth. She can’t wait to see y’all out in nature!
Matt Schultz
Lead Guide
Matt grew up in Minnesota and spent his time hiking, paddling and exploring the upper Midwest. After attending the University of Minnesota and graduating with a degree in Recreation, Park and Leisure Studies he dove head first into the world of guiding, by starting, owning and operating an adventure travel company, leading clients on cross country adventures that spanned coast to coast. He fell in love with the west/southwest region during that time and continued to guide there for years.
Some of his passions include hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, snowboarding, cooking, learning new things and introducing others to the outdoors and the incredible memories made there!
Matt is eager to learn and grow while promoting sustainable and healthy travel habits and facilitate a relationship and love for our protected spaces!
Arieh Scharnberg
He/Him
Lead Guide
With international adventure guiding experience, an educational background in ecology, anthropology, and green business development, Arieh brings a broad and unique background to guiding. Born in Israel, raised in rural northern California, he has lived and worked professionally in several countries in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. With an undergrad from Prescott College, he has always been drawn to experiential education. He has worked as a guide in Colorado, Switzerland, Israel, Jordan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. He loves to provide meaningful travel experiences to people of all backgrounds to deepen knowledge and connection to nature, history, and ancestral local cultures. He currently maintains several professional engagements as a youth environmental program administrator and educator, and as a historian developing cultural heritage tourism routes in the Caucasus. He is an avid amatuer outdoor adventurer, with technical alpine ascents throughout the US and Europe and remote extensive wilderness multi-day explorations. Out on the trail be prepared for stories, adventure, stopping to geek out on little details of the life forms around us, as well as time for silence and space to just absorb the vistas.
Tia Ellison
Lead Guide
Tia was born and raised in West Tennessee. She spent majority of her childhood playing and exploring in the woods. She loved picking wild blackberries, eating honeysuckles, catching fireflies, and raising tadpoles until they grew into frogs. Her fascination of the great outdoors led to her start road-tripping as a hobby!
Through her love for traveling, Tia decided to move to Southern California after graduating college in 2018. She chose SoCal because of its proximity to National Parks and differing landscapes. Tia loves to go hiking, learning about native plants, rock climbing, kayaking, camping, backpacking, and anything that involves being outside with others. Recently, she has acquired her Wilderness First Aid certification and is continuously learning how to safely recreate.
Joe Ruggiero
He/Him
Lead Guide
Joe is a geologist and climate scientist hailing from downstate New York. He currently
researches climate change in Antarctica but is generally interested in how geology and ecology impact our climate. He loves teaching and talking to people of all backgrounds about our amazing earth system. Growing up, Joe spent many summers camping and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, and as an avid bicycle tourist, he has done several long distance bike trips, including a tour of Vermont and a coast to coast tour from New York to San Diego. While he loves living out of his backpack and seeing new places, his obsession is whitewater kayaking and spends much of his free time chasing river levels. He also loves to cook, bake bread, read fantasy books, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Joe loves connecting with people and exploring the intertwining human and climate histories of our natural world.
Chloe Ferrone
Lead Guide
Chloe grew up in the Midwest but discovered her love of the outdoors while at college in Vermont, where she earned her bachelor’s in English and creative writing. She began her outdoor career as a wilderness therapy guide, and from there moved to an outdoor education and resiliency program for local kids in Salt Lake City. She has also worked as a dog sled driver and a cameleer, and would love to someday write a book about her adventures. When she’s not at work you can find her rock climbing, chasing lizards in the desert, or playing fetch with her two dogs, Tess and Muppet.
Taylor Buck
They/Them
Lead Guide
Taylor has been a backcountry guide, kayak guide, and outdoor educator for over 12 years, and their genuine curiosity and excitement about all things nature are contagious.
As a child, Taylor spent part of each year living in an old Chinook motorhome with their family, traveling south along the Baja Peninsula and camping on beaches along the way. Having learned young that they thrive through adventure, Taylor’s since traveled and worked all over the world, from the tundras and temperate rainforests of rural Alaska to the mountains and jungles of India and Thailand. Needless to say, they are far too excited about the outdoors to work in an office.
Taylor has a BA in Social Sciences from Shimer College, an MA in Gender Studies from Central European University, and a self-appointed certificate in being obsessed with moss and fungi. If you happen to cross paths with Taylor in a temperate rainforest, get ready to learn to love the most unassuming little plants and creatures on the planet more than you ever thought possible.
Camilla Orr
Lead Guide
Camilla grew up in Normal, Illinois and while there weren’t any mountains to climb in central Illinois, there were fields to roam, horses to ride, and lakes to explore. It was during her first time abroad, a family stay in Japan at 13 years old, that Camilla caught the travel bug. She studied English Literature at Boston University but it wasn’t until moving to Phoenix in 2009 that she started hiking and spending time outdoors. In Arizona she fell in love with the other-worldly landscape of the American Southwest. After living abroad in Australia and New Zealand, Camilla thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 and her life was forever changed. Being on trail working towards a singular goal while overcoming obstacles and building authentic connections became therapeutic and character building. She then spent nearly two years working and living outdoors in Utah as a field mentor for a wilderness therapy program for young adults.
In 2022 Camilla completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and hopes to finish her Triple Crown one day. When she isn’t outside hiking, climbing, or camping, Camilla can be found reading, writing, swimming, baking vegan treats, traveling, and scuba diving.
Jeanelle Carpetier
Lead Guide
Growing up on a small island in Washington State, Jeanelle gained a love of nature, outdoor adventures, and foreign lands at a young age. At the age of 6, she began traveling internationally with her family. After studying psychology, outdoor management, and wilderness medicine, Jeanelle was fortunate to begin leading expeditions worldwide. She’s explored over 50 countries and resided in New Zealand, Peru, and Australia. In the U.S., she’s lived in Mt. Rainier, Olympic, and Grand Canyon national parks, and worked while sailing Alaska’s Glacier Bay. She’s now established her home in the heart of the Colorado Plateau—the diverse high desert landscape is a constant draw. She feels deeply connected to our national parks’ natural wonders, histories, and cultures. She can’t wait to share these vibrant and diverse environments with Good Trip travelers and has over 10 years of experience guiding. When Jeanelle isn’t working, hiking, or traveling the world–she enjoys rafting, yoga, photography, cooking, biking, climbing, arts and crafts, conservation, volunteering, education, and anything to do with mountains. She is also a travel blog writer, a product tester for outdoor companies, and a major foodie. She is grateful to share her passions for nature and the outdoors within her work.
Proud Member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association
