KEVIN JACKSON
CEO & FOUNDER
Kevin has led many worldwide expeditions, including multiple ascents of Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina (the highest peak in the Americas), 13 scalings of Kilimanjaro in Africa, and more than 15 journeys up Mt. Whitney (the highest mountain in the continental United States). He has also led expeditions to Everest Base Camp and attempted the summit in 2014. Kevin is an AMGA SPI, a NOLS-certified Wilderness First Responder, and is ACE certified in First Aid and CPR. He also holds a Wilderness Health and First Aid Certification from the Red Cross. Kevin is an expert on the Western United States, having guided extensively through this region and its national parks for over a decade. He has extensive knowledge of the geology of the Southwest and has spent many years studying the rock strata throughout the Grand Staircase.
Having led numerous private groups through destinations as diverse as Peru, Patagonia, Catalina Island, the Grand Canyon, and Vancouver Island, Kevin truly believes in the boundlessness of the outdoor world. In addition to guiding private leisure travel, Kevin also facilitates and coordinates corporate retreats, adventure challenges, and leadership development outings for several Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, public organizations, and nonprofits. Kevin holds an MBA in Operations Management and is responsible for the logistics and operations of all North and South American programs. He sits on the board of directors at a San Diego-based nonprofit organization that supports destination-specific causes to the areas they explore.
Contact: KEVIN@EXPJOURNEYS.COM
ANDREW ROBERTS
PARTNER & LEAD GUIDE
Andrew was exposed to the great outdoors at a young age and used the setting as a classroom to develop his technical and leadership skills over the years, allowing him to teach and guide people to some of his favorite locations all over North and South America. Andrew guided his first group at age 15 through the deserts and mountains of New Mexico. In the years that followed he has achieved multiple ascents of Mt. Whitney, descended dozens of canyons in the Southwest, paddled many miles on the Pacific Ocean, scaled countless rocks, and skied mountains from the Appalachians to the Pyrenees. Andrew is an expert on luxury customer service and specializes in privately guiding tours through the national parks in the Western U.S. and Canada. Andrew is an AMGA SPI, a Wilderness Medical Institute-certified Wilderness First Responder, and is Red Cross certified in First Aid and CPR.
Although he has travelled extensively around the globe, Andrew is proudly considered an expert in the areas of our backyard that many take for granted – the West and Southwest of the United States. Andrew holds a degree in Textile Engineering and has an extensive background in systemized planning, operations, and technical skills that surprisingly are very helpful in his current role. When he’s not privately guiding clients in amazing destinations, Andrew works very closely with the EXP and ASC teams to plan logistics on all programs and to ensure the highest level of luxury and uniqueness is achieved on every journey.
Contact: ANDREW@EXPJOURNEYS.COM
Sandy Zalewski
Finance Director
Sandy is a big dreamer, and loves making those dreams come true. Raft the Grand Canyon? Been there. Hike the Kalalua Trail in a day? Conquered. If you tell her that something is difficult, or that she isn’t going to be able to do it, it only makes her want to do it more. She’s a regular Tomb Raider; she’s been bungee jumping, sky diving, canyoneering, rock climbing, spelunking, scuba diving, and whitewater rafting. Not only does she love these activities, but Sandy loves to share these experiences to create an adventure that will last a lifetime.
Her vision is to craft the perfect trip and make your dreams come true. When not working, you will find Sandy at the CrossFit gym or in the backyard with her husband playing with their kids and dog.
Contact: sandy@expjourneys.com
Cathy Crosby
Destination Expert
Born and raised in the Midwest, Cathy spent her childhood summers at the lake where she developed a love for the water and other outdoor activities.
After college Cathy moved to California and turned her love for travel and adventure into a career. Cathy has had the opportunity to experience the leisure, group and corporate markets. Her years in the travel industry have provided her with invaluable lifelong lessons and knowledge that have allowed her to build strong relationships within the industry and travel to far-off places. Cathy is committed to making sure her clients have the best possible experience on their journey.
If she is not helping clients or traveling herself you'll find her at the beach or hiking San Diego area trails with friends or family. Spending time with those close to her, exploring new cultures, and spending time near the water is simply first nature to Cathy.
Contact: cathy@expjourneys.com
ERIC JACKSON
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Growing up in Cleveland and spending his childhood summers on the coast of Vancouver Island, Eric was shown the gift of travel from a very early age. Combining his years in engineering and manufacturing with his true passions of art and travel, Eric is dedicated to constantly improving the internal processes at EXP that help make guests’ journeys seamless and unique. His goal is for every journey to be filled with unforgettable experiences that deepen the personal connections between family, friends, and colleagues. He will tell you that there is nothing better than hearing a client say, “This was the best day ever!” or “I never thought we could have so much fun as family.”
Exploring the outdoors is a lifelong passion that has taken Eric from working as a dive master on the Great Barrier Reef to exploring every corner the national parks; from snowcat skiing in the Canadian Rockies to surfing the waves of Nicaragua. You may catch Eric in the field behind a camera lens or playing a character set on delighting and entertaining everyone around him.
"Everything that you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
Contact: ERIC@EXPJOURNEYS.COM
Katy McCoy
Director of Operations
Katy had the opportunity to move to Solana Beach, where as an Arizonan she had vacationed for years, and jumped on it. She traded driving to work in a suit for walking to the office in flip flops. She believes departing from the norm can make you feel most alive and she loves the creativity involved in building those experiences for other people.
When not working, you'll probably find Katy exploring town with her husky, taking advantage of a low tide and walking the shoreline of Encinitas, or biking Highway 101 as the sun rises.
Contact: katy@expjourneys.com
Shane Retelski
OPERATIONS MANAGER
AMERICAN SAFARI CAMP
Brought up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Shane developed a love for the outdoors at an early age through Cub Scouts. After receiving the Arrow of Light Award, Shane continued into Boy Scouts where he further developed his knowledge of and respect for the outdoors, achieving Eagle Scout rank. With the Boy Scouts, Shane was able to develop extensive outdoor leadership skills and he rose to the role of Troop 133's senior patrol leader for two terms. Shane led adventurous trips including an 80-mile kayaking excursion in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and an 86-mile hike through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the Philmont Scout Ranch.
Shane continued his adventure by moving to Boone, North Carolina where for three years he was engulfed in the Appalachian Mountains. He regularly hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail and hopes to one day complete the entire trail in one trip. Shane made his way west to Flagstaff, Arizona where he currently resides and enjoys regularly hiking Mount Elden and Humphreys Peak (Arizona’s highest, with an elevation of 12,637 feet). When not sharing his knowledge of the Southwest or preparing for the next big adventure, you can often find Shane snowboarding, mountain biking, or climbing. The great outdoors has impacted Shane immensely, and he aims to share his knowledge and love for all things wild with clients through customized journeys through the Southwest.
Contact: SHANE@AMERICANSAFARICAMP.COM
Sunny Trann
Senior Experience Manager
Sunny didn’t grow up traveling or exploring the outdoors but is quickly making up for lost time. She has come a long way from spending summer breaks on the couch watching Power Rangers as a child to spending weekends hiking, Ghostwriter rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, and canyoneering.
Her favorite aspects of travel are wildlife encounters, getting to know local people, and immersing herself in the culture and cuisine. Some of Sunny’s favorite memories are from visiting South Africa, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Yellowstone National Park, Cambodia, and Cuba. Her biggest accomplishments are rafting the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, Statistik Nachhilfe hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to River to Rim in a single day, and summiting Mount Whitney.
When she isn’t helping clients experience these adventures themselves, you will find Sunny working out at her favorite CrossFit gym, churning ice cream, or regretting spicy food challenges.
Contact: sunny@expjourneys.com
RICH GOMEZ
GENERAL MANAGER
AMERICAN SAFARI CAMP
Rich grew up in the pines of Flagstaff, Arizona as an avid camper and backpacker which gave him a love for the Southwest and all the wonders these lands hold. Following a career in the Navy living on the East Coast and exploring the lands across the Atlantic, he moved his family back to Flagstaff and embarked on outdoor adventures in the ropes course industry, rock climbing, and directing the local scout camp thereby continuing the wilderness explorations he began in his youth.
As General Manager of American Safari Camp, Rich brings an energetic, in-depth background of camping and outdoor activities into customized luxury camps resulting in a truly unique experience for families and groups. His love for the outdoors, dedication to the “Leave No Trace” ethic, and passion for camping drive his vision to make camps incredible. Sharing the awe and wonder of our Southwest landscapes, our environment, and the openness of the wilderness keeps Rich young and inspires him to explore more. When not working camps or hiding behind his computer, Rich can be found working with youth in FIRST Robotics, running the back streets of Flagstaff, working with wood, and refining his land navigation skills.
Contact: RICH@AMERICANSAFARICAMP.COM
Annik Boulva
Destination Expert
Annik caught the travel bug in her teens while skiing competitively in Europe, South America and all over Canada and the US. Ultimately landing out west for college, the mountains of Utah and Colorado quickly became her permanent home.
For about a decade after college, she had the opportunity to share her love of travel while guiding bike trips through the vineyards and sunflower fields of France. When not guiding she could be found bike packing in Ireland, or hiking across Corsica, around Mont Blanc, and in the mountains of Norway and Italy.
Annik’s favorite part of working with EXP is combining creativity with sound logistics to deliver exceptional experiences that leave a lasting impact. When not at work, Annik is outside exploring her majestic playground with her family.
Contact: annik@expjourneys.com
Julie Warman
Experience Concierge
Whether spearfishing off the Kahala coast, seeking out the best bistros in Paris, or horseback riding in the Grand Tetons, Julie believes in the wisdom, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Taking every possible opportunity to travel, Julie believes much of who she is, is a result of where she has been. For her, the most fulfilling parts of travelling are the experiences of meeting new people and exploring different cultures. Many of her “best moments ever” have been while traveling. As an EXP Concierge, Julie strives to ensure that every trip includes some “best moments ever.”
Julie recently decided to leave the Northeast and start enjoying life in the sunshine… and why not relocate to Southern California!? When not working, Julie can be found hiking, gardening, and hanging out with the sea lions in La Jolla.
Contact: julie@expjourneys.com
KYLE SHERMAN
GUIDE MANAGER & LEAD GUIDE
Kyle loves adventure stories of the great adventurers and recreationists so much he made his life one. Whether it’s backpacking, climbing, paddling, or biking, if there is a new way to see the world, he does it. Although he may call the Grand Canyon State home, he has guided many trips in Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton, Olympic, Mt. Rainer, North Cascades, Banff and Jasper, exploring the expanse of most of the Western U.S. Guiding groups of all ages for over six years now, he continues to expand upon his own love of the outdoors, sharing the connection between man and nature with everyone he comes into contact with.
After spending 400 days in the backcountry since moving to the Southwest, some might say Kyle has gained a lot of knowledge from the field. They would be right. Prior to joining EXP Journeys, Kyle was an operations manager and ran logistics for other adventure companies. When he is not working, Kyle is out exploring the slot canyons of Utah, the hidden gems of Arizona, and many other places you may have not heard of but he’d love to tell you about. As his history of ski patrolling in the Lake Tahoe area and current certifications as a Wilderness EMT, an Urban EMT, and a Head Safety Coordinator for multiple events demonstrate, Kyle also knows the importance of safety while in the wilderness.
Contact: kyle@expjourneys.com
KELLY PALMER
EXPERIENCE MANAGER
Kelly Palmer was drawn to Montana for its wide-open spaces and adventurous lifestyle for many of the same reasons she is drawn to the world of travel. Kelly craves adventure and seeks out wild places and off the beaten path experiences, as well as those classic ‘not-to-be-missed’ spots and moments. Naturally, she wants to share this with others and works hard to ensure travelers get fantastic, life-changing experiences on every trip.
Although she moved a lot as a kid as an army brat, Kelly earned her Science and Environmental Studies degree at Mississippi State University, and then started working with an island resort in Belize before moving out west. She has worked in the travel, recreation and tourism industries since 2005, and has invaluable experience in the international and domestic adventure travel world.
Kelly lives in Bozeman, Montana with her husband and two dogs, where she rides bikes, camps her adventure van, and gets outside as much as possible.
Contact: kelly@expjourneys.com
Toni Reinbold
Operations Specialist
Toni has enjoyed working in the travel industry for several years and has had the opportunity to wear many hats. Her role at EXP as Operations Specialist is the perfect fusion of her passion and skill. She feels most rewarded crafting all the fine details of a trip when they become unforgettable moments where family & friends connect with places, cultures, and each other. Recently relocating from blizzards to beaches, Toni is loving the coastal life. When not at work, she is out and about exploring her new neighborhood.
Contact: Toni@expjourneys.com
McKenzie Ranson
Operations Specialist
Originally from a small Midwestern farming community of 1,800 people, McKenzie spent her childhood exploring cornfields and woods, playing sports, traveling for sporting tournaments, working in agriculture, and helping large animal farms. McKenzie made a significant decision when she was younger: simply put, she decided to not live her life like everyone else. McKenzie left her small town to explore Alaska, working at a hatchery and as a field tech saving Hawksbill Sea Turtles for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Soon after, she decided to ditch the Midwest and enjoy life in sunny San Diego. When not at work, McKenzie can be found at the gym, hiking, pet-sitting for friends, tending to her botanical babies, and boogieing at music festivals/events.
Contact: McKenzie@expjourneys.com
ANDREW FINN
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Andrew’s Abuelo (grandfather) once told him, “Let the world be your teacher”. He took that lesson to heart, zigzagging the US more times that he can count and spending months exploring the wonders of Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Regardless of where he is, Andrew will tell you the best part of traveling is the people you meet along the way. Deciding to turn a passion into a profession, Andrew combined his love of travel with unparalleled customer service by studying the ways of USHG founder Danny Meyer. Since then, Andrew has helped craft hundreds of journeys around the globe, always putting a premium on customer service, while creating bits of magic.
At EXP, Andrew supports the team to ensure each journey feels like a once of a lifetime experience, leaving our clients feeling an awe-inspiring sense of joy. When he is not working, Andrew can be found exploring his backyard of the Adirondacks, playing guitar, and enjoying the little things in life with his wife and two young children.
Contact: andrewf@expjourneys.com
Ariel Renner
Events Operations Specialist
Ariel was born and raised in San Diego and is excited to finally be back in the area after moving away for college and graduate school. She grew up taking road trips up and down the state and across the country with her family, camping and hiking her way through California and staying in some pretty unique places on drives to the Midwest and East Coast. Ariel’s first camping trip was to Sequoia when she was eight weeks old, and she’s loved exploring the outdoors and sleeping in tents ever since. While at college in Northern California, she took many weekend excursions out into the Sierra Nevadas, exploring the Yosemite backcountry and surrounding areas, and looks forward to doing much more of this now that she’s back in California.
When she’s not supporting the Events staff and clients, Ariel can be found reacquainting herself with San Diego’s many trails, cycling the county’s backroads, and running around on the beach with her Greyhound.
Contact: Ariel@expjourneys.com
Tena Elman
EXPerience Manager
Born and raised 20 miles outside of Manhattan, Tena naively assumed the globe revolved around that tiny radius. Little did she know, there was an entire world of people and landscapes to explore.
After spending a semester in Italy and graduating from university in New York, Tena returned to Italy where she spent a year selling and guiding trips across Western Europe for travelers on a budget. This is where she truly learned the definition of “thinking on your feet” right before maps and translation apps were available at our fingertips.
Since then, her career in travel has led her to experience some incredible moments like canyoning through the Swiss Alps, spotting four of the Big Five in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, learning the tango in Buenos Aires, and connecting with locals at every turn.
When Tena isn’t curating epic travel experiences for guests, she enjoys exploring New England, staying active, and hosting friends & family in Salem, MA where she resides with her wife.
Contact: tena@expjourneys.com
Josh Parafinik
Lead Guide
Josh Parafinik MA has a Master's Degree in Adventure Education from Prescott College and is a full time guide for EXP Journeys. He has been guiding and instructing clients around the world for the past 25 years. Having spent his life exploring Arizona and Utah, Josh has experienced the National Parks particularly the Grand Canyon. His specialties include technical rope work including rock climbing, rappelling and canyoneering as well as water-based adventures.
Josh has traveled down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon many times (24 trips in total). He has also completed many personal adventure trips included a solo 2,100 mile off-road mountain bike tour from Colorado to Canada in 54 days. Having worked in the field of recreation for the last 18 years, Josh is an expert in Lake Powell as well as the Southwest human history. He specializes in flora and fauna of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as well as the desert climate of the Southwest.
He earned a Bachelor's Degree in social psychology from Northern Arizona University and a Master's Degree in Team Building, Leadership and Adventure Education. His fresh and creative adventure programs have earned him numerous awards and teaching positions. Josh is also a certified CPR and First Aid instructor for the American Health and Safety Institute.
Diana Hernandez
Lead Guide
An Arizona native, Diana earned her Bachelor of Science in Park and Recreation Management, emphasizing outdoor leadership and education. She is well versed in the history of Arizonaís people, flora, fauna and the geology of the Southwest. Diana has received training that allows her to share her passion of the outdoors with others.
Diana has been an outdoors enthusiast for over 20 years and has more recently embarked on a career in the field. She has been actively working with people of all ages from across the globe for over four years. Activities include hiking, backpacking, biking, paddling, rappelling, canyoneering, climbing, challenge course facilitation, luxury camping, and team building with corporate groups.
Diana enjoys challenging herself and finding new ways to share amazing experiences with her clients. Diana has explored National Parks and summited many of the canyons and peaks of her home state. Her previous adventures include the Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon, Havasupai, rafting the Colorado River from Diamond Down, exploring over 100 miles of Lake Powell and many others. Diana is NOLS certified as a Wilderness First Responder, CPR certified, outdoor leadership certified, Leave No Trace Master Educator, a steward for the Arizona Trail, a member of the Arizona Trail Association and fluent in Spanish. She has volunteered over 400 hours in the field to help protect, maintain and build recreational multipurpose trails for public use. Diana looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to create a memorable adventure experience that will last for years to come.
CONNOR PHILLIPS
LEAD GUIDE
Connor graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Forestry and Conservation Biology. After graduating, he took a job as a Research Biologist for the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. This work required multiple 25-day river trips a year, accumulating to almost an entire year spent on the Colorado River. He was a co-author on several scientific papers on native and non-native fish species like the Humpback Chub and the Rainbow Trout, respectively. During his search for a master’s degree Connor was recruited to Edward Jones Investments where he received a graduate-level education in the Financial Advisor Career Development Program, built a multi-million-dollar office, and still holds a Series 7 and Series 66 license today.
Connor grew up fishing the Boundary Waters out of a canoe and bow hunting the wilderness areas of Arizona out of a backpack. He currently resides in Arizona where he is a full-time guide with EXP Journeys. He has over 10 years of experience taking clients hunting, fishing, hiking, and backpacking in the remote wilderness of Arizona and Colorado. He has spent considerable time in American and Canadian National Parks including Zion, Yellowstone, Teton, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Banff. Connor is also a certified Wilderness First Responder from the Wilderness Leadership Institute. When he isn’t with clients, you can find Connor working on a nonprofit that cleans and maintains local trails, trail running ultra-marathons, rock climbing in Yosemite, competing at archery, and snowboarding in Steamboat.
DALLAN CALDWELL
LEAD GUIDE
Raised in Montana, Dallan has over a decade of experience in outdoor recreation, including hiking, camping, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, horse backpacking, snowshoeing, skiing, and fly fishing, to name a few. Dallan earned his master’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Nebraska and his Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Education from Colorado State University, both of which fed his passion for the outdoors while building his background in education and leadership.
As an outdoor enthusiast, Dallan has explored national parks around the country, with Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Bryce among his favorites. To date, Dallan has guided trips in most national parks across the Western United States, and some areas of the Canadian Rockies. His major accomplishments include spending more than 370 days in the bottom of the Grand Canyon in the last 4 years, guiding and hiking some of the least populated trails; climbing eight “fourteeners” throughout Colorado and Mount Whitney in California; backpacking and hiking through most of Yosemite including doing Half Dome over a dozen times; cycling over 400 miles across Montana; and river rafting in five states. Dallan is Leave No Trace certified, a Wilderness First Responder, has a Wilderness Education Association Certificate to train leaders in the outdoors, CPR certified, and is certified in Commercial Standard Food Handling. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his wife and kids, golf, cycle, trail run, and discover the best food in every new area to which he travels. As an avid outdoorsman, Dallan looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with you to create a lasting memory.
WILL PAYTON
CAMP MANAGER
AMERICAN SAFARI CAMP
Growing up on the Eastern Seaboard, Will always found peace in the outdoors whether through sports, scouts, or long hikes in the Appalachian Mountains. Will eventually found his way out west for the first time in early 2018, and he made the permanent move to Northern Arizona just over a year later. It was here that his love for outdoor recreation grew even more. His favorite hobbies include hiking Mount Elden and Humphreys Peak whenever possible, free climbing in Sedona and Oak Creek, kayaking on any accessible river, and mountain biking in the Coconino wilderness.
Will’s knowledge of the wilderness throughout the country continues to grow, and he loves to share it with anybody that shares his passions!
Contact: WILL@AMERICANSAFARICAMP.COM
Michael Dold
CAMP MANAGER
Assistant Guide
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Michael discovered his love for the outdoors through Boy Scouts and backpacking trips throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He spent much of his youth exploring the trails of the nearby Appalachian Mountains. While earning his Eagle Scout Award, Michael led multiple overnight trips throughout the United States including trips in the boundary waters of Northern Minnesota, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and two trips in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Michael found a true passion for the outdoors in college while pursuing an Outdoor Education degree from Colorado Mountain College. After college, Michael completed a 50-day outdoor leadership course through the Outward Bound Outdoor Leadership School in Asheville, North Carolina. He managed an outdoor retailer for two years, operated a bed and breakfast, guided kayaking tours on the Pamlico River, and even found himself in The Last Frontier managing a hotel in Denali National Park.
He now calls Arizona home and prior to working for EXP, Michael guided hiking and paddling tours in Antelope Canyon and on Lake Powell. Through his endeavors, Michael has earned his Wilderness First Responder Certification as well as his ACA level 1, 2 Certification. He now lives in Phoenix and when he isn’t preparing for his next adventure, you can find Michael exploring the Superstition Mountains, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, working on his artwork, and playing pickup soccer.
Josh Osias
Lead Guide
Josh grew up in San Diego and spent a lot of his time exploring the wonderful outdoor places in Southern California and the Southwest. After graduating with a B.S in Environmental Biology and Management and minor in Oceanography from UC Davis, he decided to take his knowledge to share the outdoors with ours. Josh gained valuable outdoor guiding experience from leading outings for various companies: San Diego River Park Foundation, Positive Adventures, Outdoor Outreach, the Elementary Institute of Science, and Seacamp San Diego. In these past years, Josh has honed his instructing skills in various activities ranging from rock climbing to snowboarding and surfing to snorkeling, always ensuring client safety and enjoyment on adventures outdoors.
As an instructor, Josh is passionate about connecting people to the inherent value of the outdoors. The environment becomes even more magical when you start to understand all the natural wonders that are at play together. He also recently pursued a Masters in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
In fact, Josh is often referred to as a nature nerd because he is always dropping "Nature Nuggets'' on his adventures with both clients and friends. Josh is very qualified in guiding with his years of experiences and many certifications including Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator.
In his spare free time, Josh can be found playing beach volleyball, rock climbing, hiking and camping, enjoying live music, and photographing wildlife and landscapes. Josh got the travel bug and loves to try new experiences wherever he can.
Sam Wilson
Lead Guide
Sam Wilson grew up near the Sourland Mountains in central New Jersey making frequent trips to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in the Appalachians of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Prior to coming to EXP, Sam worked as a naturalist guide for five years in the Alaskan Backcountry, including three seasons in Denali National Park. Sam started his career as an environmental educator, teaching marine science and bird migration at New Jersey Audubon’s Nature Center of Cape May and Cape May Bird Observatory. From Cape May’s backbay salt marshes to Kachemak Bay on the south-central Alaskan coast, Sam has led numerous kayak and boat-based wildlife tours across the country. Sam has worked as a field biologist in Kauai’s remote Alakai Wilderness, and volunteered for several organizations guiding trips and assisting in field research on migratory birds.
In addition to being in the field, Sam has written articles for Cape May Magazine, American Birding Association’s Birding Magazine and has been featured as a published wildlife photographer, including National Audubon’s Top 100 in 2018.
Sam is a certified Wilderness First Responder . When not guiding, Sam and his wife, Margeaux, enjoy backpacking around the world. They have traveled extensively in Asia, and the Americas seeking out rare birds and wildlife. Though Sam has a high-level of expertise in natural history in the field, his enthusiasm and curiosity extends to collecting music, growing super-hot peppers, and visiting local breweries.
Maxie Johnson
Lead Guide
Maxie grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, just a few miles from Pine Mountain - famous as the beloved vacation destination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Although he embraced the outdoors as a child, it was not until after college when he spent almost five months on the Appalachian Trail that his true love for the outdoors blossomed. Since that time, Maxie has been lucky enough to have amazing opportunities around the globe including an unsupported trek to Everest Base Camp, summiting over half of the 50 state highpoints and hiking from Mexico to the Sierra Nevadas. And then somewhere along the way, the passion for outdoor adventure turned into a career...
Since venturing into the travel industry half a decade ago, Maxie has had the opportunity to teach and guide in some of the most beautiful and cherished locales on the planet. Despite the numerous places he has been blessed to visit, the "must see" list somehow always grows longer. When Maxie is not out guiding, he trades his backpack for a briefcase and "practices" law. Oftentimes, this consists of staring out the window, tugging at his tie and wishing he could be back out there… wherever that may be.
Maxie loves sharing his passion for the outdoors with others and is grateful to be able to take clients off the beaten path, create experiences that are entirely unique for each of them, and play a part in forging trips of a lifetime!
Tiffany Harrison
Lead Guide
Tiffany’s professional career didn’t begin with guiding. As a triathlete, she was always trying to fit in the activities she enjoyed before and after her workday as well as on the weekends. Her Vacations always had an element of physical adventure and after seven years in the political world and three in the art industry, she quickly learned sitting behind a desk wasn’t for her, so she made the leap to full time outdoor guide, fitness instructor, and personal trainer.
Whether it’s learning how to do a new activity or being introduced to a new place, Tiffany loves to learn and share experiences with people. One of the things she loves most is connecting with people in nature as well as helping folks achieve their physical goals in the outdoors.
Some of her favorite memories are hiking and doing yoga in the Sacred Valley of Peru, mountain biking in the Alps, and ice climbing in Alaska. Her biggest accomplishments are climbing Kilimanjaro, helping to open a wellness center in Park City, Utah, and creating a fitness program where she traveled the U.S and Mexico to certify instructors. When she isn’t guiding or teaching, she enjoys taking her dog Savy out in the mountains, rock climbing with her kids, and trying out new delicious recipes.
Carrie Lee
Lead Guide
Carrie grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, with four sisters and a set of parents driven to show them the United States from their 1987 conversion van. Her passion for the outdoors grew from that van, and from time spent in the north woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Her second love has always been soccer, and it afforded her a scholarship to Play Division I for the University of Montana in Missoula. Along with soccer, Carrie double majored in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Philosophy.
After graduating she pursued a PhD in Economics, inspired by time she spent in South Africa. She operated a hostel in Cape Town and played semi-pro soccer in Austin, Texas before discovering her next love in life: skiing powder. Her home since 2010 has been Big Sky, Montana where access to the mountains and outdoors expanded her opportunities and rejuvenated her outdoor enthusiasm! For the last decade Carrie has been guiding trips all over the United States from ultra-deluxe to ultra-adventure. Before coming to EXP, Carrie was an integral part of planning, designing scouting and running new trips for other companies. When she isn't chasing powder or guiding people on life-changing adventures, she enjoys exploring the world and spending time with friends and family.
Bryan Codi
Lead Guide
Bryan was born and raised in the tiniest of towns, Virginville, PA (you can look it up). After life on a ranch, the call for bigger and better things came along and he moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder and helped found the CU Alpine Club. Subsequently, he honed his passion for guiding while leading underclassmen on rock climbing, mountain biking and rafting trips across the American West. Bryan graduated with a degree in Archaeology, as well as emphasis in History, Classics, Astronomy, Geology and Communication. After University, he moved to Breckenridge, Colorado to further pursue his outdoor interests where he still resides when he is not guiding or traveling.Bryan has guided trips and personally traveled to hundreds of destinations in over 60 countries. His adventures range from alpine mountaineering, climbing and snowboarding through the Himalayas in Nepal and Kashmir, driving overland 4X4 safari across Africa, to guiding multiple whitewater expeditions down the Grand Canyon right here in the U.S. Bryan has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekked across Patagonia, and dove with whale sharks in the Philippines. In the last decade Bryan has spent the majority of his summers guiding trips in U.S. national parks and helping design trips as well as hire and train aspiring guides. Bryan is also a fierce scrabble competitor, trivia aficionado, an avid hunter and pretty stellar in the kitchen (especially with wild game).
Chris Frey
Assistant Guide
Chris grew up on the East Coast where he learned to love outdoor adventuring with his Grandfather. His introduction to camping involved solo adventures along the gnarled Appalachian mountains and foothills.
Chris has a degree in Economics and Political Science and formerly had an established corporate career in hospitality. In 2017 Chris decided to return to the mountains, and he found the Guiding Industry to be a way to share his passion and love for the outdoors with others. Since that time, he has worked with adult backcountry hiking programs, and cross country cycling trips before finding his way into luxury travel. Guiding reconfirmed Chris's love for outdoor adventuring when he was a kid, so when he is not guiding he still finds a way to travel and what he enjoys most are long-distance multi-month adventures, across North America.
Chris currently resides in Pennsylvania. However, with a busy schedule between personal and professional trips he is typically away on a remote adventure
