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Wise Guides - Company
Info - Meet the Guides -
Hiking - Mountain Biking
- Snowshoeing | ||||||
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Hello Friend, My name is Tom Wiesen, and I founded Trail Wise Guides in 1991. My company's start was inspired in the Colorado mountains by friends, good times, and well-planned outings. I have since led thousands of hikers, mountain bikers, snowshoers, and skiers on trips they remember. I carry these tokens of the past every day. The Colorado Mountains inspire me every day. I live in the heart of nature in the historic town of Red Cliff (population 300, elevation 8600'), a 30 minute drive into the mountains from Vail/Beaver Creek, and adjacent to the magical Holy Cross Wilderness area, in the White River National Forest. From the door of my home I can set out to hike, mountain bike, cross-country ski, snowshoe, whitewater kayak, fish, view wildlife, or just plain sit by the creek. My inspiration in nature began as a child. I grew up in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park in northern Michigan. My earliest days were filled with adventuresome hiking and cross-country skiing in the forest. Upon graduation from Michigan State University in 1987, I bought a ticket to the Colorado high country. Since then, I have engrossed myself in seeking wilderness. It's a year-round passion enjoying hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in this spectacular region of America. My goal as a backcountry guide is to spread appreciation for nature to people from all over the world. I educate others on the wonders of the natural world, as seen through my eyes, here in the wilderness of Colorado. I witness subtle changes in natures through daily exposure to the mountain environment, through every season of the year. I love to share my wonder of nature with fellow backcountry enthusiasts. Through this appreciation, I hope that they in turn, carry through many walks of like, the importance of preserving natural areas for generations to come. Through my many years of observation in the wilderness, I have come to learn a lot of interesting things. If you are a visitor in the Vail Valley, I hope that you take the time to seek out a wilderness experience. I look forward to sharing a memorable wilderness experience with you, and making a new friend. Happy Trails, Tom Wiesen |
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| Tanya Miller Born and raised in Vail, Colorado, I learned at an early age what a wonderful place this valley was. My dad showed me the many wonders of the Gore Range Mountains and the Homestake Valley. We spent many summers hiking together, learning to identify wildflowers, recognizing mushrooms, and just plain enjoying the outdoors. Today as a guide, I have the opportunity to share with others those same wonders that my dad shared with me. In the winter, we spent most of our time skiing, since snowshoeing wasn't a common sport. Presently, I enjoy the ability to access remote areas in the winter on skis or snowshoes. Trails that were once impossible to negotiate are now accessible. These wintertime activities also allow you to see the tracks of various animals, which I find to be very elusive in the summer. Snow gives proof of the many animals that live around us. During my college years and those following, I lived and worked in many different areas of the Southwest and West. It wasn't until this time I realized how much the mountains, fresh water lakes, and aspen trees really meant to me. My experience of exploring other regions of the country has instilled in me an appreciation for everything I ever knew growing up. Where else can you walk out your back door right into the wilderness? It is true that the Vail Valley has changed from my childhood memories, however, I still find enough amazing views and experiences to keep me here. My heart and soul reside in this valley and will do so for the rest of my years. It's with this passion, for a place I call home, that I bring to each and every tour. I hope everyone gets an opportunity to experience the wilderness pleasures of this area. |
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John Amoroso Colorado owns my soul. I was born in Longmont, a historic farm community in the shadow of 14,000-foot Long's Peak. My calendar was always marked by nature's beautiful gifts. Wet spring afternoons brought flocks of Western Tanagers to grace the budding limbs of my backyard Locust tree; a brilliant, noisy blur of black-gold and orange feathers on their way to nests in mountain aspen groves. On clear summer days I could see from our living-room window, 85 miles away to Pikes Peak near Colorado Spring's. Most of those long summer days I spent fishing, canoeing, and exploring the woods around my family's cabin just 15 minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park. On crisp fall weekends we took hikes along the mountain meadows and forested hillsides that flanked the park's massive peaks. Visions of those days are the backdrop to my dreams: A vault of sky so blue as to be almost black, like you could see the stars at mid-day; shimmering golden aspen groves, like lava extruding up through a dark green sea of conifers; and pristine Autumn snow on granite crags, like confectioner's sugar dusting the nooks and crannies of giant broken pieces of chocolate brownie. And when winter finally came it brought a cozy stillness, the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, and the excitement of cross-country skiing to school on snowy days. Growing up in Colorado was a true privilege and I have spent the following 30 years playing, working, and living in the Rocky Mountain West. My love of nature and The Rockies have led me down a variety of trails since my youth. I have been a fly-fishing guide in Colorado, Montana, and Alaska; worked on Vail Ski Patrol for two years; conducted studies on owls, raptors, trout, and deer for the USFS, USGS, and CDOW, and Natural Heritage Programs. I am currently a naturalist for the Vail Nature Center and coordinate the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System for the Vail Golf Club (See Audubon, Aug '98). And when I get lucky, I guide backcountry hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country tours for Trail Wise Guides. I promise to bring my knowledge of, and enthusiasm for our mountain home with me on the trail. We will provide you with a safe and pleasant day within your personal abilities and desires. I look forward to making friends with you.
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Kelley McCafferty Bradley I grew up in this beautiful state of Colorado, and have lived in the Vail Valley for many years. For the last nine years, I have been guiding year-round in the surrounding wilderness areas. In the summer months, I enjoy leading day hikes for Trail Wise Guides, and over-night backpacking trips for Paragon Guides, and Meet the Wilderness. My favorite part of guiding is sharing my knowledge of wildflowers, and many of the medicinal beliefs of the plants. I have also worked with the U.S. Forest Service leading interpretive hikes. Last summer I guided treks with llamas, and it was great! In the winter months, I teach all disciplines of skiing. My favorite time is spent touring in the backcountry, identifying animal tracks, or just enjoying the beautiful views. One of the best things about hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing, is getting up to a remote high lake, a distant peak, or a faraway field of wildflowers, and being the only ones there. The solitude is what makes the effort so worth while. When I'm not busy around the valley, I enjoy traveling. I've had many adventures. Places like Peru, Machu Pichu, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. My last adventure took me to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and then to the plains of the Serengeti. I share my passion of the outdoors with my husband, and two dogs. We spend our time off together backpacking, skiing in the backcountry, and planning our next adventures.
Trail Wise Guides - Company
Info - Meet the Guides -
Hiking - Mountain Biking
- Snowshoeing
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