Explore the Great Outdoors with Professional Hiking Guides
In the face of the ongoing pandemic, certified hiking guides are adapting to the new normal by offering a range of alternative services that leverage their expertise and maintain engagement with clients remotely or in less physically demanding formats.
The NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certified, CPR certified, survival school certified, and fully insured guide, with over five years of professional guiding experience, is no exception. Known for their comprehensive, personable, and safe guided hiking experiences, they now provide a variety of services to cater to clients' needs while ensuring safety.
One of the key offerings is virtual instruction and workshops. These online sessions cover a wide array of topics, such as hiking safety, trail knowledge, gear selection, wilderness first aid, and local natural history. For instance, organisations host online workshops on hiking basics, environment education, and trail stories.
Another service is virtual tours and interpretive sessions. Here, the guide uses video, photos, and detailed explanations about nature, geology, or trails in an interactive online format. The Volcano Naturalist Certification program includes live virtual classroom instruction as part of training, demonstrating that virtual nature education is feasible and effective.
Guided trip planning and consultation services are also available. The guide offers personalised advice on route planning, gear recommendations, fitness preparation, and safety protocols without physically accompanying the client.
For those seeking educational content, the guide produces online content such as blogs, videos, or podcasts about hiking techniques, trail reviews, or wilderness education to share their expertise and build an audience without in-person interaction.
In addition, the guide can act as a "step-on" guide for photography or sightseeing tours that do not require physical hiking but still provide insights and interpretation about the environment.
Payment can be made by major credit cards, PayPal, or check, and full payment is required to secure the date.
As for in-person hikes, the guide ensures that all hikes are planned to mitigate any risks and personally ensures safety. The hike will take place rain or shine unless the park closes or conditions become too dangerous, in which case a full refund will be issued. Parking fees are the responsibility of the hiker based on the number of cars and people participating in the hike.
It is recommended to book the hike as far in advance as possible, with a month being ideal. The guide's hikes have a maximum group size of 12 people. The guide will help with gear selection for the hike based on a comprehensive list of tested hiking gear.
Some parks may require a special event permit for larger groups, which the guide can secure as an insured hiking guide. The refund policy is as follows: cancel up to 7 days before the hike for a full refund, between 7 days and 72 hours for a 50% refund, and no refund for 72 hours or less, unless the park closes or conditions become too dangerous.
With their intimate knowledge of hundreds of trails, the guide offers personalized service to create a unique guided hike. Whether it's a birthday present for a loved one or a team-building hike for a group of C-level execs, incorporating a sunrise summit and returning to the convention center, the guide is ready to ensure a safe and memorable experience.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, certified hiking guides like this one are finding innovative ways to continue sharing their knowledge, support hikers, and stay connected with the hiking community.
The NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certified guide, with over five years of professional guiding experience, now offers virtual instruction and workshops to cater to clients' needs, covering hiking safety, trail knowledge, gear selection, wilderness first aid, and local natural history. Guided trip planning and consultation services are also available, providing personalized advice on route planning, gear recommendations, fitness preparation, and safety protocols without physical accompaniment.
For those seeking educational content, the guide produces online content such as blogs, videos, or podcasts about hiking techniques, trail reviews, and wilderness education. They also offer "step-on" guide services for photography or sightseeing tours that do not require physical hiking but still provide insights into the environment.
Despite the pandemic, the guide is planning in-person hikes with a maximum group size of 12 people, ensuring safety procedures are in place for each hike. It is recommended to book these hikes as far in advance as possible, with the guide helping with gear selection based on a comprehensive list of tested hiking gear.
Some parks may require a special event permit for larger groups, which the guide can secure as an insured hiking guide. The refund policy ensures full or partial refunds depending on the cancellation timeframe, with exceptions made if the park closes or conditions become too dangerous.
In partnership with clients, the guide creates unique personalized guided hiking experiences, such as sunrise summits, to provide unforgettable adventures while maintaining safety and adhering to the new outdoor-living lifestyle.
