Backroads Expert Leaders

Backroads Praise Leaders about Trip Leaders

The following are just a sampling of the hundreds of letters from guests that we receive annually.

Dear Mr. Hale,

As a guest on the September 7 Jasper, Canada hiking trip, I am writing to let you know what a terrific leader Brenda was. I have taken dozens of "adventure" trips, both in the United States and abroad, and Brenda was one of the two best guides that I have ever had. Not only does she have great outdoors skills, but she has a delightful personality and a rare ability to relate to a diverse range of guests. When mired in the pollution of the city and the demands of the workaday world, I know that I will be able to raise my spirits by thinking back on her infectious laugh and her charming Briticisms, such as yelling out a hearty "good on you" when a guest accomplished some athletic feat. Brenda is an incredible asset to Backroads, and I strongly recommend that you hire her to lead as many trips as you can convince her to do.

Very truly yours,
Diane B. Sherman


Dear Tom,

Lisa and Bill made the trip perfect. From the moment they picked us up to the moment they dropped us off they devoted themselves to making everyone on the trip happy. Given the diverse nature of the group and the different needs of each person, this was truly a monumental task. I have never seen two people who worked so hard and enjoyed their job more than they did. Every morning they greeted us all with a smile and asked what they could do to make this a better trip for us. Each smile was genuine and every word and action sincere. They made an effort to get to know each of us and do little things that would make the trip special for each of us. In addition, everything was so unbelievably organized -- from the morning route rap to lunch to dinner. Their seemingly endless supply of energy inspired us.

Backroads is truly fortunate to have Lisa and Bill as group leaders.


Dear Mr. Hale,

What a great trip! Everything about this trip was first rate. The inns that were used for our accommodations were beautiful. The restaurants all provided wonderfully prepared meals that gave us a true "Taste of Provence." The bike route planned provided us with spectacular views and a great sense of the countryside.

However, there are two things that are most memorable about the trip: our leaders, Bruno and Jana. What was most refreshing is the relationship that Bruno and Jana established with each guest. I was amazed to see how well they cared for each guest, even though we were a large group of 26. Bruno and Jana have wonderful, outgoing personalities and a carefree manner that made you feel like you were on vacation with friends. They both were there with reassuring words as you struggled to navigate each hill. You could approach them with any request and you were always greeted with a smile. It was so amazing how they could work so hard all day and then were incredibly charming and pleasant at dinner. This was such an easy trip to do because Bruno and Jana managed to take care of every need. I am already planning my next Backroads trip because they did such a great job! Thanks for a great vacation.

Sincerely,
Daniel Del Roccili

Dear Tom,

This was my first Backroads trip and in my wildest dreams I did not imagine that the leaders would be as incredible as Dave and Philip.
Dave is an amazing combination of smarts, leadership, professionalism, sense of humor, calm and teamwork. He really seemed to inspire people to try something they might not have done absent his quiet, gentle leadership. Philip's enthusiasm is infectious and he naturally brings out the best in everyone. His management skills are so finely honed that you don't even see the effort although observing the results, you know Philip created those various outcomes through an enormous amount of planning, quick thinking in the moment, an extra big dose of charm, and an enviable ability to define the psychological state of the guests.

With Dave and Philip in charge, I found that I never worried about anything because no glitch seemed to faze them and because their experience instilled such confidence. I cannot thank them enough for creating such a great experience.

Sincerely,
Tammy Feldman

mountain biking

“I loved every minute! Probably my favorite vacation EVER. The combination of physical exercise, great food, and exposure to local culture and information and culture made a perfect getaway.”

—Mary Ann Walser
Atlanta, GA

canoeing