Backroads Leader Profiles

One of the most important milestones in my life was when I went to study for a semester in Florence, Italy. I had the chance to travel around much of Europe, on my own and with friends. This experience enriched my life and made me grow and learn so much about myself and what I was capable of. For me, this became a deep and permanent change inside of me and I knew I was hooked.

I graduated from the University of California at Davis with a degree in International Relations. Truthfully, I didn't have a clue what I was going to do after graduation. All I knew was that I wanted to find a job that would offer me excitement, challenges, and travel possibilities. Better yet, I wanted to work outdoors and with interesting people. I thought, where does a job like this even exist? As luck would have it, I met another Backroads leader one day who told me all about her job and the lifestyle that went along with it. I didn't bother looking for any other job after my graduation.

Since then, I have enjoyed working in some of the most amazing places in the world: all over Italy, in Patagonia and Costa Rica... it's been so fun! Sometimes I move to new places, other times I stay put. For a while I oversaw the smooth operation of our regional base in Tuscany as the Regional Support Specialist. The hardest part of living this life is that my wish list keeps getting longer—I want to go to new places but also return to my favorites as well. I look forward to the upcoming season, and whatever it brings.

Following my coast to coast excursion for college and getting my BA from Boston University, I moved back to the Bay Area to be close to the sun, the sand and the snow. I worked in the food and wine business, did research for a global software company and consulted with clients about their wine cellars and investments. But when I read the ideal qualities of a Backroads leader in an online job posting, it was as if I was reading a completely accurate description of myself and I knew I had to apply.

My experience with Backroads has lived up to and exceeded all my expectations and proven to be incredibly rewarding. Working as a Trip Leader, as well as hiring and training new leaders, has introduced me to an exciting, eclectic and outgoing staff and allowed me to continue branching out and meeting people while traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the world. As a result, I have the rare and wonderful opportunity to speak and practice five languages and share my knowledge and passion with our guests. Additionally, my participation on the Responsible Travel Team at Backroads has been the catalyst for me to pursue a graduate education in sustainable business. I continue to balance Backroads with my education and maintain my commitment to this amazing company.

For my 40th birthday I wanted to do a bike trip in Vermont in the fall. My husband wasn't a cyclist and my friends that biked couldn't go. So I set about to find a company to go with as a solo traveler. I had an amazing time and I remember thinking "What a cool job the leaders have!" Unknowingly that trip planted a seed in my mind. Sadly, several years later, cancer got the best of my husband. With both of my kids away at college and working away from home during the summers, I recalled that "cool job" that my trip leaders had in Vermont. I wanted to travel and have a fun job, too.

I looked into several companies but Backroads seemed to be the obvious first choice. I could see from the catalog that many of the leaders were younger than me, but...lots of the guests were my age. Hmmm... Well, seven years later, here I am; still loving the opportunity to travel to amazing places and meet amazing people all along the way. I loved the opportunity to learn a new language so that I could work in another country; to be able to work outside being active and doing what I love; and to share the wonders of nature and travel alongside other people who share that interest. I feel so fortunate to be able to make lemonade out of lemons!

I graduated from California State University, Chico with a BS in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Management of Human Resources. I then went on to manage a chateau in the south of France that offered a variety of trips; cycling, fly fishing, culinary, French immersion and art. After two years in France, I went back to the Bay Area and worked as a Banquet and Catering Sales Manager for a prominent golf course in the Napa Valley where I planned weddings, tournaments, conferences and parties. Being a trip leader for Backroads has been a personal goal of mine for several years. My grandmother is a tour guide in Egypt so my family often jokes that it runs in my veins. In my professional life, I'd worn the hat of a leader, administrator, marketer and logistics manager. My next goal was to work for a company that would allow me to learn about new places, cultures and histories and share that information with others. I chose Backroads because they are the company that does this the best.

Trained as a Commercial Pilot and a Flight Instructor, my background ranges from flying to language, from travel to sharing great laughs and stories. Equipped with my friendly positivity and a deep desire to have a lasting effect on every person I meet, I joined Backroads in 2011 to share my love for the outdoors, worldly travel and language. With a history of travel from places as far as Cambodia, Cuba, Luxembourg, and Sweden, I bring a passion for the world while leading in the Spanish Pyrennes and the southern Italian Amalfi Coast. I see no end in sight; only adventure ahead.

In 1997—still in the Rockies—I was introduced to the Trip Leader position by a friend who was leading trips for Backroads. Through her encouragement and description of the job I knew it was something that I would love to do. After my first season leading trips in Canada, I saw my 'Euro' potential due to my French abilities. The following year I headed to France in the spring, returned home for the summer to lead in the Rockies, and then returned to France to lead trips in the fall.

Even with the longer trip leading schedule in Europe I was still able to maintain my winter job doing ski patrol, which worked great for me. In my third year, new opportunities at Backroads began to arise for me, from being a Trip Specialist to a Regional Expert in Ireland. I left ski patrolling and began working for Backroads full time. I always loved to travel and learn about other cultures and working for Backroads has allowed me to fulfill my passions and have a ton of fun while doing it!

In my years at Backroads, I have been fortunate enough to work in Canada and many countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. I even managed to attend the University of Victoria and complete my Bachelor of Education while still leading trips. Most recently, I am working with Backroads as the Ride Director for Tour DaVita. This 5-day charity bicycle ride takes place in a different state each year; raising awareness of kidney disease and funds for the Kidney Trust. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with many other Backroads leaders toward a very good cause.

In addition to leading, I have helped manage trips in the field as a Trip Specialist in the Canadian Rockies and I am also very active in the hiring and training of new leaders in Canada and the U.S. I have been able to tailor my leading life to focus on regions rich in natural history, including South Africa, Costa Rica, Peru and, of course, my own backyard, the Canadian Rockies. I am a leader who loves to return to the same regions year after year. It is amazing how many new things you can learn about a region to pass along and our guests are truly appreciative of the authentic experience that we facilitate for them. I have been around long enough to have had repeat guests two and three times! Some might think that we just take people on vacation, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I have had more than one tearful goodbye from a guest that had achieved personal bests on the trip or simply had one of the best experiences of their life.

These days I am enthusiastic about the increased commitment to Responsible Travel at Backroads. As Trip Leaders and Trip Specialists, we are encouraged to design our trips so they contribute meaningfully to the communities that we visit.

From what I thought would be a few summers of work, here I am entering my 15th year more fired up than ever about my job and the amazing people I work with!

After my experience in the Rockies, I decided that I wanted to make Backroads more than just a summer job. Speaking Spanish increased the chances of getting work throughout the winter, so I booked a flight to Ecuador to study Spanish. I ended up studying, traveling and spending four months as a volunteer in the Galapágos Islands, working with the National Parks Services and the Charles Darwin Station. The next winter I got a trip-leading schedule in Costa Rica. Since then I’ve been able to make my job at Backroads a career, and not just a part-time gig. I studied Italian in Venice, which gave me the opportunity to work in Italy. I’ve also designed and led trips in Nova Scotia, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bhutan, South Africa, Botswana, Vietnam, Tibet and China.

Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the "pura vida" lifestyle in Costa Rica. I bought a house outside of San José and after many years of living out of a suitcase, Costa Rica is now my home. It is the perfect combination of having a stable life in one region for part of the year, while still being able to travel, lead trips and explore new places. I took on the role of Regional Expert in Costa Rica, and I now take care of our field operations, monitor trip quality in the region, foster relationships with our subcontractors, design new trips and help mentor and train new leaders.

Although I didn’t go into conventional teaching, I believe that the world is my classroom now, and everyday is a new lesson. I guess in the end, you could say I got my B.Happy with Honors!

Raised along the pounding surf and rugged coastlines of Nova Scotia, Canada, I quickly fell in love with the sea and decided to attend Acadia University in my home province. I studied global politics, philosophy, world religions and graduated with an honors undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Development.

A summer camp lover at heart, I worked for over eight years at various camps around Canada, the US and Australia. I am an outdoors lover and I'm always on the lookout for jobs that will allow me to see different parts of the globe or experience something new and exciting.

These jobs have included working as a wilderness trip leader in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a dog-sledding guide in the Canadian Rockies, a youth volunteer coordinator in an Inuit community in Labrador, a cast member in a Halifax dinner theatre, and taking a summer to volunteer in Burkina Faso (sub-saharan Africa). I am a guitarist and singer-songwriter at heart and am passionate about my musical roots. This past winter I also spent five months writing my first travel memoir and experimenting with cold water surfing on the shores of Vancouver Island.

When I came across Backroads, I knew we were meant for one another. After a rigorous application process, I eventually tricked them into hiring me and now my life continues to be adventurous. In my first season, I have worked for Backroads in Bryce and Zion National Parks, the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia, Brittany and Normandy, the Loire Valley, Provence and Costa Rica. Not bad for your first year on the job!

The most incredible thing I have found at Backroads is a community of fun-loving, kind and adventurous people—of all ages—who are passionate about what they do. I look forward to many more worldly adventures with my new friends.

Throughout my university years, I spent summers working at a backcountry lodge in Yoho National Park in British Columbia. There I learned to climb, hike, ski and appreciate the solitude and beauty of the hills. I wanted every spare second to be filled with adventure, and every moment to be spent in the mountains. Then one day I had an epiphany. Instead of using only spare time to indulge my passion, I could make this a lifestyle, and attempt to find a career in the outdoor world. So, I finished my degree in political science, bought a new pair of skis, and hit the backcountry. I spent four years living in the Canadian Rockies, working seasonally from lodge to lodge, and loving every minute of it.

And then, I was introduced to Backroads through a couple of friends. Their descriptions of the job seemed too good to be true; you could actually make a living with your hiking boots on! You could spend your working hours in the same place you spend your leisure hours. You could indulge your passion, and be paid for it too! This was the job I was looking for! I went through the application process, the intensity of the interviews, and managed to land the job.

Working for Backroads has given me the ability to stay active, in a place where I am constantly inspired, while feeding my insatiable appetite to socialize with new and fascinating people. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the Backroads team, and I can't wait to lead another season in the Canadian Rockies!

So, I took a job abroad working for Club Med, and then for other companies throughout Europe. These summer jobs gave me the opportunity to save some money during the season and finally discover the world during the time off. I've traveled from Pakistan to Cambodia, through Tibet, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and trekked in Nepal, Ladakh and Zanskar. Then, I went on to discover Latin America and finally lived the last years of the 90's in Argentina where I was a teacher at the French Alliance of Cordoba, teaching managers working in multinational firms.

Upon returning to Europe, I've lived in Spain since 2000. Looking for a change from the mass tourism industry, I started working as a biking and mountain guide. I was looking to lead for an active company with a reduced number of guests on trips in order to get more individual connections. I was hired by Backroads and have enjoyed the chance to be part of an unbelievably organized team, where each and every individual is a source of help, knowledge, happiness and kindliness.

Working with Backroads enables me to share the local knowledge, enthusiasm and the passion that I have for my country with others. Every time I lead a trip, even in the same area, there is always something new to discover, something new to show, and new questions to answer. Indeed, guests and nature are the elements that make this job so exciting and dynamic because both motivate me to look at life from a different perspective.

I love being a Backroads Trip Leader because it is incredibly enriching. My passion for the job is apparent. In fact, my friends have nicknamed me "Fire Ball." The nickname comes from the excitement I get when I share local knowledge, points of view and the amazing environment with our guests to create unforgettable experiences. It energizes my heart like a fire making me live up to my nickname.

I finally set foot outside of my native country when I joined the Czech National Cycling Team in 1998. This allowed me to travel extensively around Europe and got me excited about learning languages. I quit pro riding in 2003 and went to live, work, and study in Australia. I learned English, went around half of Australia on a motorcycle and realized that this was what I wanted from my life: traveling, learning languages, staying active, and challenging myself. I became a ski instructor in Austria. I then traveled to New Zealand and taught skiing there. While in New Zealand, I was hired to teach in The Canyons, Park City, Utah.

By the end of my first season in Park City, I realized that I missed riding my bike and sharing my passion for cycling with others. Right then and there I knew what I was looking for: a job as a bike tour guide. I talked to many companies during that long winter in Utah and searched the web for days, but I didn't find what I was looking for until I came across an issue of Men's Health magazine. The cover advertised the "50 most adventurous jobs in the world" -- and that's where I first saw Backroads. I was hired in Salt Lake City two weeks after reading the article, and I still have that magazine.

After getting hired in 2007, I started working as a subcontractor because I could not be legally employed as a full-time employee by Backroads. Editors note: Trip Leaders without legal work authorization in our hubs of employment can work as subcontractors. See 'legal requirements' on the How to Apply page. This actually proved to be an interesting opportunity to learn about accounting, taxes and international employment law. Nowadays, EU law allows me to work freely in most countries within Europe as a Backroads leader and I am a regular employee.

Now let me tell you, I did not expect a biking guide job to be anywhere close to as challenging as my job with Backroads has been! But the challenges are worth it when you consider the opportunities available with Backroads. You can work anywhere in the world! You have the opportunity to study languages (I continue to improve my English, Spanish, German, and Russian). You meet the funniest, friendliest people in your co-leaders, and they inspire you to do stuff you have only dreamt about. You learn about cultures you have always wanted to know more about, and ride your bike in the most amazing places in the world! Knowing that these opportunities are all there for me is what keeps me rolling through rainy prep days, broken printers, and any number of challenging situations with my smile on my face! It's all up to you in this job. I am sure I am not the first to say this; but this job is a treasure.

I studied French language and culture in college at Middlebury, and I hoped that someday I would find a way to use it in my career. I became a leader in 2001 and came to France in 2002. I have worked in many different regions and countries, but I have come to call Provence my home. I've learned countless lessons from my coworkers, my guests, and the people we meet along the way. And I can't believe that I'm actually using my liberal arts major in my career!

When I first came to know Backroads leaders through my office work, I realized that many different personalities can be successful at this job. A few of the common qualities that I found in leaders were warmth, intelligence, joyfulness and open-mindedness. It is now comforting and inspiring to call these people my coworkers. I can't imagine finding a better work environment elsewhere. I also learned that traveling with Backroads was a means of gaining appreciation for all kinds of people (both our guests and the local people we connect with), gaining love for different natural landscapes, and gaining great personal growth through the challenges to which we rise.

A chance encounter with a Backroads leader eleven years ago opened my eyes to the Trip Leader opportunity and the answer to the question seemed clear. The trip leader position is a lot of hard work. It is an exercise in flexibility, problem solving, efficiency and unending customer service. Early in my leading career, I led trips in Scotland and France. Being in Europe was all that I had hoped it would be, and when a position in our French hub became available I leapt at the chance to live abroad. The position has exceeded all of my expectations and has left me with lasting friendships, incredible memories and fantastic experiences. Using my foreign languages, surrounding myself with different customs and cultures, and making sure everyone on each trip has the time of his/her life is very rewarding. Seeing their smiles grow larger throughout a trip and knowing that they are going home happy gives me an incredible sense of joy and accomplishment. The opportunities for growth that Backroads provides will keep me around for years to come.

My opportunity to travel finally came during my university studies when I got to live, study and teach abroad thanks to scholarships and internships. I was completing my outdoor/environmental education internship with the Audubon society in Minnesota when I first heard about Backroads and I knew right away that I wanted to work for the company. However, I waited a couple more years to complete my Master in Political Science and French before I applied for the Trip Leader position. When I actually got the job, I didn't realize the job was much more than an opportunity to travel. For me, working for Backroads has been an education in people skills, problem solving, patience, creativity, flexibility and tolerance. I enjoy the diversity of our job: from working on a trip design and getting it set up to guiding people through amazing countries and sharing my knowledge of the culture, history, and food of each destination. There are many great aspects of leading, but it's very satisfying for me to take people on trips in Eastern and Central Europe and see how many prejudices and myths about this part of the world are dissolved by a better understanding of the history and culture. I believe this is exactly why traveling is so important: it leads to comprehension and tolerance.

And yet, the main reason why I feel very fortunate to work for Backroads is because of the people I have met. In my five years as a Trip Leader, I've met the most inspiring, intelligent, life-loving and caring individuals among my coworkers, guests and local people in different countries all over the world.

A few years ago, as I contemplated a career change, someone asked me what my ideal job would be. The answer was something that involved traveling, working outdoors and satisfying my inner cub scout, doing good deeds every day. I was also interested in spending a couple of months at home every year.

Six months later, I found myself leading my first Backroads trip - hiking through Ireland's fabulous Kerry mountains with 15 guests. Many things surprised me. As expected, the job was physically demanding, but it challenged me mentally as well. Both Backroads and their guests expect a lot of their leaders, and thanks to the intensive training and a great support system, you have the tools with which to excel. The guests respond in kind to your creativity and passion, making for new adventures every day. And, of course, all of the co-leaders are great "crack" (Gaelic for "fun").

I've now led in nine different regions worldwide, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I've brought guests to see glaciers in New Zealand, gypsy bands in Slovakia, cheesemaking farms in the Swiss Alps, and redwood forests in California Wine Country. I've had opportunities to take on more responsibility, and have grown with the job. I'm always excited to see what the next season brings.

As the year rolled on, I began to search for a job that would allow me to stay and enjoy European life, and it was then that I discovered Backroads. It fit perfectly. You mean I get to bike throughout the most beautiful spots in the world, meet amazing people and then sit down for a Michelin-starred meal? I'm in.

Being one of the only Americans at the hiring event in Provence, I feared, why would they take an American if they could take this cute Italian guy with an accent? But in the end, being an American leader in Europe is a wonderful opportunity where you get to take the American perspective and add a European twist. You get to be the translator, the ambassador, the gate keeper to the local community. You are the one that chooses what the guests will come home remembering from the trip: what kind of foie gras they will try, what type of stories they will hear about the local culture. As a Backroads leader, it's you who bring the guests into the local life for a week.

But another great aspect of being a Backroads Trip Leader is your co-leaders and co-workers. They are people who challenge you to do and be better, but are also great people to share a glass of wine with at the end of the day. Backroads seems to know how to balance the idea of work and play perfectly. One moment you may be racking 24 bikes in a rainstorm, and the next, watching a beautiful sunset with friends. And while studying abroad gave me the desire to explore new cultures, it is Backroads that has allowed me to take my passions of traveling, exploring the outdoors, good cuisine and meeting interesting people into a job that I love.

With Backroads you will be outside under the sun (and sometimes under the rain). You will get up very early to be sure everything is ready for your guests in a luxurious hotel from the 16th century which faces the countryside or the sea. As a Trip Leader, Backroads relies on you, trusts you and gives you responsibility. Every day you will have to deal with more than a few challenges, and you will love it.

Being French, I had a few questions when I applied. Will my English be good enough? Will I be able to share what I love about my country? Will it be easy to work with foreign guests and colleagues? I had nothing to worry about. The guests love your accent and your co-leaders support and encourage you and you do the same in return. After each trip, you have learned so much about yourself and your fellow travelers.

Today I am awaiting the beginning of a new season and the only question I have is which amazing part of the world will I work in next.

I later turned full circle and decided to study Marine Biology at the University of Tasmania, where I was able to find time to hike, bike, dive and camp my way across Tasmania, further instilling my passion for outdoors. During my studies I completed a one-year exchange program at UC Davis, and fell in love with the grandeur and scenery of the western U.S. After completing my degree in Australia, I moved to California and started work as a fisheries biologist aboard commercial fishing boats, from San Diego to Bellingham. As much as I love working on the ocean, when a good friend who worked as a Backroads Trip Leader started telling me about the job, I was intrigued. The job sounded like a great match for my personality and passion for being outdoors. I submitted an application and went though the rigorous Backroads hiring process and I was lucky enough to be selected for a position as a Trip Leader!

After being hired, the fun started. I had been living in the USA for four years at this point and I assumed that I would be leading trips in the USA for Backroads. However, I was unable to get a visa to work with Backroads in the U.S. I was worried that my new job would end before it began, but the helpful Backroads staff was willing to help me investigate other options. We discovered that, as an Australian citizen, I was able to secure a Canadian work visa and I was soon headed off to spend the summer working for Backroads in the Canadian Rockies. Of course, not without first getting a CA commercial drivers license (no mean feat in itself), Canadian social insurance number and bank account and moving to Canada!

While it wasn't always easy, I was so thankful that I was able to create the opportunity to work with Backroads, and it would not have been possible without all the support from Backroads staff every step of the way. I persevered and all the hard work paid off in the form of an amazing summer leading trips through the stunning Canadian Rockies, working with some of the most interesting, diverse, active people you are likely to meet anywhere. I am looking forward to working for Backroads in many more amazing regions across the globe in the future.

I have recently taken on the additional role of Trip Specialist for our walking New Zealand trips allowing me to broaden my role at Backroads and bring my passion and expertise to specific trips. Not surprisingly, Backroads also helped me to meet a fellow leader and the woman of my dreams to whom I am now married and living happily ever after!