Guest Testimonials

Mountain Trek Hiking Guides:
When a hopeful prospective mountain guide writes to Mountain Trek and asks for the job qualifications required, we tell them:

You must be born to the outdoors; you must love and crave being in nature. Even though you have hiked the Kootenay Mountains trails since you were a child, you must enjoy every day as though it were your first. You must want to brag about it too!

You must be a safety freak. Even though you are teased unmercifully each morning by our guests because you want them to pack a rain jacket on a hot sunny day, you are adamant. You carry every first aid and safety item in your pack, which weighs 60 lbs.! Just in case.

You are fit. I mean really fit. You have been compared to a mountain goat. You sometimes take a few days off to compete in an Iron Man Triathlon.

You are connected. You know who to call to get up-to-date information on trails, conditions, weather, and anything else that will help your planning. These people are your friends, and you’ve grown up with them.

You know the trails like the back of your hand.

You are an excellent driver, with a Class 4 (Professional) drivers license. You have many safe years of driving on mountain roads.

You have your current Leaders Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification. Your winter job usually involves ski patrol with first aid responsibilities, and you get lots of practice (during the winter!)

You care. Your goal and reason for guiding is to provide the best, safe, hiking experience for all your guests.

You have an unflagging sense of humor. You love to talk, tell stories, listen, and entertain!

You go hiking on your day off. 

Our guests have frequently told us that our guides are the best they have ever hiked with. We think so too. Listen to this...

I just wanted to thank you for a fantastic week in B.C. hiking, scrambling, and ledge walking. Your spa will be highly recommended by me to friends and acquaintances alike. What really made an impression on me is the professionalism of your staff and crew. Sharon and Greg are remarkable people and really made my week in B.C. exceed my expectations and truly unforgettable!! I can't wait to come back next year!!
E.R., New York City

Ryan Brown
Lead Hiking Guide
Ryan Brown, one of Mountain Trek's highly qualified guides, lives to be outdoors. At the age of 4 his father took him on his first hike in the Canadian Rockies, and the rest, as they say, "is history." He spent countless hours summer and winter in the backcountry, hiking and skiing in the Rockies and the Caribou Mountains in British Columbia. His youthful passion for all things outdoors, and years of accumulated experience set him effortlessly on the road to his future. "When it came to choosing a career, guiding felt natural, " says the 31 year old father of two. "I like being around people, and I love the outdoors. There's no doubt that Mountain Trek has everything I love in a job (if you can call it work!).Photo credit: Dave Humphries

Beginning in 1996, Ryan started to take training courses that would enhance his abilities and turn him into the very talented guide he is now. His list of credentials is impressive, and ranges from Advanced Wilderness First Aid, to Search and Rescue training. His knowledge of backcountry survival and travel techniques is vast. In March 2000 he was certified as an Avalanche Technician by the Canadian Avalanche Association, (he is also an affiliate member) and is a senior member of Nelson Search and Rescue in a Team Leader capacity. Last year he was accepted to British Columbia's Mountain Rescue Program to train as a Level ll Rescue Technician using the latest rope rescue and helicopter loading techniques. Prior employment at a leading outdoor pursuits store has meant that he is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the latest in gear, and his knowledge of fit and function has helped many guests to get the most out of their clothing and equipment.

Given Ryan's expertise, versatility and ease with people, Mountain Trek has happily found many guiding venues for him to partake in. In the early spring he can be found leading a group for a day of Snow shoeing, with all participants taking pleasure in the beauty of the snowy trails and the fresh mountain air. Summer and fall will find him either out hiking with a group, or happily biking with guests on one of the excellent off road trails. He is at the ready also if the opportunity presents itself to lead a group skiing.

And when he's away from Mountain Trek? Look for him hiking along an alpine ridge or hop on your bike and meet up with him as he tackles one of the steep bike trails in and around his home of Nelson. "No matter the season, I look at every day's experiences, whether training at rope work, hiking and biking with guests on one of Mountain Trek's great trails or playing Lego with my kids on my living room floor, as a chance to learn and grow." Along with knowledge of the backcountry, Ryan possesses a wonderful sense of humor and a genuine caring for the people he shares the trails with. His infectious smile is an open invitation to join him as he shows off the splendor of the Kootenays and the best that Mountain Trek has to offer.
Helene Hogue
Kayaking Guide
If I were asked to provide a brief description of Helene Hogue, I would include: capable, energetic and knowledgeable in my nutshell summary. Joining the team of Mountain Trek's qualified guides in June 2001, Helene brings with her a variety of skills that are an asset to the lodge. Depending on the day and the season, she can be found leading a group of guests along a mountain path, instructing a "pod" of beginners as to proper use of a kayak, or shushing in the lead along a cross country ski trail.
Photo: Helene, on the left, with Mountain Trek guests

Born in Montreal, PQ, Helene's enjoyment of the outdoors began as a child. She loved camping and has cross-country skied for the past twenty years, but it was a canoe that held her most spellbound. She spent hours paddling at the family cottage, developing a natural ease, and often had to be coaxed out of the water at the end of the day. In 1993 Helene took a sideways step, purchased a kayak, and started to find new pleasures in ocean and lake kayaking. Two years later, she established herself as a qualified instructor after taking a leadership course with Tofino Sea Kayaking in BC.

"Have Kayak Will Travel" became her mission statement for the next few years, as Helene lead trips along the BC coast and also at Baja, Mexico. She then turned her sites to lake kayaking, and settled on one of the most beautiful spots…Kootenay Lake in BC.

Guiding for Kootenay Kayak for four years, she was instrumental in passing along to many not only the art of handling a kayak, but each person would take away a bit of her enthusiasm as well. Having perfected her teaching skills, and fallen in love with Kootenay Lake, Helene then came on board with Mountain Trek. As is typical of many of our guides, Helene sports more than a singular skill. Already trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid, she has just newly received certification as a cross-country ski instructor with CANSI.

Helene remembers feeling like an early explorer when she'd spend hours in the canoe as a young teenager. Happily for her, she retains much of that sense of wonder and excitement when she's out on the water. As she says, "I love what I do. I'm still playing on the water, and at times I feel like an explorer again, paddling uncharted territory." How fortunate Helene is to find such pleasure in her work, and how lucky Mountain Trek is to have found her.

Kirkland Shave
Head Guide and FitPlan Plus™ Co-ordinator
A calm and caring man, Kirkland Shave is rich with knowledge about wilderness survival and a passionate and inspiring educator. For the past 2 years he has been treating guests at Mountain Trek to a one day Nature Awareness and Survival Skills Course during the period of their stay. Upon return, guests are excited, somewhat in awe of the experiences they've had and skills they've learned and usually very introspective. Some have been touched in deep and profound ways. Modern day life has essentially removed the majority of us from the thread that ties us to our ancient ancestors. We all possess the instincts that we share with all other animals, yet those instincts have been allowed to fade and be buried under the artificial environments of our cities and the whirlwind lives we lead. Kirkland's methods of teaching allow those natural senses to surface once again, and in the process many find that they have a richer view of Nature and feel more connected to and at peace within a natural setting.Photo:Thank you to our guest photographer, who took this image of Kirkland.

As a boy, Kirkland was attracted to outdoor pursuits, and joining Boy Scouts was his first leg up on gaining the skills necessary to safely and enjoyably spend time in wilderness areas. He carried with him a thirst for knowledge about past and primitive times, and once in University settled on studying Anthropology and Archaeology. He then embarked on a career as a Park Ranger in the Kootenays in British Columbia, a job that was to last for 20 years and provide the perfect opportunity to daily hone his Wilderness skills. His first wife was a Park Naturalist, and passed on to him her knowledge of the wild plants and their uses. More "education" came his way during his time as a Ranger, when Kirkland also began to serve as a Deputy Conservation Officer. It became necessary for him to work out how to become one with the animals…a participant of the wild community and not an invader. He was active in 4 Grizzly Bear Studies, and became an expert at tracking animals and entering into their spaces without alarming them. The more aware he became of his surroundings and the more able he was to integrate within his surroundings, the better he was at having successful outcomes with animals, even during challenging circumstances.

Ten years ago Kirkland took his passion for Wilderness Survival Skills further. He enrolled in several Primitive Skills Courses, some local and some in the United States. It was at this point that he began to feel the need to pass on some of the valuable information he had to share and to help others to grow in their abilities to partake of an environment that for many is perceived as hostile, frightening and something to be viewed from an arm's distance. Since the late 90's he has had his own Wilderness Awareness School (Wild Incorporated), and has been involved teaching children and youth over the summer period, giving bow making courses, teaching Women's Survival courses and the more recent teaching at Mountain Trek. For the past year, he has also been employed as a youth support worker in Nelson.

The father of 5 boys (his youngest, a 6 year old, is coming along well with his tiny bow!) Kirkland's aim is to offer to as many people as he can the skills necessary to gain confidence in wilderness areas. Through confidence and understanding comes the desire to save and protect, and with wilderness areas ever more threatened it is a noble and needed goal. To fall in love with Nature is to be given an opportunity to see the "big picture", and to be able to walk in a natural setting with mindful intent and minimal disturbance is to feel forever changed.