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Our Guides | Office Staff
Unsurpassed Service & Support
References Available upon Request | Staff Biographies
Our Guides Set Us Apart
Athlete, naturalist, entertainer, medic, mechanic, historian, storyteller, and chef are among the things we expect our guides to be. Often they are much more. What you can expect from The World Outdoors' guides is an acute attention to detail and a natural ability for inspiring fun, fostering camaraderie, and creating the perfect vacation for you. They're special folks whose infectious enthusiasm for people and the outdoors makes the difference between a good trip and an extraordinary one.
"The World Outdoors guides are in a word, awesome! Rather than act like typical tour guides, they treated guests like close friends and did everything they could to ensure that everyone's needs were met." S. Small, CA
"We appreciated the excellent work that your guides did, not only with regard to their knowledge and skills in the wilderness, but also their quick and excellent reading of the group dynamic. Your guides displayed a remarkable flexibility and adaptability to changing needs and situations within the group, so that everyone could have a great time." J. Sollo, VA
Safety First
We are very proud of our impeccable safety record. Our vans and equipment are travel-tested and maintained to the highest standards. All of our guides are Wilderness First Responders, a nationally recognized certification requiring 72 hours of intensive backcountry medical training. With any new activity you try, our guides provide all the instruction you'll need for a safe, enjoyable experience.
"I really appreciated the support and encouragement offered by the guides. Their patience and assistance helped stretch the limits of what I thought I was capable of." J. Gordon, CA
Your Outdoor Classroom
Learn through new experiences! Not only will you have the time of your life, you'll also discover the charm, traditions, history, and culture of the places we go while learning a thing or two about the natural world and, more than likely, yourself. Are you interested in improving your cycling efficiency? Learning the geological history of the Grand Canyon? Understanding the difference between a glacier and an icefield? Or knowing the history of the Anasazi Indians? Our guides' extensive regional knowledge will keep you entertained and informed from day one!
"An enriching as well as exhilarating experience I will relive over and over again. Thank you." Gail Marshak, NJ
Home Office - Boulder, Colorado
Our trip planning process is meticulous with no detail overlooked. The World Outdoors operates like a well-run expedition, embracing teamwork, initiative, innovation, and the commitment to succeed. We'll help you to select and prepare for the vacation that is right for you. We design all of our trips to deliver a rewarding personal experience...trips that afford you the opportunity to discover new places, learn new things and conquer new challenges in a relaxed and fun environment. .
We always appreciate it when you take the time to send us ideas, comments, and feedback. You can reach our President, Bill Marriner, directly at 800-488-8483 or billm@theworldoutdoors.com.
"Scenery to take your breath away and not a care in the world due to the miraculous behind-the-scenes planning of every detail. As much as I detest the word 'AWESOME' is the only way to describe my experience." S. Hellberg, London
"Overall, the trip was incredible. Much more than I expected! Obviously, much planning goes into these trips and The World Outdoors goes to great lengths to provide a well-coordinated trip." K. Shaw, GA
Home Away from Home
At The World Outdoors we love what we do and our friendly team's foremost goal is to make your vacation extraordinary! Perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of our company's personality is our down-to-earth approach to active travel. From the office to the field, our staff of warm, hospitable hosts pride themselves in delivering personal service and treating our guests like close friends -- ensuring everyone feels right at home!
"Great trip! We met the most wonderful people in our group. I felt after five days, I had known these people all my life." S. Tilman, MD
Unsurpassed Service and Support
The World Outdoors' first priority is serving your needs. Our desire to exceed your expectations is carried into all aspects of our trips -- from planning each day's activities and routes to ensuring your safety and comfort. Though you may not be aware of what happens behind the scenes, we are certain you will have a comforting sense of being well cared for.
On our cycling days, The World Outdoors passenger van and custom-designed supply trailer is nearby to provide a lift or a respite of cold drinks and snacks. The other guide cycles with the group, providing mechanical assistance, tips on cycling and insight into the local area.
When we hike, The World Outdoors guides generally carry all the goodies for our sumptuous backcountry picnics. You need to carry little more than a camera, water bottle and extra clothing. Whatever the activity, we go the extra mile to deliver an unforgettable experience.
"Participants travel in a comfortable van, but the majority of their time is spent getting up close with nature, not watching it pass by." Stacy Small, CA
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References are Available Upon Request
Half of our guests each year become repeat customers or were referred by a previous guest. For years we've maintained this standard, and this is the single best testimony to the quality, value and personal attention we lavish on our guests. If you haven't taken a trip with The World Outdoors, then we have hundreds of past customers who would love to tell you about their experience. Call about any of our trips and we'll be happy to refer you to a guest who's been there with us.
"I've taken three trips with The World Outdoors with a fourth one coming up. I haven't repeated with any other company -- that says it all. I've never had the same guide on any of your trips to date but they've been consistently excellent -- quite a track record!" B. Brady, MA
"I have traveled to many places and have done the 'out of the ordinary' vacations, but this is one that will be forever in my book of the best. Being in the hospitality business myself, I wanted to be taken care of, and I was in great need of a new adventure. Your staff fulfilled that." L. Dickerson, IN
Meet a few of The World Outdoors' Office and Guide Staff...
Bill Marriner. While growing up in a small Nebraska farming community, Bill first developed his love for the mountains on his family's summer vacations to the Colorado Rockies, Yellowstone and the Black Hills of South Dakota. He attended the University of Colorado in the early 1970s and spent many a weekend exploring the back roads and trails of his adopted state. Following receipt of his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1978, the Rockies were again calling and Bill returned to Boulder to pursue a career in technology. During 24 years as a chief financial officer and later CEO in the data storage industry, Bill spent much of his free time camping and hiking in the national parks of the West. In the fall of 2002, he decided to combine work with play when he acquired The World Outdoors and is now enjoying the opportunity to share his passion, knowledge and love of the West with others. Bill thinks he's found his ideal job--he's using his business background, staying physically active and traveling to some of the most beautiful and wondrous spots on earth.
Dean Barta. Spending his childhood on a farm/ranch near Lewistown, Montana, Dean grew up living and working in the great outdoors. After graduating with a business degree from Montana State University--Northern, Dean pursued the elusive college dream of "using my education in the recreation business". Dean's quest has taken him from hiking in Glacier National Park, Montana; backcountry skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho; mountain biking in Vail, Colorado; road biking in Boulder, Colorado; as well as various adventures throughout the American West. Dean has searched for lost hikers as a member of the Vail search and rescue team in Colorado, completed a 100-mile mountain bike race and loves showing new people the wonders of the world outdoors.
Johanna Healy developed an early appreciation and love for the outdoors while growing up in the Canadian Rockies. She spent her childhood in Banff and Yoho national parks. Johanna later went on to obtain a degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, in order to continue an active outdoor lifestyle. She has been a hiking guide in the Canadian Rockies for eight seasons, four of which have been spent working for The World Outdoors. Johanna loves to show people around her home turf and share her love for the wilderness.
Kyle Kubes was born and raised in Colorado and has been playing in and loving the mountains for his entire life. After receiving a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership from Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, CO, he devoted his life to travelling the world and enjoying the outdoors. Between guiding trips all over the US and in Central America, Kyle has been spending his winter off-seasons escaping the cold Colorado winters to enjoy climbing some of the finest rock in the world in the tropical beach paradises of Thailand and the Patagonian Andes of Chile and Argentina. Right now he's back in school at the University of Colorado in Boulder working on his long time goal of becoming a Physical Therapist.
Laura Bibler grew up in the Midwest, exploring the deciduous forests, canoeing the rivers, and camping under the stars. After receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Laura headed out to the Rocky Mountains where she could play all day among the mountains and pines. She moved to Colorado, and began guiding for the World Outdoors in the summer of 2004. Laura is currently studying for her Master's Degree in Education, in an effort to make the world a better place. Free time is still spent exploring the outdoors with her dog, Daisy, and snowboarding.
Sherry Malanify has been in the travel industry for 25 years, having owned and operated her own travel agency in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After her three kids grew up and left home she closed shop and moved to Boulder to get out from behind her desk. She found The World Outdoors, her new place to work and feel at home. Her goal now when she is guiding one of our trips is to help create a sense of newness, to find adventure and to help everyone feel the spirit of the outdoors. She suppports our guests in their new experiences and tries to send them home with memories, moments, and possibly some new meaning in their often busy and hectic lives, and to make new friends along the way.
Travis Brock is a Texan by the grace of God but loves the mountains too much to live there anymore. Travis studied Geology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography/Anthropology at the University of Texas in Austin. During that time his love for backpacking and climbing took hold. He has hiked 1000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, through-hiked (in one continuous trek) the 500-mile Colorado Trail, through-hiked the 750-mile Arizona Trail and hiked a handful of other long trails through out America. His somewhat neurotic obsession with climbing (rock, ice and alpine) has led Travis to many great locations in the mountains of America, Mexico, and New Zealand. Travis worked as a hiking and rafting guide in Skagway, Alaska and guided trips for the University of Texas outdoor recreation department. His incredible talent for remembering and recalling copious amounts of geology, geomorphology, ecology, forestry, anthropology and many other ologies has earned him the nickname of Talkinrocks. A self described "Natural Schpeeler", Travis will 'talk rocks" for hours (and days) at a time. When not guiding for The World Outdoors, Travis can be found rock climbing, mountaineering, telemark skiing, hiking, drinking microbrews, writing, and looking for trouble.
Mark Griffin grew up in southeastern Massachusetts and spent his teenage years traveling to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to climb mountains, canoe, and backpack. After earning a degree in Adventure Based Program Management from Lyndon State College in Vermont, he moved to Boulder, Colorado to find bigger mountains and pursue a career in the outdoors. Mark has studied everything from avalanche safety to software design, but these days he spends his time snowboarding, climbing, and traveling. His favorite part of guiding for The World Outdoors is watching his guests experience new and exciting places.
Laurie Lovedale grew up in Wisconsin and developed a love for the outdoors on her family's many camping and cross-country ski trips. She graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin--LaCrosse, and then went on to get a Masters Degree in Health Education. During her college years she spent much time biking, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. After working for 8 years in the field of Health Education, she finally succumbed to the pull of the outdoors, and quit her job. In 2005, she spent three months in Baja, Mexico on a NOLS semester, sailing, kayaking, and backpacking. She then worked as a Wilderness Trip Guide for a girls camp in Northern Wisconsin. By this time Laurie was looking for new surroundings, and decided to move to Colorado and take a guiding position with The World Outdoors in 2006. When she is not guiding, Laurie spends her time hiking the mountains, biking the flatlands, and skiing wherever she can find snow.
Tony Perelli grew up walking the forests, hunting, fishing and paddling in the sweet land of Wisconsin. Since then he has made a migration northwest to the great land of Alaska. Tony spends his free time experiencing Alaska from Homer to the Beaufort Sea and many great places in between. Tony started guiding for The World Outdoors in 2004.
Darcie Carr is a Colorado native—despite her temporary separation as a child growing up in Las Vegas. She has always enjoyed exploring the outdoors whether in the Nevada deserts or the majestic Rockies. She is a recent University of Colorado graduate with a double degree in marketing and art history as well as an international business certificate. She enjoys hiking, biking, and any other outdoor activity including traveling. She is fascinated by cultural environments as well as natural environments and looks forward to sharing the splendors of The World Outdoors adventures. Darcie is also a big fan of crossword puzzles and Jeopardy, but admits that he is good at neither.
Eric Wagner was born and raised in Colorado. He developed an early passion for wildlife viewing, fishing and exploring in the mountains. He spent most of his adoloscent years mountain biking, 4-wheeling and back-packing the Rockies. In the off season, Eric can be found snowboarding in CO or surfing in Central America. While pursuing his degree from the University of Colorado in International Affairs, Eric has explored many employment options from park ranger to bartender but feels that he has found his niche in guiding. An inquisitive person by nature, he enjoys sharing interesting facts about ecology and helping people surpass their own perceived limitations. If you have never jumped in a cold alpine lake just for the rush, Eric will be more than happy to accompany you. More than anything else, he enjoys making guests laugh and will do or say just about anything to that end.
April Hurley grew up in Southern California, became an RN with the intent to travel the world and met her husband on her first assignment. Luckily for her he is a "mountain man" and "he taught me everything I know about the outdoors". They raised their three children on family adventures throughout the West and Mexico. She loves all types of camping and hiking, especially climbing Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks, horsepacking , river rafting, and backcountry skiing. The family expeditions honed her skills for a career in the outdoor industry--such as "keep going, we're almost there" and "don't worry, it's just a little rain". Through her adventures she has studied flora, fauna, animal tracking, geology, mountian man lore, primitive skills and feeding a gourmet dinner to a bunch of hungry people in the middle of nowhere--with one pan.
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About Us
