 |
Guides of Southwest Trekking
 |
Ryan Mahoney
Age: 25
Education: UofA biology major
Job: Student/Lead Guide
Hobbies: Mountain biking, climbing, backpacking
Favorite Ride: Molina Basin Trail
Favorite Music: Anything with jazz roots
Favorite Quote:“Wisdom is not a path, it’s a tree” -Blueh
|
 |
Matt Nelson
Age: 31
Education/Background: Most of my education is experiential. I am a self-taught
naturalist and ethnomusicologist. I have received specialized training
from a variety of noteworthy organizations in the fields of outdoor leadership,
backcountry and alpine rescue, Leave No Trace ethics, and working with
at-risk youth in the outdoors. I learn something significant every time
I journey into Nature.
Job(s): Outdoor Education Director for Fenster School of Southern Arizona;
Director of Fenster Ranch Summer Camp, Ropes Course Facilitator for St.
Gregory College Preparatory School; Outdoor Adventure Leader for Catalina
Foothills School District; Feature Writer and Columnist for The Desert
Leaf, Tail Winds and many other outdoor publications around the Southwest;
Guide for Southwest Trekking and DiscoverTreks.
Hobbies: mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering,
camping and backpacking, traveling internationally, photography, working
with youth, drumming traditions of India and Africa, environmental service
projects.
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Baboquivari Mountains on
the Tohono O'Odham Reservation
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Grand Canyon, Arizona and
Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Desert animal you most closely relate to: mountain lion
Favorite desert plant: agave Favorite music: Hindustani Classical Music |
 |
John Heiman
Education: Life
Job: owner of Southwest Trekking
Hobbies: being a Daddy, mountain biking, hiking, spending time with Caryl
Favorite Ride: Mexico!!
Favorite music: Rock and Roll
Favorite Quote: “The true value of a human being is determined primarily
by the measure and sense in which he has attained liberation from the
self.-Albert Einstein |
 |
Dan Maloney
Age: 27
Education/Background: Message and Sports Message
Job: Message Therapist
Hobbies: Rock Climbing
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Tucson Mountain
Park
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Thailand
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Gila Monster
Favorite desert plant: Creosote
Favorite music: World Beats |
 |
Paul Menard
Age: 34
Education/Background: Life as a desert rat
Job: Jack of all trades master of fixing
Hobbies: Water sports
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Tucson Mountains
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Sky Islands
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Pack Rat
Favorite desert plant: Jumping Cholla
Favorite music: Industrial Metal |
 |
Brent
Martin
Education: University of Arizona with a masters in Wildlife fishery science
and ecology
Job: Freelance guide
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, swimming, and salt-water fishing
Favorite Hike: Temporal Canyon in the Santa Ritas
Favorite music: Rock and Roll
Favorite Quote: “This is like deja-vous all over again. -Yogi Berra |
 |
Mark
Schurke
Age: 27
Education/Background: Michigan State Univ. Park, Recreation, and Tourism
Degree
Dogsled Guide Ely MN, Whitewater Raft Guide Vail CO
Job: Southwest Trekker
Hobbies: All board sports, soccer, home improvements
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Reddington Pass
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Boundry Waters Wilderness
Northern, MN
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Coatimundi
Favorite desert plant: Any that provide me some shade
Favorite music: Anything with soul |
 |
Randy
Young
Age: 33
Education/Background: Ongoing
Job: Sculpture
Hobbies: Work is play
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Milagrosa Canyon, Catalina
Mts.
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Mexico
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Coyote
Favorite desert plant: Blue Agave
Favorite music: Johnny Cash |
 |
Lirain
Urreiztieta
Age: 28
Education/Background: U of A Anthropology,
Job: Biologist and Wilderness Guide/Naturalist
Hobbies: Playing, climbing, riding my bike
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Easy access to Sky Islands
range of life zones
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Mountains, Glacier and Oceans
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Leopard Lizard because it eats
things bigger
than itself
Favorite desert plant: Agaves
Favorite music: Improvised organic music |
 |
Trica Oshant Hawkins
Age: 46
Education/Background: B.S. Wildlife Ecology, High School Science Ed. Certification,
Ocean and River Expedition Guide, Education Director of Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary, Field Biologist, Environmental Education
Job: Education Director, Environmental Education Exchange
Hobbies: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Tracking, Soccer, Tennis, Kayaking
(sea
and white water), SCUBA and free diving, birding
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: I love running the Tucson
Mt. Park trails.
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Any wilderness! I prefer
open vistas to deep
woods. I also love the ocean.
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Canyon wren.
Favorite desert plant: Hyptis emoryii - Desert Lavender
Favorite music: Mostly acoustic guitar but I like folk, classical, bluegrass,
rock, come
on... it's all good! |
 |
Joe Bickle
Education: Western Connecticut with a masters in environmental science
Job: Adult education program at Pima Community College
Hobbies: hiking, backpacking , kayaking, construction, and nature photography
Favorite Hike: Mt. Ian from the Summit of Mt. Wrightston
Favorite music: Blues, country blues, folk, and bluegrass
Favorite Quote: “Life is like a fried egg, keep your sunny side
up.-Mr. Natural |
 |
John Norris
Age: 55
Education/Background: USAF
Job: Retired (Raytheon)
Hobbies: Running, Hunting, Camping, Back Packing, Exercise
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: "The Arizona Trail
"
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: White Mountains
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Coyote
Favorite desert plant: Saguaro
Favorite music: XM RADIO, all of it!! |
 |
Jason Meininger
Downhill
1st Angel Fire NM, MSC, sport men June 10,2001
1st Blast The Mass CO, MSC, Expert 25-29
NM State Champion, 2001
22nd Deer Vally UT, NCS, Expert 25-29 July 1, 2001
25th Mammoth CA, NCS, Expert 25-29 July 22, 2001
Dual Slalom
3rd Blast The Mass CO, MSC, Expert July 28,2001
4th Iron Horse Classic Durango, CO, MSC sport men May 27, 2001
5th Angel Fire NM, sport men June 10, 2001 |
 |
Chris
Gould
Age: 43
Education/Background: U of A & NAU Degree in Geography, Arizona born
and bred,
Professional Photographer
Job: Mortgage Broker, Free-lance Photographer
Hobbies: Photography, Racing road bikes, Being with my Kids
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Mt. Lemmon
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Flagstaff, Sedona, South
America Mountains
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Gila Monster
Favorite desert plant: Saguaro Cactus
Favorite music: Psychedelic Rock and Roll |
 |
Derk Kelly
Age: 24
Education/Background: Degree in Economics and Sociology Univ. of Virginia
Job: Fitness Director
Hobbies: Running, Playing John Madden Football
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Reddington Road
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Flatirons outside Boulder,
CO
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Road Runner
Favorite desert plant: Cholla because I find it funny to watch people
get stuck
Favorite music: Anything LOUD! |
 |
Caroline
LaBarre
Road
1st ASU Team TT, collegiate women - March 10, 2001
1st Superior RR, SW conference RR championship, collegiate women –
March 31, 2001
1st Vuelta de Bisbee Stage One, Cat IV women - April 27-29, 2001
1st Vuelta de Bisbee Stage Two, Cat IV women - April 27-29, 2001
Dual Slalom
1st Iron Horse Classic MSC, sport women - May 27, 2001 Cross Country
1st 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, 5 person coed – February 17 &
18, 2001
1st Hermosillo, Sonora CECMES, women – February 25, 2001
1st Hermosillo, Sonora CECMES, women – May 6, 2001
Downhill
1st Sea Otter Classic, beginner women – March 24, 2001
1st Chile Challenge MSC, sport women – June 10, 2001
1st Blast the Mass, MSC, sport women – July 29, 2001
Favorite Quote: Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC) |
 |
Caryl Clement
Age: 50
Education/Background: Horticulture Masters in Landscape Architecture U
of A
Job: Designer
Hobbies: #1 Harrassing Johnny
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Aspen Loop; Santa Catalina
Mts.
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Yukon Territories
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Harris Hawk/Raven
Favorite desert plant: Datura meteloides, Scared Datura
Favorite music: Rock n' Roll |
 |
Nichole Heiman
Age: 24
Education/Background: Psychology Degree Univ. of Virginia
Job: Hostess by day Super Hero by night
Hobbies: Running, Yoga, Drinking Lattes
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Cochise Stronghold
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Salt River Canyon
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Jack Rabbit
Favorite desert plant: Prickly Pears
Favorite music: Anything I can rock out to |
 |
Bill
Peachey
Age: 59
Education/Background: U of A Bachelor of Science in Geology
Job: Science Guy at Colossal Cave State Park
Hobbies: Anything to do with caves
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Rincon Mountains Happy
Valley Trail
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: South of Tucson: Santa Ritas,
Cinega Creek,
Huachucas
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Lesser-Long Nosed Bat
Favorite desert plant: Saguaro Cactus
Favorite music: Celtic |
| |
Charlie Kane
Chalie Kane has been utilizing native southwestern plants medicininally
for the last decade. As a young boy he was first introduced to plant
usage through his grandfather who was a backwoodsman – “My
grandfather, my brother and I would collect wild cresses and onions together.
His favorite plant for treating poison ivy rashes we occasionally got
from tromping around was Jewwlweed. He knew all of the trees, during
the winter and summer alike.” The seeds that were planted
from Charlie’s boyhood would later play a pivotal role in his life
path. As a young adult Charlie discovered how plants can be powerful
tools for healing, first by seeing the effects in his own body, then seeing
it in otheres.Later, through working with locakl herbalist, including
studies at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine and applying himself
in self study, Charlie developed a pratical hands on and effective style
of herbalism. |
 |
Kyle
Ward
Age: 23
Education/Background: Student at Pima Community College, Training to be
a
Professional Cyclist
Job: Janos at Westin La Paloma
Hobbies: Cycling, Acting/Modeling, Hanging out with friends
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Gates Pass and Saguaro
National Park East
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Europe
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Jack Rabbit and all other creatures
that jump
Favorite desert plant: All forms of Cacti
Favorite music: Anything |
 |
Noah Barker
Age: 19
Education/Background: U of A Near Eastern Studies Major
Job: Full-time Student
Hobbies: Cycling, Playing Drums, Anything Outdoors
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: 50 Year Trail
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Worldly Travels
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Scorpion being a Scorpio
Favorite desert plant: Cholla Cactus
Favorite music: Anything Heavy and a side of everything else |
 |
Joey Delgado
Age: 36
Education/Background: BSBA Accounting U of A
Job: Sales Representative, IBM
Hobbies: Running, Biking, Hiking, Mtn Biking, Road Biking, Kayaking, Chess,
Reading
Books, and Travel
Favorite trail/place to explore around Tucson: Milagrosa Trail
Favorite place to explore outside of Tucson: Little villages outside of
Mexico City
Desert animal you most closely relate to: Road Runner
Favorite desert plant: Ironwood Tree
Favorite music: 80's Alternative |
 |
Tom
VanVessem
7 years as a Boy Scout in a very active troop and Explorer Post.
Hiked extensively throughout New England including portions of the Appalachian
Trail in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Attained Eagle Scout at age 14.
Attended Mountaineering School at Jenny Lake, Wyoming and
climbed the Grand Teton Peak, at age 14.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering
Master of Science Degree in Control Systems
Granted Two Patents
24 year resident of Tucson. I have hiked throughout
Arizona. I live adjacent to Sabino Canyon and hike the trails of
the front range of the Santa Catalinas regularly.
Hiking, back packing, canoeing in a dozen states,Mexico
and Canada, A professional mountaineering/trekking guide since 1977 |
 |
Joanne Alegria
"Adventure is in my blood.”
24 years of white water rafting, trekking, kayaking, skinning and cycling
around the world. Bicycling is my latest passion. Winning
26 medals including 14 gold in 5, 10 and 20K local, state and national
races. Years of competitive speech tournaments. |
|
