NICOLE JURASKY

Nicole is our lead WHOA GAL (aka Madame GAL) who preps all our GALS and gets them adventure ready. (She also holds the WHOA GAL record for Kili summits!) She grew up in Southern California where she spent most of her time reading, and daydreaming about traveling. When she was in high school she convinced her family to start hosting foreign exchange students, and that was when her love of exploring foreign cultures was cemented. Nicole's work in the hospitality industry took her to Colorado, where she developed a passion for hiking, that eventually led her to hike Kilimanjaro with WHOA, and the rest was history, she has worked with WHOA ever since. When she's traveling with WHOA, you can usually find her speaking Swahili with the guides and porters, or starting a dance party around every corner. Nicole splits her time in the United States and Tanzania, but no matter where she is in the world, she likes to find local dive bars where she can get some good food and make a few new friends.

HOME BASE:  Arusha, Tanzania

ANIMAL ALTER EGO:  Bear, relentless in the pursuit of food

THEME SONG:  Hold On by Wilson Phillips

HIDDEN TALENT:  Conversational in American Sign Language and Swahili

FAVORITE QUOTE:  “Awesome things will happen today if you choose not to be a miserable cow”

TRISH ADAMS

WHOA GAL Trish is New Jersey born and raised (#Springsteen #Bagels #WhatExit).  She's from Sussex County, the little known country part of Jersey where bears will come into your garage and make a picnic with your leftovers.  Everyday was an adventure back home with her mom, 5 siblings and dad who wasn't afraid to drive a plow onto the lake to clear snow so they could play hockey.  It's where she learned that the more things don't go as planned, the better the story will be, so just go with it! She now lives right outside of NYC working as a software developer and also volunteers as a teacher for a Girls Who Code club at a Manhattan High School.  She teaches programming; the girls teach her the latest trends in SnapChatting. She keeps busy by playing soccer, floor hockey, and planning for the annual Jersey Wakeoff.  Trish loves a good outdoor travel adventure and is totally at home on the mountains. Her fellow hikers on Kilimanjaro quickly learned Trish isn't usually the loudest person in the crowd, but if you catch a seat next to her in the dinner tent, she'll keep you laughing.  

HOME BASE:  Hoboken, New Jersey

DREAM ADVENTURE:  One with my family!

HIDDEN TALENT:  Hula-hooping...with a record time of 27 minutes

THEME SONG:  The entire discography of Eric Church

FAVORITE QUOTE:  This quote reminds me of a lot of things, one being Kilimanjaro and how we all get to the top. “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be...This is the inter-related structure of reality.”  – Martin Luther King Jr. in Letter from Birmingham Jail

RETHA CHARETTE

Retha is one of our Lead GALs and Adventure Managers. She grew up in Massachusetts and lived throughout New England before building a house in the Green Mountains of Vermont with her guy. Her love of the outdoors and all things girl power were set in stone when she joined the Girl Scouts at age 5. Outside of teaching her how to make the perfect s’more, Girl Scouts instilled in her the idea that girls can accomplish anything. It’s safe to say she’s been smashing stereotypes and raising hell from a very young age. From her former career as a Roller Girl, to being a Camp Director, an Outdoor Educator, and a member of her local Lions Club, Retha is a positive force in her community. She is a self-proclaimed purveyor of smiles, outdoor junkie and lover of ice cream. Retha’s love of travel inspired her to start roamingnanny.com to help women find adventure from the everyday to the epic. In 2020 she sectioned hiked the Long Trail in Vermont, which got her addicted to trail life. As a result, Retha thru hiked the 2,193 mile Appalachian Trail in 2021, her most epic adventure yet.

HOME BASE:  Southern Vermont

ANIMAL ALTER EGO:   Sasquatch (I think I’m bigger then I actually am)

THEME SONG:  Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

DREAM ADVENTURE:  Hiking the Camino de Santiago

Elizabeth Quillahuaman

Elizabeth is WHOA’s lead mountain guide in Peru. She was born in Chinchero Cusco, Peru, and in her early years, attended elementary and high school at the college of Inca Tupac Yupanki in Chinchero where learned her first language, Quechua, the language of the Incas, followed by Spanish. At an early age she developed a special interest in exploring the mountains, learning as much as she could about the native plants, animals and local customs. She loved learning about the plants that local people use to make medicines, shampoos, and dyes for textiles. She also grew up taking care of her grandparents’ crops and livestock by helping with planting, harvesting, and feeding and tending to the animals.

After school, Elizabeth went to Cusco for university, and there, she learned English and earned a degree in Tourism and Administration. After graduation, she worked for 10 years as a tour guide, leading hundreds of groups to Machu Picchu and in the Andes Mountains. Safety is always the highest priority, so Elizabeth has extensive training in first aid and CPR, as well as other skills needed for hiking adventures. Now, Elizabeth feels fortunate to own and manage her own trekking company, Mountain Gods Peru. She loves to share her knowledge of local customs, history, and culture with travelers from around the world. She is proud of her country and heritage, and will always make sure that all her guests will have an unforgettable trip to Peru.

HOME BASE: Chinchero, Cusco, Peru

DREAM ADVENTURE: Travel with my husband all over the world.And to learn more how to deliver a first-class service to passionate travelers.

HIDDEN TALENT: I can spend an entire day in the mountains watching the sky and of course drinking wine without anyone bothering me.

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK: Dark chocolate and Japanese cheesecake

Björg Árnadóttir

WHOA Iceland lead guide Björg started her working life as a nurse but early on in her career got an incurable interest in the outdoors so she turned her nursing into wilderness nursing. She went for her MBA in 2004-2006 and attended guiding school thereafter which was followed by two years of training to become a search and  rescue team member. A previous runner and semi athlete, Björg has turned to downhill mountain biking which she loves. Björg says she’s still trying to figure out her new lifestyle so has plunged herself into various endurance sports like cross country skiing, mountain biking, and swimming. Björg is a force to be reckoned with, and she leaves an impression on all who cross her path. She can’t wait to show you her beautiful country that she is so proud to call home.

HOME BASE: Reykjavík, Iceland

DREAM ADVENTURE: Mountain biking, mountain biking, mountain biking :) - and hiking wherever in the world with a dip into the sea afterwards and celebrate with a good glass of wine.

HIDDEN TALENT: I try to make my talents visible for everybody!

FAVORITE TRAIL SNACK: Berries picked off the Earth in Iceland

MEGANNE RADWAY

Our WHOA GAL Meganne was born in Connecticut but escaped to the bigger mountains and rivers of Maine in 2011. Growing up, Meganne was encouraged by her parents to be anything she dreamed of being. After a childhood of hiking, boating, fishing, snowboarding, and summer camp, Meganne pursued a degree in adventure based tourism. She has spent little time at a 9-5 job since! Meganne’s life in Maine has brought her to many exciting jobs including a white water raft guide, bartender, and Outward Bound Instructor. Her passions lay in nature and teaching and she finds ways to incorporate them both in professional and recreational ways. When she is not working she can be found cuddling with her dog, catching up on shows, bike riding, running, or attempting to learn new crafts like knitting or felting.

HOME BASE:  Newry, Maine

ANIMAL ALTER EGO:  Chocolate Lab puppy (gets really excited and exerts all its energy, loves to eat but quickly, really good at napping)

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK:  Dried Mango (unsweetened) or chocolate…depends on how I’m feeling

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” I found this written on a friends’ sea kayak and it has stuck with me.

RANDO FACT: I own over 15 Nalgene water bottles. Most are layered with stickers from places I’ve traveled. I have retired some that are wearing out and the stickers can’t be replaced.

MEGAN KENNEDY

WHOA GAL Megan was born and raised in northern NJ and was lucky enough to have a family with whom she experienced an awesome array of adventures — from hiking and camping near home, to horseback riding on a dude ranch in Colorado, to exploring castles in Scotland and Germany, to swimming with dolphins in Hawaii. From this, her love of travel was born. Nearly 40 countries and countless memories later, it's safe to say the travel bug is here to stay. A marketer by day, geography nerd and fantasy vacation planner by night, Megan is known for her love of maps, cider, and live music. She has found an amazing camaraderie with the women of WHOA Travel and is looking forward to more adventures (and more laughs) to come!

HOME BASE:  New York, New York

ANIMAL ALTER EGO: A bird, so I can just fly anywhere whenever I want to!

DREAM ADVENTURE: Taking a year to do a round-the-world trip and just travel everywhere. The world is so enormous and has so many amazing and beautiful things I want to experience. 

HIDDEN TALENT: I can name all the countries of the world, including their capitals, and show you where they are on a map. I've got almost all their flags down as well. #geographynerd

THEME SONG: Mmmbop. Yup :)

LINDSAY AMUNDSEN

WHOA GAL Lindsay is a proud Canadian prairie girl who grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. With a background in social justice, she works to recruit and retain underrepresented groups in construction with a goal of a more inclusive and diverse industry. Lindsay’s favorite activities include witty banter, personal growth, connecting with people, learning what makes people tick, wine, and of course daydreaming and planning her next international travel destination! She says summiting Mount Kilimanjaro with WHOA was the most challenging thing she's ever experienced physically and mentally, yet also, the most rewarding. The mountain guides nicknamed her “mboyoyo” (which means “talking a lot/chatty” in Swahili) because she was always goofing off and laughing with everyone. Her talkative and outgoing nature has been getting her into trouble as far back as elementary school. Some things never change...and we're glad about that!

HOME BASE: Quebec, Canada

DREAM TRIP: Everywhere! My latest obsessions are Spain, India, Japan, Brazil, Norway and all of the Caribbean islands

HIDDEN TALENT:  I can spend an entire day in bed watching Netflix guilt free

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” - Anaïs Nin

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK: mixed nuts, dried fruit, turkey jerky and fuzzy peaches (Canadians will know what these are!)

NICOLA BAILEY

WHOA GAL Nicola grew up beach side in Australia, where her backyard was a jungle and vacations were spent camping amongst the multitude of terrifying and deadly Australian animals. Her first trip off the continent at 20 landed her in India where she was greeted with a healthy dose of culture shock followed by what has since become a life long love of travel, adventure and different cultures. Before becoming a Photographer, she spent years leading fundraisers on sponsored charity challenge trips to places like Nepal, Pakistan, Romania... Then after moving into photography, she continued to travel for work, documenting the work of international human rights organizations worldwide. Close to 70 countries later, her thirst for visiting new places and meeting new people doesn't end. 

HOME BASE: Brooklyn, New York & Sydney, Australia

HIDDEN TALENT: Moving her little toes in isolation to the others, riding my bike hands free, and speaking Spanish

DREAM ADVENTURE: Horse riding through Mongolia, staying in yurts and visiting vast barren landscapes

SIGNATURE DANCE MOVE: My ex used to claim I look like a kangaroo when I dance. I still don't really know what they were referring to, but I'll take it as a compliment!

JENNIFER HABEEB

WHOA GAL Jen, aka Bibi, grew up near Scranton, PA (yup, home of The Office). Sandwiched between two athletic brothers, Jen became an athlete too, taking up basketball, track, cheerleading and dance. To this day, her energy has not let up! She won’t admit to being a runner, but she’s got 7 marathons under her belt, and she’s hiked and danced around the world with WHOA from India to Kilimanjaro to Mount Elbrus (that's right, she's conquered two of the Seven Summits)! Traveling, connecting with other cultures and exploring the world’s natural beauty is Bibi’s #1 passion - she's at 40 countries and counting. Even when she’s not on the move, she’s still moving as a group fitness instructor. Most importantly, Jen is a proud Social Worker, empowering and advocating for the most vulnerable populations.  She earned a master’s degree from UPENN’s School of Social Policy & Practice and currently works as a Healthcare Consultant assisting Hospitals and Long Term Care facilities navigate systems and implement practices for better patient outcomes. Jen is all about women supporting women making her a perfect addition to the WHOA family!

HOME BASE: Hoboken, New Jersey

FAVORITE QUOTE: “There is nothing permanent except change”– Heraclitus

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK: Chocolate and anything with caffeine

DREAM ADVENTURE: Eating and hiking my way around Japan (and making a stop by the Pug Cafe) 

SARAH CORNES

WHOA GAL Sarah grew up on her parents' farm in Northern England, where she spent most of her time outside, riding horses, windsurfing, white-water rafting and skiing. Needless to say, her thirst for adventure kicked in at a young age and has stuck ever since. After graduating from university, where she studied Textiles and Fashion Design, she went on a road trip around the USA. Experiencing the vast national parks was when her love affair with hiking and mountains really began (and is still going strong)! After that, there was no stopping her and since then, she has climbed mountains in Indonesia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Morocco and many more. Her dream job brought her across the pond from London to the East Coast, where she designs and lives in Brooklyn, NY. This move is what led her to find WHOA and hike Kilimanjaro for the first time in 2017. At the weekends she is either hiking the gnarly trails of the East Coast or swooshing her way down the mountains skiing. You'll always find Sarah armed and ready with her camera, doing her best to capture that magic moment. Sarah's happy place is up on a mountain, so look for a big smile and the sound of laughter and you'll find her!

HOME BASE:  Brooklyn, New York

DREAM ADVENTURE: Hiking in Patagonia and exploring Antarctica

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK:  Jaffa Cakes - a 90s British favorite. A delicious combination of orange jelly, dark chocolate and sponge cake. Try them, you'll like it!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” –Jack Kerouac

WHOA GAL Kim is 55 years young, and was born, raised, and lives in Burlington, Ontario Canada. Growing up, she spent her summers outdoors in Southampton, Ontario, and was the only girl there who could put a crawfish on a hook! Kim wouldn’t have described herself as an active person until her mid-30s when she took up running. Now she loves triathlons, and has several 8 - 9 hour adventure races and half Ironmans under her belt! Just a few years ago, at the age of 51, she rode her bike halfway across Canada to raise money for a friend who had cancer. It took her a month, riding about 120 km a day, but she did it, and ended up raising $44k! Kim has been married for 29 years and has two beautiful daughters who are her pride and joy. She currently works for the Halton Police at the Central Lock up facility (better known as the Drunk Tank), but when she grows up she wants to be a grandma more than anything! When she’s not training for her next big adventure, you can find her training her 5 year old retriever, Brody, to be a therapy dog for victims of assault. Kim is the mastermind and GAL leading our Wise and Wondrous Women of WHOA Kilimanjaro Adventure! Needless to say, she’s a force of nature, and just the type of energy you want by your side on the mountain.  

HOME BASE: Burlington, Ontario

HIDDEN TALENT: I can recite, verbatim, the entire Calgon Laundry Detergent commercial from over 35 years ago! I also believe with all my heart that I really am a good singer, and I’m happy to sing with anyone who needs a singing partner (much to my families chagrin)!

ANIMAL ALTER EGO: Dolphin, an animal that always looks like it’s smiling and has a loud laugh!

THEME SONG: Holiday - Madonna (Yup, I was an 80s child all the way! From big hair, big shoulder pads, and big earrings!)

LIFE MOTTO:  Just do it! How many times do you live? Just once, so just do it!

ERICA JORGENSON

WHOA GAL Erica was born and raised in Long Beach, California where she gained an affinity for dressing up in costumes, riding bikes, eating nachos and traveling. In college, she had her first long term experience abroad, interning and studying in London and Spain. After that, she knew she had to continue to get out and see the world. She moved to Queenstown, New Zealand and worked for a ski resort and a skydive company and then went on to lead cross country camping trips across the USA, lead youth on outdoor education trips in Florida and Alabama and abroad again in Fiji and New Zealand. Her passions of combining adventure, travel and education has allowed her to experience many amazing things throughout her life including a wedding in Kenya, a Fulbright in Germany and climbing Kilimanjaro with WHOA. She continues to help college students discover their own interests and test their comfort zones by coordinating study abroad programs. Because stepping out of our comfort zones is where the magic happens and she can’t wait to do it with you!

HOME BASE: San Luis Obispo, California (but South America soon!)

THEME SONG: Cherry Bomb by The Runaways

DREAM ADVENTURE: Thru-hike the John Muir Trail, bike down the world’s most dangerous road in Bolivia, and snorkel with orcas in Norway

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK: Anything cheese related, Handi-Snacks, Cheetos, Cheez-Its, you name it

CELEBRITY DOPPELGANGER: Cindy Lou from How the Grinch Stole Christmas

KATHY MCCREADY

WHOA plus GAL Kathy grew up in a small town in New York, then spent a few years in DC after college before heading to Minnesota 16 years ago.  Laughing, board games, 80’s music, volleyball, kayaking and seeking fun adventures have long been her passions.  Every year, Kathy reaches for her bucket list to choose a “New Years Resolution”.  She road tripped cross country, saw the northern lights, took a hot air balloon ride, attended an improv comedy class, hiked to the turquoise waters of Havasu Falls, and embraced a solo trip to Ireland.  This year her bucket list brought her to WHOA travel to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.  The physical challenge pales in comparison to the emotional journey she encountered with the Curvy Kili Crew. With her roles an ambassador for Fat Girls Hiking MN and WHOA plus GAL, Kathy hopes to inspire other plus sized women to take that leap outside their comfort zone and believe they can do whatever they dream of!

HOME BASE: Blaine, Minnesota

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You May see me struggle but you’ll never see me quit.” 

THEME SONG: This is Me by Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman

DREAM ADVENTURE: So Many to choose from.…Exploring Slovenia, Belgium, Prague, and Banff

ANDREA DIMAIO

WHOA plus GAL Andrea was born and raised in Western New York. Andrea has always loved the outdoors and grew up camping, hiking, cycling and down hill skiing. In her 20's she found a love for international travel when she traveled around the UK for a month on her own and then to Peru to hike the Inca Trail with college friends. Over the years she's added many more European countries to that list and always has the travel bug on her shoulder. Andrea is a business owner who is changing directions, after working with dogs for the last 20 years. She’s currently starting her career as a yoga teacher and eventually a body image coach. It was an in accident in 2015 sparked a change in Andrea's perspective on how she perceived her own body and that began her body positive journey. She finally feels at home in her body and wants to share the  possibility of that feeling with others. Last year Andrea found the blog post about hiking Mount Kilimanjaro with other plus size women, and knew immediately that she had to be a part of it. Kilimanjaro had always been on her list and doing it with other women that experienced life in a body similar to hers was a no brainer. Being a part of the Curvy Kili Crew changed her life, and Andrea feels that she can truly call herself the hiker and adventurer that she always has been without having to change what her body looks like. Andrea enjoys hiking (especially with her husky), backpacking, camping, snowshoeing, cycling, kayaking and yoga...to name but a few! 

HOME BASE: Jamestown, New York

DREAM ADVENTURE: So many...currently, Iceland.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “And I said to my body. Softly. ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath. And replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.’ ”  -Nayyirah Waheed

CHELSEY COOK

Born in the woods of northern New Hampshire, WHOA GAL Chelsey spent her formative years skiing, hiking, and sleeping outside. Lucky enough to have a mother who encouraged her restlessness, Chelsey discovered solo-traveling fresh out of high school, and spent her early twenties backpacking through Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Levant. When the Army brought her to Alaska in 2015, Chelsey fell in love with the state’s endless opportunities for adventure and has since spent half the year there, guiding on Denali and in remote national parks. During the rest of the year, Chelsey can be found mountain biking in Washington, rallying her van-turned-home down desert roads in Utah, or traveling in the North Atlantic. A lover of learning, Chelsey is pursuing dual Masters’ degrees, focusing on perceptions of landscape in the north.

HOME BASE: A 2014 Promaster Van

DREAM ADVENTURE: Baffin Island, Greenland, Svalbard. Anywhere far north!

HIDDEN TALENT: Cat whisperer. If there is a cat within a half-mile radius, I will find it, I will love on it, and if it’s a stray, I will probably take it home.

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK: For high altitude, Pringles. Anywhere else? Cheese. I once brought seventeen different varieties on a trip.

VERONICA “HOAGIE” BRADBURY

From the suburbs of Philadelphia, WHOA GAL Hoagie grew up shy but goofy. Reenacting scenes from The Lord of the Rings with her sister, building forts, and eating all the best produce the Garden State had to offer. Now as a fully grown goof and no longer shy adult, Hoagie lives in Philadelphia where she is a waitress, dog walker, and birdwatcher. She loves baking and eating baked goods, refinishing old furniture, and singing in the kitchen. Aside from a few camping trips and an ill-advised cross country road trip, with her two sisters and brother in-law tightly packed in a Mazda 3, Hoagie had yet to cut her teeth as an adventurer until she completed her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2021. She got to meet so many amazing people (especially Retha!!!) and loves that her friendships and trail name have carried on after the trail! She realized how amazing she felt carrying her home on her back and spending months outside and moving at only 2.5 miles an hour. Although Hoagie is happy to be back in the city and spending time with her family, she is very excited to continue to explore and make more amazing friends.

HOME BASE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

HIDDEN TALENT: Foldable ears

FAVORITE TRAIL SNACK: Almond M&Ms that are shared

THEME SONG: Lovely Day by Bill Withers

DREAM ADVENTURE: Hiking the Camino de Santiago

LILLY BLEVIN

WHOA GAL Lilly lives in Wilmington, Delaware. Being central to many major cities, mountains, and beaches, Lilly jumps at any chance to leave her tiny state to explore new trails, take in gorgeous scenery, and eat her way through new places up and down the east coast. All of this is made possible by her teaching career and having summers off! Lilly’s first big adventure was a solo trip to Kenya, Africa in 2019. There she spent her days teaching in a rural community school and her weekends hiking and exploring. This ignited a fire in her to continue her travels and see all that the beautiful world has to offer. She joined WHOA in our Peru Adventure in 2021 where she hiked the Salkantay, Rainbow Mountain and was ultimately inspired to become a GAL. In her spare time, Lilly loves to cook and explore different cultures through delicious fare. Lilly is a total people person and spends a lot of her time coordinating service events for a nonprofit that benefits her local communities. Lilly’s radiantly positive energy is contagious and she is sure to make you laugh. She is always down for a dance off so bring your A game! 

HOME BASE: Wilmington, DE

DREAM ADVENTURE: There’s no one big dream adventure. If you take enough risks and do things that scare you – that’s the dream adventure! 

FAVORITE QUOTE: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than she seeks.” – John Muir 

LIFE MOTTO: Life is about doing things that scare you the most and proving to yourself that you are bigger than fear.  

KIMBERLY BROOKSHIRE

WHOA GAL Kimberly, aka “Legs”, was born in North Carolina where she grew up scuba diving, drawing, and traveling with her family. It was during this time that she cultivated her love of traveling and exploring new places. Kimberly graduated at the top of her class from the Art Institute of Charlotte in 2009 with a Bachelor of Art degree in Fashion Marketing and Management. However, after several years in the fashion industry, she discovered that her true passion and happiness is in nature.

In 2016, Kimberly set off on a 3 month solo hike in North Carolina without ever having hiked more than 6 miles or having camped alone. That year she completed the Mountains to Sea Trail, a 1,150 mile trail in North Carolina which runs from the Tennessee/North Carolina state line to the Atlantic Ocean. But she didn’t stop there! Upon completing the trail she turned around and completed the trail again! Finishing in August of that year, Kimberly became the first woman to YoYo the MST, for total of 2,300 miles in 6 months. In 2018, she hiked 1,090 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail and summited Mt. Whitney. In 2019, she completed another 700 miles along the PCT in Northern California and Oregon. In 2020, she racked up another 200+ miles hiking the Bartram Trail, the Foothills Trail, and Art Loeb Trail. Kimberly has logged over 4,400 miles on long trails and plans to complete the last 800 miles of her Pacific Crest Trail journey this year.

When she’s not racking up miles on long trails or day hiking, Kimberly can be found exploring her newest passion, fly fishing, on the beautiful rivers in NC, Montana, Colorado, and Arizona. In her down time, she enjoys crocheting, eating Thai food, and drinking red wine on her couch. Kimberly is passionate about exploring and experiencing the beauty of trail life and the outdoors. She fully embraces her time in nature as it fills her soul and brings her absolute happiness.

Kimberly recently moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and couldn’t love it more. From here she plans to continue feeding her passion for long distance hiking, traveling abroad, and anything that gets her adrenaline going.

HOME BASE: Scottsdale, AZ

DREAM ADVENTURES: Everest Base Camp and fly fishing the Kamchatka in Russia

ANIMAL ALTER EGO: Otter; playfulness, laughter, and creativity

FAVORITE SAYING: “Ka Kaw!”

ISABEL Kelly

WHOA GAL Isabel was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama where she spent the first 22 years of her life dedicated to the game of soccer. Once she graduated college and her soccer career had ended, she redirected her competitive and adventurous spirit into everything outdoors! It started with backpacking, which led her to friends that introduced her to rock climbing, which made her want to climb HIGHER (que Kilimanjaro with WHOA), which made her want to climb HARDER and get into mountaineering (que Elbrus with WHOA), which SNOWballed into SNOWboarding and so much more! When she is not on the mountain, she is living her dream as a travel nurse, moving to a new location every few months. Her zest for life and adventure inspired her to move into a self converted van with her husband, dog, and cat. Living on 4 wheels allows her to go anywhere and everywhere at anytime! She is a big believer in living your life the way YOU want to! In her downtime, Isabel can be found drinking craft beer while listening to live music (bonus points if there’s a saxophone).

HOME BASE: Where the Van Goes

DREAM ADVENTURE: Opening and Running an Animal Rescue Center

FAVORITE QUOTE: “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger"

THEME SONG: See the World - Caamp

RANDOM FACT: Can lick my elbow

MARYANNA BROWN 

WHOA GAL Maryanna Brown grew up running away from moose and competitive snowshoeing (seriously) in Palmer, Alaska - a town known for growing massive vegetables and…not much else. Vowing that she was “so over” small town life, Mary headed east for college and ended up in the even smaller, moose-infested town of Hanover, NH. The fabled Appalachian Trail ran right through campus and Mary got her first taste of backpacking on trips with the Dartmouth Outing Club. She graduated with a history degree in 2008 - the best time to look for a job. On a whim,  she skipped the light fantastic to East Asia where she taught ESL in South Korea and China. Eventually she migrated back to the PNW and fell in love with the snowy volcanoes and verdant forests of the Cascades. When she’s not wrangling mountain guides at her day job, she’s scaling snowy peaks, backpacking with her golden sidekick, Momo, or backcountry skiing aka backcountry pizza partying (#earnyourslices). Sometimes, the notoriously wet Seattle weather forces her indoors and she experiments with new vegan bakes, binges spooky podcasts, and works on her collection of short outdoor horror stories. 

HOME BASE:  Seattle, WA

DREAM ADVENTURE:  Thru-hiking the Great Divide Trail, a 700 mile rugged and very bear filled route through the Canadian Rockies. 

THEME SONG: 25 Miles - Edwin Starr 

GO-TO TRAIL SNACK:  Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets 

FAVORITE QUOTE: “There is no perfection - only life.” –Milan Kundera