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| MORE ABOUT BACKCOUNTRY FOUND . . . Backcountry Found's mission is to provide an outstanding escape from urban life while promoting environmental awareness, conservation and self-discovery through the conduct of custom and preplanned guided backcountry- backpacking trips in America’s most spectacular National Parks and Forests. [More on Backcountry Found's LEAVE NO TRACE Ethic] Backcountry Found was formed in 2004 in order to provide the type of backpacking trips that currently seem unavailable. My goal, in all of my trips, is to provide a deluxe backpacking experience where freeze dried meals and obsolete gear are things of the past. [More on Meals] My goal is to take all the guess work out of your outdoor vacation planning by providing a one stop location for quality gear, professional guides, gourmet cuisine and numerous destinations in places like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and the Big Island of Hawaii. Backcountry Found provides both custom or private backpacking trips and prescheduled backpacking trips for individuals, groups and families The prescheduled trips have a pre-set date, location and route. All the work is done for you. All you have to do is sign up individually or with a friend. Spaces are first come, first serve. Our custom trips are built specifically to suite a group or family. You pick the date! You pick the Group! You pick the location! Our custom trips are great for business or corporate team building, family vacations or just a group of friends looking for some adventure. Backcountry Found also provides in dept Wilderness Survival Skills Workshops for people interested in learning how to survive in the wilderness or simply just looking for learn more about backpacking and the outdoors. The Workshops include an actual Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification and includes topics on Land Navigation, Fire Starting, Water Creation & Purification, Eating Off the Land, Backpacking and Gear Essentials. Finally, Backcountry Found provides full partial and custom backpacking gear rental packages both on the trips guided by Backcountry Found and for individual trips located in or near the San Francisco Bay Area. BACKCOUNTRY FOUND OBJECTIVES . . . 1. Provide quality exciting adventures and vacations in the great outdoors. At Backcountry Found our goal is to ensure that every participant consistently receives an amazing vacation where they can escape civilization and truly discover the great outdoors in the hands of experienced and knowledgeable guides. 2. Improved environmental awareness and self- discovery through experience. Backcountry Found is a small business aimed at improving the environment one person at a time. Ideally, each person that participates in a BF trip receives an invaluable experience where they are educated and even humbled by nature’s vastness and beauty. By participating in these trips, each individual must actually practice concepts integral to conservation and ecology. This hands on approach to environmental awareness provides an educational experience that goes much deeper than anything that can be learned by reading a book or attending a lecture. In the end, this improved awareness is brought back to urban life and is hopefully incorporated into their daily life. To aid in application of these principles, our goal is to empower each participant by both pushing them to their physical and mental limits and by demonstrating that they can be self-sufficient and survive in the wilderness. 3. Educate about and help preserve our National Parks. While participating in these trips, each participant can either discover or rediscover the splendor of our National Parks. Traveling through our National Parks is one of the best ways to learn about them and the essential need for their preservation. |
Eden Slezin - Owner and Lead Guide
At an early age I knew I wanted a career that revolved around my
passion for the outdoors. To make this a reality, I started by getting a
Bachelors of Science degree in Botany from the University of California
at Davis (UCD) in 1997. Following college, I tried a number of jobs
that allowed me to discover a path that was right for me. I worked in
laboratories, greenhouses, and even door-to-door canvassing to
promote environmental participation. Eventually though, I opted to
discover myself and the world as a United States Marine Corps
Intelligence Officer.
In 2004 it was time to move on and I chose to focus on two things that
had remained constant throughout all my life: my passion for
backpacking and the environment. Whether it was alone, leading
groups of my friends and family or leading a platoon of Marines, I
always found perspective and solace in the backpacking and the great
outdoors. Backcountry Found is the manifestation of my passion and
represents my desire to share my deep respect and knowledge of the
intrinsic value of nature and the environment.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR for the
professional rescuer, Food Safety Handler
Hobbies: Triathlons, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking,
Personal Training
Contact Eden: eden.slezin@backcountryfound.com
At an early age I knew I wanted a career that revolved around my
passion for the outdoors. To make this a reality, I started by getting a
Bachelors of Science degree in Botany from the University of California
at Davis (UCD) in 1997. Following college, I tried a number of jobs
that allowed me to discover a path that was right for me. I worked in
laboratories, greenhouses, and even door-to-door canvassing to
promote environmental participation. Eventually though, I opted to
discover myself and the world as a United States Marine Corps
Intelligence Officer.
In 2004 it was time to move on and I chose to focus on two things that
had remained constant throughout all my life: my passion for
backpacking and the environment. Whether it was alone, leading
groups of my friends and family or leading a platoon of Marines, I
always found perspective and solace in the backpacking and the great
outdoors. Backcountry Found is the manifestation of my passion and
represents my desire to share my deep respect and knowledge of the
intrinsic value of nature and the environment.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR for the
professional rescuer, Food Safety Handler
Hobbies: Triathlons, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking,
Personal Training
Contact Eden: eden.slezin@backcountryfound.com
_________________________________________________
Ashley Eagle-Gibbs - Guide
I have been backpacking for the past
10 years and camping even longer. I
deeply enjoy the outdoors and
traveling. I graduated from the
University of Puget Sound in 2004 with
a B.A. in Comparative Sociology, as
well as minors in French and
Environmental Studies.
Before working with Backcountry
Found, I had previously guided
university trips throughout Washington
State. I have received training in
Advanced Alpine hiking (mountain
safety, mountaineering, self-arrest
technique and snow camping),
Outdoor Leadership Experience and
Experiential Education.
Certifications: Wilderness First
Responder (WFR), CPR for the
professional rescuer
Hobbies: Snowboarding, Rock
Climbing, Mountain Biking, Running,
and Sailing.
I have been backpacking for the past
10 years and camping even longer. I
deeply enjoy the outdoors and
traveling. I graduated from the
University of Puget Sound in 2004 with
a B.A. in Comparative Sociology, as
well as minors in French and
Environmental Studies.
Before working with Backcountry
Found, I had previously guided
university trips throughout Washington
State. I have received training in
Advanced Alpine hiking (mountain
safety, mountaineering, self-arrest
technique and snow camping),
Outdoor Leadership Experience and
Experiential Education.
Certifications: Wilderness First
Responder (WFR), CPR for the
professional rescuer
Hobbies: Snowboarding, Rock
Climbing, Mountain Biking, Running,
and Sailing.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Destinations for guiding and personal backpacking include Napali
Coast State Park, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Yosemite NP, Mt.
Whitney, Sequoia NP, Channel Islands NP, San Gorgonio Wilderness,
Mt. Rainier, Grand Staircase Escalante, Zion NP, Dark Canyon
Wilderness, Grand Canyon NP, Havasu Falls, Lake Powell, Death
Valley NP, Bob Marshall Wilderness, High Uintas Wilderness, Espiritu
Santos NP (Mexico), Banff NP (Canada), Vulcan Tajumulco
(Guatemala), Baltoro Glacier/Concordia (Pakistan) and Fiordland NP
(New Zealand).
I am also a certified sailor, with experience in Southern California, Tahiti
and the Virgin Islands.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR for the
Professional Rescuer
Hobbies: Astronomy, triathlons, rare palm trees
Coast State Park, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Yosemite NP, Mt.
Whitney, Sequoia NP, Channel Islands NP, San Gorgonio Wilderness,
Mt. Rainier, Grand Staircase Escalante, Zion NP, Dark Canyon
Wilderness, Grand Canyon NP, Havasu Falls, Lake Powell, Death
Valley NP, Bob Marshall Wilderness, High Uintas Wilderness, Espiritu
Santos NP (Mexico), Banff NP (Canada), Vulcan Tajumulco
(Guatemala), Baltoro Glacier/Concordia (Pakistan) and Fiordland NP
(New Zealand).
I am also a certified sailor, with experience in Southern California, Tahiti
and the Virgin Islands.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR for the
Professional Rescuer
Hobbies: Astronomy, triathlons, rare palm trees
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Thomas Richman - Lead Guide
I feel respect and reverence
for the environment come
from understanding and
experiencing nature on a
personal level. I love to share
in that journey with friends
and clients whenever
possible. With so many
beautiful and spectacular
destinations to choose from,
guiding people in the great
outdoors is a dream job.
I have guided backpacking,
kayaking and climbing trips
around the west, from groups
of 2 to 25 clients, and have
over 15 years experience in
planning and organizing
multi-day outdoor adventures.
for the environment come
from understanding and
experiencing nature on a
personal level. I love to share
in that journey with friends
and clients whenever
possible. With so many
beautiful and spectacular
destinations to choose from,
guiding people in the great
outdoors is a dream job.
I have guided backpacking,
kayaking and climbing trips
around the west, from groups
of 2 to 25 clients, and have
over 15 years experience in
planning and organizing
multi-day outdoor adventures.
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Anna Landauer - Guide
A passionate outdoor athlete, dancer, and world traveler,
Anna Landauer is committed to spreading the spirit of
adventure and exploration. Anna has been leading
backcountry wilderness expeditions in Yosemite and
around the country for over 20 years; she has worked as an
instructor and guide for organizations such as Outward
Bound, REI, Cal Adventures(UC Berkeley), Yosemite
Association, and the Yosemite Mountaineering School.
Anna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Outdoor Education and
Transformational Art as well as a Master's Degree in
Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Anna currently resides in Berkeley, CA where she maintains
her private practice and works as a freelance outdoor
educator/guide and yoga instructor. When she is not in the
mountains she can be found running, dancing or playing
with her two year old niece, Olive. Anna’s intention is to
nurture and support embodied, passionate living through
outdoor adventure, creativity, and mindfulness practices.
A passionate outdoor athlete, dancer, and world traveler,
Anna Landauer is committed to spreading the spirit of
adventure and exploration. Anna has been leading
backcountry wilderness expeditions in Yosemite and
around the country for over 20 years; she has worked as an
instructor and guide for organizations such as Outward
Bound, REI, Cal Adventures(UC Berkeley), Yosemite
Association, and the Yosemite Mountaineering School.
Anna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Outdoor Education and
Transformational Art as well as a Master's Degree in
Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Anna currently resides in Berkeley, CA where she maintains
her private practice and works as a freelance outdoor
educator/guide and yoga instructor. When she is not in the
mountains she can be found running, dancing or playing
with her two year old niece, Olive. Anna’s intention is to
nurture and support embodied, passionate living through
outdoor adventure, creativity, and mindfulness practices.
Certifications: Anna is CPR and Wilderness First Responder
certified and trained in search and rescue techniques. She is also
is a licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, certified Massage Therapist
and yoga instructor.
certified and trained in search and rescue techniques. She is also
is a licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, certified Massage Therapist
and yoga instructor.
