Our Guides

   Mike fell in love with the outdoors when he started hiking with his dad in the countryside and mountains of Central Spain and Southeastern Turkey. Through the years, he joined the Boy Scouts, began exploring the western United States, started guiding, and ultimately founded ESC Outside.

Mike’s passion for the wild places continues to grow with every new adventure and he says, “Nature never ceases to amaze me, and I find myself most at peace when surrounded by her beauty.” Mike is a Wilderness First Responder and lives in Tucson with his wife and a menagerie of pets. When not hiking, climbing, or researching new hiking trails, he can usually be found enjoying a morning cup of coffee on his front porch or in his studio painting. 

  Meet Jade, a Tucson native with an insatiable thirst for adventure amidst
the Sonoran Desert. From her childhood explorations to her years with Americorps building hiking trails and her stint with the forest service conducting recreational surveys, Jade's love of the outdoors

runs deep.

She has a true passion for the desert, where she finds solace in hiking and exhilaration in rock climbing. For a decade, she's shared her love for exploration as a hiking guide and Wilderness First Responder, leading others through the breathtaking landscapes she knows like the back of her hand.

 Brad was raised in Southern Arizona and has developed a love and admiration for the Sonoran Desert... no two trips into our beautiful surroundings ever being the same.

An avid hiker for decades, 

Brad's passions include backpacking, adventure racing and orienteering. He has completed the John Muir and Arizona trails and enjoys frequent trips to the Grand Canyon. Brad enjoys the peace, calm and focus that comes with being on the trail. A Wilderness First Responder, Brad has guided co-workers for decades and been a professional guide for 2+ years. He is passionate about sharing the flora and fauna of our desert with others and loves meeting new friends.

 Tony prides himself on being a 'student of leadership' and outdoor education. His passion, willingness, and positive approach for experiencing the outdoors and providing unique, fun, and safe learning opportunities is more than evident when with him in the mountains. As a Wilderness First Responder and volunteer with Southern Arizona Rescue Association (SARA). His continued work with outdoor programs and organizations within marginalized communities, specifically combat Veterans and First Responders, Tony’s values and continued dedication to outdoor programming and his community are evident. When not out playing in the field, he can be found enjoying some down time with family and friends in Vail, Arizona.  

 Arizona native and lifelong explorer of the Southwest. Experienced outdoor educator, Wilderness First Responder, and guide,

12 years & counting. 

My areas of Interest include - Sonoran flora and fauna... reptiles in particular, geology, exploration of Native American history Spanish history and Western American history. Astronomy, edible plants exploring for rare succulent plants, slot canyons, big waterfalls, desolate remote places in the desert… photography and more.

For me the outdoors is a place to be curious and adventuresome for a lifetime, a place where our minds are persistently engaged by the wonders of nature.  

 Avery is an explorer and writer raised and based in Tucson, AZ. In 2021, she completed a contiguous thru-hike of the 800-mile Arizona Trail which runs the length of the state between the borders with Mexico and Utah. In addition to conducting anthropological and biological field work in Costa Rica, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and southeastern Arizona over the last several years, she has worked locally as a hiking guide since early 2022. Primarily, her interests lie in how we may cultivate clarity, creativity, and wellness by engaging with nature.