ABOUT

Owner and Chief Guide Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is an outdoor adventure trip leader with over 40 years of backpacking experience. Living in Santa Fe since 1989, he served the State of New Mexico for 25 years in environmental protection efforts, specializing in clean energy and mine reclamation. During this time Brian also led outings for Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center, Santa Fe Community College, and Sierra Club National Outings.

Brian is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and in CPR by the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute. He was trained in the Sierra Club’s Advanced Mountaineering program. An early life achievement was the Eagle Scout award, Boy Scouts of America.

He frequently visits the wilderness areas of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, and has also backpacked in Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, California, Washington, Alaska, and New Zealand. Brian has reached the summit of many peaks above 10,000 feet. He has also assisted with search and rescue operations. His more recent outdoor adventures have emphasized family backpacking, snowshoe/skiing overnight trips, and finding secluded camping spots in New Mexico’s beautiful high country/desert settings.

Brian is experienced in facilitating both classroom and field trip activities through his public service career. He is well-organized in his approach to deliver training, field trip, and administrative aspects of group outdoor adventures. Brian has led week-long outings for small-to-large groups, with responsibility for advance planning, outreach, budgeting, estimating supplies, obtaining government agency permits, and screening of participants. He is mindful of group dynamics, environmental impact, and safety during outings, and strives to facilitate a cohesive outdoor community. Based in Santa Fe, Brian also likes to get out with his wife, two grown-up children, and dog Fred for family hiking/backpacking/camping adventures.