Born from the Mountains
Our story began on a remote trail in the Rockies, where a chance meeting between a mountaineer and a wildlife biologist sparked a vision for a different kind of adventure company.
Our story began on a remote trail in the Rockies, where a chance meeting between a mountaineer and a wildlife biologist sparked a vision for a different kind of adventure company.
In 2009, Thomas Bergman and Dr. Elena Whitfield found themselves sheltering from the same sudden storm in a backcountry hut near Lake O'Hara. Over cups of instant coffee and freeze-dried meals, they discovered a shared frustration: adventure tourism had become either dangerously amateur or antiseptically commercial.
Thomas had spent twelve years leading climbing expeditions across four continents. Elena had dedicated her career to studying large mammal behavior in protected wilderness areas. Together, they saw an opportunity to create something that honored both the thrill of exploration and the delicate ecosystems that make such adventures possible.
Every expedition we design balances three elements that most companies treat as competing priorities: genuine adventure, ecological responsibility, and participant wellbeing. We believe these goals reinforce rather than undermine each other.
Our guides undergo rigorous training that goes beyond technical skills. They study regional ecology, Indigenous land stewardship traditions, and group facilitation techniques. The result is leadership that can respond to changing conditions while creating space for meaningful experiences.
We limit group sizes not because exclusivity sounds prestigious, but because eight participants is the maximum number that allows for both safety and genuine connection with the landscape. Larger groups inevitably become logistical exercises rather than immersive journeys.
Five percent of every booking directly supports the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Beyond financial contributions, our guides participate in citizen science programs, collecting data on wildlife sightings and trail conditions that inform conservation planning.
We also work with local Indigenous communities to ensure our operations respect traditional territories and, where appropriate, incorporate Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship into our programming.
Fifteen years in, our team has grown to include twenty-three certified guides, a dedicated logistics crew, and partnerships with lodges and outfitters across Western Canada and the Yukon. Our commitment remains unchanged: to offer wilderness experiences that transform participants while treading lightly on the landscapes that make such transformation possible.
Co-Founder, Lead Guide
Co-Founder, Conservation Director
Operations Director
Senior Guide, Yukon Operations
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