Our guides, Jake & Eryka, were fantastic. They were so friendly, caring, personable and went out of their way to make sure we had a great time and that our needs were catered for.
Eryka was our logistics person- no question too big or small- and there were lots during this COVID time. We felt safe and well cared for.
Eryka Thorley knows adventure. With Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as her childhood playground, Eryka quickly learned the draw of outdoor sports and grew up loving the challenges and adventures they entail.
She fine-tuned her appreciation for hiking, bikes, climbing and a fly rod while away at college in Montana. Skiing still topped her list, though, and starting in 2005 she added ski patrol to her list of job titles. In 2010 Eryka worked as a mountaineering guide on Mt Rainier in the Cascades of Washington. Here her love for the culture of mountains grew including the influence of two expeditions to Greenland (2011 and 2012). In 2012, Eryka’s cultural curiosity led her to graduate school at the University of Colorado Denver where she received a M.A. in Medical Anthropology with a focus on climate change communication.
In addition to raising an adorable little lady named Wynter, Eryka is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Leave No Trace Trainer.
Eryka lives to travel. Her thirst for adventure has taken her on the world’s longest kayak relay in Finland, leading dog sled expeditions in Greenland, studying health in rural Guatemala, and 75 consecutive days in a tent in the Alaskan wilderness. It is not the summit of mountains that draws Eryka to the alpine world, but the elegant dance of people and environment that she finds there.
We understand that it's nice to know who you will be exploring the trails with during your Alpinehikers adventure. My name is Eryka Thorley and I work in the Alpinehikers office as well as a guide in the Alps. Each month we will be introducing you to another member of our fantastic Alpinehikers guide staff in Europe and the Southwest....
It turns out the American fried potato craze is not unique, in fact it's a global phenomenon. People everywhere love fried potatoes and Switzerland is no exception. [caption id="attachment_8171" align="aligncenter" width="770"] A hungry hiker's dream at a restaurant in Grindelwald, Switzerland[/caption] Let me introduce to you... Rösti. Originally from the Canton of Bern, Rösti (almost rhymes with PUSH-tea, but with...
The weather of the Alps doesn't necessarily play by the rules. Long range forecasts are dodgy, areas in close proximity are extremely variable and rain showers (depending on where you are) are not unusual. Troy Haines, Alpinehikers owner and founder, and I recently sat down to discuss the complexities of weather when traveling by foot through the Alps. [caption id="attachment_8083" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]...
If Switzerland is the land of moderation, how do so many adrenaline pumping, edge of your seat activities fit within its borders? From paragliding to base jumping, glacial trails to cabled Klettersteigs, the chocolate experts of Switzerland have it all. If you're looking for an adventure-filled day in Murren, Switzerland – and paragliding, base jumping or learning the alphorn aren't...
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