50th Anniversary Guide & Leader Summit 2019

By: Heather Howard

Heather Howard has a passion for travel writing and marketing and loves inspiring people to explore new places. She has laced up her boots for many rugged hikes, from the Scottish Highlands to Alaska, Provence to Peru. She loves the fun of group travel and her top US travel tip is to explore Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness.

Other Posts by this Author


June 4, 2019 | Adventure Experts

Seventy guides from 30 countries around the world recently made the trip to Berkeley, California for MT Sobek’s 50th anniversary Leader Summit! Over three days of fun, guides shared their knowledge and collective passion for guiding through peer-to-peer exchanges. Presentation topics included adventure heritage stories, conservation and sustainable travel goals, trip standards and hospitality excellence, and a look to the future of MT Sobek.

Along with all-star veteran guides such as Sergio Fitch Watkins, Brian Weirum, and Cathy Ann Taylor, we welcomed the next generation of leaders in adventure travel including Ayman abd-Alkareem from Jordan, US-based Theresa Soley, and Scotland’s Craig McDonald. Original Mountain Travel founder Allen Steck also joined for a special celebration of distinguished MT Sobek guides with more than 20 years’ of service under their belts.

Guides are at the heart of everything we do at MT Sobek and getting to spend time with so many of them in person is a truly special opportunity! A big thank you to every one of our wonderful guides for making the journey to be with us in our 50th year. Check out our video and gallery from the event:

John Baston (USA), Rodrigo Bahamondez (Chile), Sergio “TC” Bahamondez (Chile), Luciano Cortez (Argentina), James Kivuyo (Tanzania)
Top row: Alpha Israel (Namibia), Namgay Dorji (Bhutan), Sanjeev Chhetri (Nepal), Ayman abd-Alkareem (Jordan), Inder Dugal (India), Mesuthan Ozgen (Turkey), Innocent Mmary (Tanzania); Bottom row: Lhakpa Sherpa (Nepal), Tandin Nidup (Bhutan), Andres Bozzolo (Chile)
Irene Dié Morejon and Luis Dié (Galapagos)
Sonja Fontaine (France), Luciano Cortez (Argentina), Ian Lewis (Peru)
Sergio “TC” Bahamondez (Chile) and Luciano Cortez (Argentina)
Ayman abd-Alkareem (Jordan)
Silvia Giacon (Italy), Theresa Soley (USA), Haley Woods (USA)

Learn more about MT Sobek and our incredible guides here.