MT Sobek Experts Reveal Their Favorite Hiking Adventures
At MT Sobek, we live and breathe adventure. Our team spends their days helping others discover the world’s most incredible trails—but when we lace up our own boots, we’re just as awed, challenged, and inspired by the wilderness as our travelers are.
In this special MT Sobek Experts Series, we asked our team to share their most unforgettable hikes—the journeys that shaped them, sparked their love for the outdoors, and continue to remind them why adventure travel is at the heart of everything we do.
Read on for stories that range from Yosemite to Nepal, Peru to Rwanda—proof that the spirit of adventure is alive and well within the MT Sobek family!
Enjoy the list below!
John Stout – MT Sobek Adventure Coordinator
Cloud’s Rest, Yosemite National Park
Why We Love This: “When I think of a life-changing hike, my mind always jumps straight to my solo backpacking trip to Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite over New Year’s Day. After successfully taking on the climb up Nevada Falls with my heavy pack and setting up my tent – the only one out there – I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. And the cherry on top was soaking up the last sunset of the year as it sunk below Half Dome, lighting up the entire Yosemite Valley.” —John S.
Join us in Yosemite with MT Sobek!>>
Katie Stoyka – MT Sobek Marketing Writer
Annapurnas, Nepal
Why We Love This: “I traveled to Nepal with my cousin who had her eye on Annapurna Base Camp. I had never backpacked. Climbing through villages and rhododendron forest, over suspension bridges and snow fields into the Annapurna Sanctuary was a life-changing experience. We didn’t make it to the top—we had to turn back at Machapuchare—but my sense of accomplishment still soared high.” —Katie S.
Preview our Nepal Annapurna Lodge-to-Lodge Trek here>>
Travis Wardell – MT Sobek Program Director, Europe & The Pacific
Eno River State Park, North Carolina
Why We Love This: “I’ve been fortunate to hike in a number of special places around the world. However, my anchor and the most important network of trails to me personally lay amdist the central North Carolina forests of Eno River State Park. Growing up with a state park as part of your backyard makes for a magical upbringing. I’ve been getting “lost” and “found” in those woods for what feels like my entire life. I’ve done some of my most important thinking there – decided to buy my first house, comprised a best man speech and took my now wife on one of our earliest dates on a midnight hike after a winter snowfall when the full moon still illuminated the way. There are many trails throughout the park, but the Dunnagan Trail Loop which spends part of its time meandering along the river bank is certainly the one I’ve enjoyed the most and remains a must visit everytime I return to my hometown of Durham, NC.” —Travis W.
Josh Kloepping – MT Sobek Program & Operations Director, North America
Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hiking, Arizona
Why We Love This: “My most memorable hike was a rim-to-rim trek across the Grand Canyon in the fall of 2021. Although I’ve completed this journey more than a dozen times, this particular trip will always stand out. On our fifth and final day, we hiked up and out of the canyon on September 11, 2021—the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Our group included several disabled veterans and Gold Star recipients. Together, we carried a 13-pound piece of steel cut from the debris of the World Trade Center, taking turns bearing its weight throughout the journey. That piece of steel represented a moment in history that forever changed their lives—an event that called them or their loved ones to serve, and in some cases, led to their injury or ultimate sacrifice.
The rim-to-rim hike is always a challenge, but witnessing the grit, strength, and determination of these hikers was truly humbling. Watching them conquer the canyon—and transform the experience into a source of healing and renewal—was something I will never forget. I feel deeply honored to have been part of it.” —Josh K.
Preview our Grand Canyon adventures here>>
Lou LaGrange – MT Sobek Custom Trip Consultant
Inca Trail, Peru
Why We Love This: “At the age of 25 I had the opportunity to hike portions of the Inca Trail in Peru.
Not having done serious hiking before then, the feeling of accomplishment upon reaching remote archeological sites with incredible vistas was revelatory. Since then, I’ve hiked multiple trails and mountains throughout the world, but upon returning to Peru recently – this time with some easier but equally rewarding hikes in the Sacred Valley – I was reminded of where my joy for hiking began.” —Lou L.
Join us in Machu Picchu>>
Tara Buffington – MT Sobek Trip Consultant
Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Why We Love This: “I consider myself incredibly lucky to live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with extraordinary hikes galore out my back door. I’ve enjoyed countless backpacking and hiking adventures locally and further afield! But when I think of the most memorable hike of my life, one trek eclipses them all: a journey to Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes in 2017 with my now-husband. Each corner we turned afforded jaw-dropping views of some of the biggest mountains in the world. It was humbling, a test of our grit, and it instantly made us feel part of something much bigger than ourselves.
I’ll never forget the adrenaline rush of crossing high suspension bridges in amazement, winding through remote villages, or seeing the resilience of the Nepalese people and the Sherpa community. We reveled at stupas and colorful prayer flags on rugged terrain, marveled at the ornate monasteries, and turned the sacred prayer wheels. The true climax of the trip came when we reached Everest Base Camp – which happened to fall on Thanksgiving Day back home. Our gratitude-filled feast looked a bit different that year – we raised a celebratory toast with the most appropriate high-altitude meal we could find: turkey jerky.
This wasn’t just a hike; it was a profound physical and soul-stirring experience – the beauty of the landscape and the deep spirituality we witnessed imprinted on us forever. It remains a core memory of our shared life and a constant source of inspiration!”—Tara B.
Join us on the Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek>>
Grace Park – MT Sobek Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
England and Wales
Why We Love This: “I’ve just returned from a MT Sobek England & Wales Lake District to Snowdonia Hiking trip. We had premier guides, plus the accommodations, and the amazing food made the trip a one of kind! Each stay was thoughtfully chosen in charming towns we could explore after our hikes. We were not offput by the weather. It added a sense of adventure to our steps. Our group was mostly solo adventurers (plus one lovely couple) and I felt so energized spending time with fun, like minded adventurers. It was my first international trip on my own.
Lake District was my favorite, with breathtaking views of the fells and lakes, that made every moment unforgettable. Wales was memorable for its castles and local people. England and Wales are such special places, filled with warm, welcoming people who made our trip feel truly magical. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!”—Grace P.
Join us in England & Wales>>
Ashley Gamble – MT Sobek Custom Trip Consultant
Annapurna Range, Nepal
Why We Love This: “Visiting Nepal had long been a dream of mine—drawn by the majesty of the Himalayas and the rich beauty of the local culture. After years of saving airline miles, I finally booked a flight and set my sights on the Annapurna Circuit. I chose it not just for its impressive mountains, but for the diverse ecosystems it crosses and the deep influence of Tibetan Buddhism throughout the region.
Before this, I’d never taken on a backpacking trek of more than three days straight. Armed with a small guidebook I picked up in Kathmandu, I set off into the unknown.
On Thanksgiving Day, I reached the highest point of the trail—Thorong La Pass at 17,769 feet—huffing, puffing, and absolutely elated and so thankful for the experience. I’d never felt more proud. After completing the Circuit, I decided to press on to the Annapurna Sanctuary, covering a total of roughly 190 miles over 20 unforgettable days.
I think of that journey often. It’s a lasting reminder of what I’m capable of when I commit fully—and how the daily worries that seem so important fade can into the background and seem so silly after just a few days surrounded by nature’s grandeur.”—Ashley G.
Preview our Nepal trips here>>
Heather Howard – MT Sobek Director of Marketing
Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland
Why We Love This: “One of my most memorable hikes was on the trails around the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. There’s something magnetic about that perfect pyramid of rock—no matter how many times you see it, it still makes you stop and stare.
What made the hiking unforgettable wasn’t just the jaw-dropping views, but the feeling of being both tiny and deeply alive in a landscape that’s looked this way for millions of years. Wandering through alpine meadows, spotting ibex, and watching the Matterhorn shift shape with every bend in the trail felt like a moving meditation. It wasn’t my first hike, but it’s the one that truly stayed with me.” —Heather H.
Preview our Alps Chamonix & Zermatt Hiking Tour here>>
Or enjoy an Alps Village to Village Hiking Tour>>
Jeffi Norris – MT Sobek Africa Operations Specialist
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Why We Love This: “Undoubtedly my most memorable hike was trekking through the jungle of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda in search of mountain gorilla. The hike itself was challenging, only because of the steep climb and humidity that day, but exciting and adrenaline producing. The national park guides make quick work with their machetes, whacking away vegetation that grows thickly overnight to form pathways for us to navigate through. Every so often a clearing would emerge for our group of six to stand in the misty sunlight and catch our breath. You may expect that your first sense to recognize that you are within the realm of the primates is your sight….but it’s actually your nose! The strong odor of the gorilla families is like no other body odor you’ve probably ever encountered—not in an off-putting way—but in a complete primal way. Once you lay your eyes on a silver back and his brood in their natural habitat, be prepared for the emotion that can take over. The hours of hiking (in my case a four-hour ascent), were completely second to the fascination and disbelief of watching these creatures. We often talk about unforgettable experiences in nature—hiking to see the mountain gorillas is a memory I believe will always be with me.” —Jeffi N.
Preview our Rwanda Primate Private Adventure here>>
Erin Rosvold – MT Sobek Adventure Coordinator
Sedona, Arizona
Why We Love This: “Is it one single feeling or sensation? When you feel the sun on your face and the spring in your step and you just can’t help but feel elated…It’s that feeling of being alive and fit and striving towards health. And fitness. And seeing impossible beauty everywhere. This is the magic of hiking for me, in Sedona. It is a magical place that makes me feel like I’m on the moon and on the earth and in pure bliss, regardless. The cares of the world seem to fall away and the beauty of nature comes into very clear focus.” —Erin R.
Leah Reilley – MT Sobek Program Director, Europe, Africa & Middle East
Camino de Santiago, Spain
My most memorable hike is also one of the most meaningful trips I’ve ever taken.
Walking for nearly 500 miles across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago was an incredible experience that I didn’t realize the significance of until I’d finished—I’d started the walk thinking I just wanted to see more of Spain, but ended with a much deeper understanding of myself when I finally realized why I’d actually undertaken it.
I met fantastic people on the Camino, each with different reasons for walking. Some that stand out in my memory are three elderly Spanish gentlemen who’d done the walk many times before and treated it like a social club; a British woman who’d given up her business and was hoping to find an answer of what to do next with her life; and a young German who was walking with the father he’d just met a few months earlier. There’s also the man who’d begun walking over two months earlier in Cologne, and told me I wouldn’t know why I was walking until I was done. He was so right.
Of course, it WAS also a beautiful way to see more of Spain; it was late Spring and the wildflowers were in bloom, with red poppies, purple thistle, patches of yellow, blue, magenta everywhere. I walked on 2,000-year-old stone-paved Roman roads in Navarra, by fragrant roses of all colors. Past rolling hills, farms, and thickly knotted grape vines in La Rioja. Across Castilla y Leon, flat and arid until the mountains sprang up, studded with pine trees, wild sage, thyme and lavender, and most deliciously, cherry orchards. Through tiny hamlets connected by stone roads and verdant, misty forests in Galicia. As gratifying as it was to finally reach the end point of Santiago de Compostela, the journey was equally satisfying.”—Leah R.
Preview our Spain El Camino de Santiago Hiking Tour>>
Preview our Portugal & Spain El Camino Portugues Hiking Tour>>
Adventure is in Our DNA
From Yosemite sunsets to Himalayan passes, our team’s stories are proof that adventure connects us—to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. These hikes remind us why we do what we do: to create meaningful journeys that inspire wonder in every traveler.
Where will your next unforgettable hike take you?