Tusker Trail's US-based staff is made up of
absolute professionals. They go to great ends to ensure that your trip plans go smoothly. Each staff member has been hired for their commitment to the environment, their love of the outdoors, and their efficiency.

And, to experience the magic that drives our company, they join Tusker treks on a regular basis.

Eddie is the founder of Tusker Trail and was born and raised in Africa. He has been leading remote expeditions in Africa for the past 33 years. Over the years he has climbed Kilimanjaro 41 times and crossed the Sahara 34 times. As a "Roads Scholar" he has accumulated numerous degrees which include bush mechanics, trekker psychology and tribal communication.

Short term goals: Trek.

Long term goals: Trek more.

Craziest thing he's ever done: With 4 broken trucks scattered over the Sahara Desert, he still had to hitch-hike out.

Andrew is 34 and was born and raised in Ohio, USA. He studied journalism at Ohio State University. Andrew is fanatic about hiking with his wife and 2 young boys. He has trekked in Nepal, Tanzania, Mongolia and all over the US. In 2003 Andrew climbed Kilimanjaro - as a Tusker client. 3 months later he moved to Lake Tahoe and joined Tusker Trail. He is a certified EMT, Wilderness First Responder and guides the Tusker Mongolia Trek.

Short term goals: Spend lots of time with his family in the woods; learn to snowboard.

Long term goals: Hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail; build a "green" house.

Stupidest thing he's ever done: Flipped his catamaran in a shipping channel in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Julian is 29, and was born and raised in Africa. Eddie has known him most of his life. Julian has lived most of his life a stone's throw from Victoria Falls in Zambia, where he worked as a river rafting and safari guide. Julian is married to a Tanzanian woman and lives in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. He runs Tusker's Kilimanjaro climbing operation.

Short term goals: Travel as much as possible before starting a family.

MEL KAIDA
Trekking Coordinator

Mel is 27, and was born in Lodi, California, USA. She has a Bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure management from San Diego State University. Mel is a certified snowboard instructor at Lake Tahoe and is an ace surfer. She moved to Lake Tahoe for the snowboarding, hiking, the mountains, and the beautiful lake.

Short term goals: Snowboarding in fresh powder; traveling, having fun.

Long term goals: Living in Tahoe; success; getting old with no regrets.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Skiing down a double black diamond slope of shear ice during a snowstorm - when she was 6!

Brianne is 29, and was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She then moved to upstate New York and obtained a bachelor's degree in studio art from Hamilton College. Brianne recently moved to South Lake Tahoe to pursue rock climbing and skiing and to escape the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. She is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher and an avid traveler.

Short term goals: Climb harder and ski harder. Paint more. Put her newly learned ceramics skills to use.

Long term goals: Learn Spanish. Never stop learning and exploring.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Climbing to the top of Abraham Lincoln's head in D.C. - then falling off (Luckily onto his lap, and thus avoiding any major injuries.)

Haley is 28 and was born and raised in New Zealand. She graduated from Massey University in NZ with a BEd. She moved to the United States in 2004. Since then she has trekked in Nepal, Switzerland, and Italy, canoed in Sweden, and scuba dived in Thailand. Haley moved to Lake Tahoe to join the Tusker team.

Short term goals: Explore Tahoe and take advantage of the adventures it has to offer.

Long term goals: To start a family, enjoy life and continue to travel the world.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Canoed down the Klaralven River in Sweden through a lightening storm in a Aluminum Boat.

Mariya is 24 and was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. She spent most of her life on the San Juan Islands in Washington State and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Colorado College. Mariya is an avid travel writer and photographer, and plans to ride, hike, swim, and skate across Tahoe’s never-ending wealth of outdoor offerings.

Short term goals: Master snowboarding and finish hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail. She is also working on becoming a local karaoke legend.

Long term goals: Become fluent in Spanish; pursue higher education; live with intent.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Washed her face in India’s Ganges River and returned home with a staph infection from ear to ear.