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Cheryl Fleet
Canyon Calling is the labor of love of founder and Trip Leader, Cheryl Fleet. While guiding tours on Sedona's red rocks she recognized the serene space that evolved when women were her only passengers. An admirer of the native people and the stunning beauty of Arizona, Cheryl decided to launch an adventure company in 1996, leading women on trips in Arizona. Canyon Calling now offers trips to eighteen destinations.
Cheryl is right at home planning and guiding adventure trips. She grew up hiking and camping in the mountains of New Zealand with the Girl Guides, and boating with the Sea Rangers. She graduated from Outward Bound in New Zealand and considers this her best training for her role as Trip Leader. "Outward Bound pushes you to physical and mental extremes in the outdoors and teaches you how to work effectively with a group during situations of duress. Thankfully, nothing even close to these situations has occurred on Canyon Calling trips!" says Cheryl. She played on the New Zealand Basketball Team for six years including two Olympic qualifying tournaments. After backpacking for a year through 12 countries in 1983, she earned a degree in Business Administration at George Mason University, VA. Professionally, Cheryl was a Detective in the New Zealand Police for seven years, a corporate marketer in Maryland and a tour guide in Sedona, AZ, her current home. Along the way she has coached girls high school basketball and renovated three homes. What Clients Say...
Kym Putnam
Kym is the quintessential Canadian guide - experienced, knowledgeable and calm - with a wicked sense of humor. Kym worked for Parks Canada in Yoho for ten years and knows and loves the Rockies as only a local can. She ran her own women's tour company for 12 years leading trips in Canada and in Nepal. Kym currently runs a mountain inn in BC with her husband but has built trails, owned a mountaineer shop and facilitated workshops for a local community college. Kym is an avid skier and hiker and loves the multi-activity format of Canyon Calling trips. After traveling on our 2009 Rockies trip said delivered the ultimate praise saying "I wouldn't change a thing!"
Go Outside & Feel Better by Kym Putnam
Connie Faipeas
Connie Faipeas LOVES Alaska and has lived there for 36 years. She’s quite the outdoorswoman and has hiked and canoed each summer all over Alaska from the Gates of Arctic National Park to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She also loves to explore in her sea kayak and on her mountain bike. Connie is now retired after years of running her own business and is having fun doing small remodeling projects. She’s great fun and has a wicked sense of humor. She’s also making a difference in this world: Outraged that domestic partnerships were not recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska she recently took on the company – and won a policy change for all! Connie will lead both our summer Midnight Sun and winter Aurora trips each year.
Carla Heule
Carla is Swiss and we met her when she was guiding a kayak trip on a river in New Zealand. We were so impressed with her inter-personal skills that we invited her to guide our Swiss Alps trip. Carla has been guiding around the world for the past eight years and her English is excellent. She is passionate about climbing and she and her boyfriend conquered Denali in May 2009. Carla is predominantly a rafting and kayaking guide and has also taught climbing, skiing and snow-boarding. She enjoyed visiting parts of Switzerland she hadn't previously been to while learning our Swiss trip and she helped us tweak the schedule slightly so that our customers enjoy the best experiences that her beautiful country offers. You'll have fun with Carla - a real "people" person.
Prue Keenan
Prue is a teacher who is currently completing her masters. She will lead our Australia - See it all! trip. She is an Australian who spent two years in New Zealand as a hiking and canoeing guide after completing an Outdoor Recreation Leadership certification. Exploring became an intrinsic part of her life when she rode her bike solo for 15 months down the west coast of the US and into the rich, eclectic world of Latin America. She has traveled extensively in South America and is fluent in Spanish. Prue spent two years teaching English in Japan and getting a buzz from the cultural mix of locals, festivities and food - just lovin' the simple things!
Marisol Velasco Espinoza
Marisol (you can call me Mari!) will guide our trips to Peru. She is a Spanish speaker and is fluent in English and French. At 5' and only 90 pounds, Mari has hiked the Inca Trail over 360 times! We've nicknamed her "Mighty-Mouse!" At 25, she has wisdom and empathy way beyond her years. Mari LOVES Machupicchu and her pride in her Inca ancestors shines through as she leads us through ruins and museums throughout Peru. A University graduate with a degree in tourism, Mari is a shining example of Peru's commitment to growing a vibrant and responsive tourism industry.
Dee Beckmann
After years of raising sons and teaching reading at an elementary school in Connecticut, Dee is beginning a new life in the West training with us as an adventure guide. Her Bachelors in Physical Education is a great foundation for this job but her best qualification is the multi-tasking, patience and people management we all learn as a Mom! Dee has spent her life in the outdoors camping, rafting, kayaking and hiking and has completed the Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail. Dee has been running daily since she was 18, has run three marathons including last year's New York Marathon. She's a wonderful addition to our team.
 
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