Rob Patrick is the founder/CEO of Hike In Phoenix, LLC. and now Hike In Tucson, a division of Hike In Phoenix, LLC!, Rob relocated to Arizona from the Chicago area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science and Business from Illinois State University. His travels have taken him to Hawai’i to the west, Europe to the east and south of the border to Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. He demonstrates a keen passion for traveling around the world, but has an even greater passion for hiking and nature. He admits to being a “hike-a-holic,” yet he always finds time for friends and family and other things he like to do. Rob said “Hiking in the desert can be fun, educational and a healthy activity for everyone of all ages and physical ability! Because Hike In Phoenix, LLC is expanding, I just cannot do all the work by myself.” He’s proud to boast that he has a wonderfully talented and experienced crew of enthusiastic guides and staff. It shows that each of them love hiking and their genuine admiration for sharing their experience and knowledge with every guest individually is transmitted to each and every one. The company’s goal is to show each person a fun filled, educational, safe and memorable guided hike during their hikes in the beautiful Sonoran Desert he now calls home!
John Monfore joined Hike In Tucson in July 2011. His bio is so long, we gave it to our editorial staff in public relations to …well….to edit. Enjoy that encyclopedia below. And yes, we’ll gladly display John’s face shot as soon as we get a good one.
He was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he developed his love of the outdoors and hiking at his uncle’s ranch trekking among the horses, goats, dogs & coyotes. He owned a business and played in bands outside Chicago for over 20 years, but fell in love with southern Arizona after visiting relatives here. Several years ago he loaded up the camper and cats and moved lock, stock, & barrel to hiker’s paradise in Tucson.
Since then, not a trail (or bushwhack) has been safe from John’s rambles. Hiking the desert in fall, winter, & spring, and the cooler mountains in summer, provide year-round entertainment, endless vistas and surprises, he says. Like many Arizonans, he has developed a bad case of around-the-“corneritis” he just has to see what’s around the bend, or just over the next hill. Perhaps an abandoned ranch, hidden canyon, exotic wildlife, a cattle tank from the cowboy days, or even the remains of an 18th-century ghost town beckon to adventurous hikers like John. These are aplenty in the Tucson area.
He is still discovering little-known trails, arroyos, and fascinating back-country secrets that have been forgotten by time. Closer to town, gorgeous canyons, saguaro forests, spectacular rock formations and the chance of spotting a bighorn sheep or furtive bobcat are only a few hiking minutes away. “What’s not to love? Civilization…what a bummer!” says John.
Laura Chamberlin is a Tucson native and feels lucky to call the Southwest home. She grew up hiking and camping in the region and continues to do so habitually.
For the past four years Laura has divided her time between Flagstaff and Tucson. Her summers are spent working for Canyon Explorations as a river guide in the Grand Canyon. Winters in Tucson provide sanctuary from the snow and time to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran desert. She works as a personal chef year round and loves cooking seasonal and local foods. Our staff can’t wait for samples!
Laura earned a degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She went on to culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in Denver. She feels fortunate to be able to pursue two of her passions, cooking and the out doors. “It’s not work,” she says. “It’s me and it’s fun!”
Mark Navarro recently retired from the wholesale wine and spirits industry, Native Arizonan and outdoors lover, Mark Navarro is also a daily hiker. He’s on the trails with our guests as well as going solo exploring new areas to show everyone he takes up on the trails. “Tucson's Santa Cruz River Valley location and close proximity to four mountain ranges offer endless choices for four season hiking” Mark says. He’s rearing and ready to go just about any time, too. In the Spring Mark enjoys appreciating all of the wildflowers he sees on hikes. He specifically likes hiking to swimming holes, and wild mushroom foraging during the summer Monsoon season. During the fall and winter seasons he really enjoys hikes up north and all over to see ruins and other sites of cultural significance. Strenuous hikes are also one of his passions; "that just means I can eat more" he always says. Does that mean he’ll have more snacks on a hike with you and your friends or group? Send us an email about this after your hike. We love to read about Mark’s fun things on his hikes.
Kelly Brollier, native Alaskan and "girl wonder guide" passed over Canada, flew over Washington and Oregon. She skirted California, looked below at Nevada, and passed over the Grand Canyon and the Valley of the Sun to make Tucson her new home in late 2012.
She spent most of my life in the north part of the North American Continent. When she moved to Cordova, Alaska, she was introduced to the world of boats. Commercial fishing and a journey up to the Arctic for marine seismic surveys are part of her repertoire.
(This gives this writer the shakes, for sure!) "Summers there were filled with Cold seas," she said. And now it’s Tucson that’s her passion.
Countless backcountry backpacking adventures were in Kelly’s blood, and are now pert of her history. But she longs for more. Her favorite adventures are filled with glacial waters, lots of wildlife, and Mt. McKinley in view.
Meeting new people and traveling is what Kelly loves to do. Among many excursions are trips to the Caribbean Islands, running through the Amazon jungle and to Columbia where she secured an advanced diving certificate.
“I love riding my bicycle and getting lost in the city”, she said. Of course she didn’t specify what city. Kelly is passionate about everything from rock climbing to yoga to binge reading and puzzles, not to mention hiking all over the Sonoran Desert mountains she now calls her back yard. Her effervescent personality, witt, charm and knowledge about the land all around her are sure to make anyone of our guests want to come back for more. And we hope you do. There is so much to do and see, as you’ll find out from Kelly.
Fred Greenspan is our Vice President for Outreach & Public Relations and no doubt, he's awesome! He has spent over 40 years in sales, marketing, creative advertising, and as management executive in both radio & TV advertising in the metro New York City area. He also served with the NY State (Government) Assembly. He is one of the few marketing firm heads who combines both a marketing and creative background with public service. Fred is one of the rare ad agency executives who began his career as a client, serving as regional marketing associate with major airlines so he really knows the tourism industry.
In February, 1983 he left to head his own firm which had major national clients including the US Census Bureau, the FBI and the IRS. His background fortifies his strong reputation in the consumer and travel field. At his advertising agency, Tylin Promotions, he believes that the fastest route to marketing success is the development of a strategically distinctive communications concept: STRATEGIC FIREPOWER! It is the heart of his philosophy and the central route of all the activity at the firm, and at ours as well. So when he met the founder/CEO of Hike In Phoenix, Robert Patrick, they both realized that they had to thrust the company into a well known commodity. Fred was the man to do it. He handles public relations, advertising and oversees the reservations staff. When he finds the time, he hikes and loves every minute of his own time on these trails.