Our Escape Artists

Our goal is to creatively help people escape from the chaos and stress of everyday life and appreciate the natural and cultural beauty of our region. This task is an art form like painting or poetry - one must always work to master his/her craft.

For a truly superior traveling experience in the Pacific Northwest & British Columbia, you deserve the expertise and passion of our local guides at EverGreen Escapes. Our specialist Driver / Guides are trained to impeccable levels to provide first-class service as they escort you through the most magnificent highlights of our region and impart their invaluable local knowledge of history, wild & marine life, as well as, flora and fauna and sustainability.

Many of our guides are ecologists, marine biologists or have taught natural history both in the field and in the classroom.

Depending on your tailor made itinerary, we will match you with a guide that we feel best fits your destination, interest and activity.

Want to join our team? View our Employment Opportunities!

DAN MOORE
My mission is to create an exciting and comfortable learning environment in which people feel inspired AND a sense of accomplishment. I grew up in Minneapolis MN and spent a large percentage of my childhood out exploring the wilderness and wild areas around home and afar. In 1996, after graduating from college in St. Paul MN (Macalester College), I left to spend most of a year in South America – trekking and researching tropical forests in Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. It is here I discovered the importance of creating positive experiences for people in the outdoors: "You can’t love what you don’t know, and people won’t protect what they don’t love."

In 1998 I completed a certificate course in Environmental Education from the University of MN at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and shortly thereafter moved to Seattle. After nearly a decade in the non-profit / public sector, I merged my passion for education with my spirit for entrepreneurialism by joining forces with EverGreen Escapes. My work with EverGreen Escapes is the best of all worlds. Duties include: guiding trips in the most beautiful part of the world (Cascadia), recruiting and training passionate guides, developing programs and scouting out destinations around the world and helping push the travel industry to higher levels of sustainability. My favorite activities include: cross country skiing, rock climbing and bird watching. My favorite Cascadia destinations include Vancouver Island and the Columbia Gorge.

When not leading tours or working in the office for Evergreen Escapes, I play guitar in the band Roxbury Pound. Regionally focused for now, the world tour might be just around the corner....

KIERON WEIDNER
As a kid I was constantly in the outdoors. Twelve years in Boy Scouts and growing up in rural Wisconsin provided plenty of opportunities to explore all kinds of outdoor recreation. By the time I graduated high school I already had logged hundreds of hours enjoying nature; canoeing in Canada, hiking the Rockies, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, rock climbing and just about anything else you can do outside. I earned my degree in Biology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. My coursework focused Environmental Studies, Ecology and Conservation. During college I spent a semester studying Tropical Ecology and traveling in Costa Rica. Upon graduation I completed a UN sponsored, grad-level program in Europe called Ecosystem Management in Cultural Landscapes - during which I learned how cultural and political factors affect natural resource management. After college I further broadened my knowledge of the natural world via internships with the BLM and National Park Service, and two years work as a Restoration Crew Supervisor for the WA Dept of Ecology. I have lived, worked and played in a full spectrum of environments from deserts to rain forests. In addition to learning the natural history of a place, it has also been my hobby to explore the recreational opportunities that exist there as well. I love to share my knowledge and thirst for adventure with any who are willing to take the road less traveled and gain some enlightenment through nature.

SIMON BUZZARD
Simon comes from a diverse background spanning three continents and found his footing in the wilderness at an early age. He grew up in Oregon, Southern Africa and Europe and has travelled extensively since then. Finally landing in Seattle two years ago he became inspired by the abundance of natural wonders available to explore right from the city: the Cascades Mountains with their craggy peaks and steep volcanoes, the Puget Sound with it's abundance of wonderful sea life and unique islands, and the Olympic Peninsula with its mossy temperate rain forests and dramatic coastline. Simon's passion is to help people enrich themselves by exploring wildlands and investigating the diverse ecological communities that humans are a part of. His diverse cultural, academic and professional experience in Outdoor Leadership and International Studies combine to ensure that each Escape is a top-notch, tailor-made adventure.

DAN SALVATORA
Grew up in Pennsylvania but realized early on that I yearned for the West. Graduated from the University of Utah in Recreation and Leisure Studies and continued to pursue my love of the outdoors. I quickly realized that my true passion was to live in the mountains and teach downhill and cross country skiing which I did in Park City, Utah and Sun Valley, Idaho. I continued my studies abroad and then taught skiing in Courchevel, France before arriving in Washington State. I owned my own tour company for many years and guided over 250 tours in the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Central America, and Europe. Most recently I have focused my business acumen on hospitality /travel sales and marketing. My 30 year love affair with Seattle continues and my passion of exploring and sharing my knowledge of the Pacific Northwest excites me every day.

KRIS PARFITT
With over 3000 backpacking miles under her feet and a passion since childhood for the outdoors, our new Program Development Manager and fellow Escape Artist, Kris Parfitt comes to EverGreen Escapes with unbridled enthusiasm for providing extraordinary outdoor experiences for our guests. An accomplished white water raft guide, rock-climbing instructor and professional backpacking guide combined with a masters degree in leadership and a small business owner, Kris’ background lends a unique perspective to guiding outdoor experiences for guests and developing team building and adventurous escapes for corporate clients alike.

JEFF CARTER
Born overseas (in Spain), I caught the travel bug early on in life. Since then, I've traveled around the world, lived for two years in Niger, Africa (as a Peace Corps volunteer) and continue to explore as often as possible. I grew up in Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania, lived in Michigan (while earning a graduate degree and working in environmental education) and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1999. Since then, I've worked as a seasonal sea kayak guide in the San Juan Islands and outreach specialist in salmon recovery and marine resources. I've hiked, skied, biked and paddled throughout the Northwest and enjoy sharing my knowledge of this beautiful area with others.

TYLER DAVIS
A native Seattlite, I've been exploring the Pacific Northwest since my earliest childhood memories, escaping at every opportunity to experience the beauty that this area has to offer. My childhood endeavors to turn over every rock or log and find the creepiest of crawlies blossomed into a desire to learn as much as possible about the flora and fauna of the region as I grew older. My ever-developing passion for ecology and conservation took me to Cornell University, where I obtained a B.S. in Natural Resources with a focus in ecology. While Cornell was a perfect fit for me, four years on the East Coast taught me what I've always known: that I'm a Pacific Northwesterner at heart and Seattle will always be my home. Thus, after a variety of field jobs around the world - from searching for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the swamps of the Southern Mississippi to studying Superb Starlings in central Kenya - I'm glad to be back in the Pacific Northwest, escaping to and exploring some of the most beautiful environments the world has to offer by bike, ski, kayak, boot . . . you name it! I'm even more excited to share what I know with others - and have the opportunity to make a positive impact - through hands-on, exciting, sustainable adventure ecotourism.

ALICE GIFFORD
Part sea lion, part Southern belle, one-quarter river rat, a dash bushwalker and a Nor’wester at heart – my background is diverse in the places I’ve called home. Growing up with an active and supportive family, I explored the marshes and creeks of Savannah, Georgia each winter and frolicked barefoot on the coast of Maine each summer, discovering sea creatures, swimming and sailing. School took to me to Manhattan, Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand, but the Pacific Northwest was calling my name! Since relocating to Seattle in 2004, I have assisted with small group and corporate team-building trainings, guided sea kayaking trips in the San Juan Islands, overland tours in Copper Canyon, Mexico and cruised the Galapagos Islands. Discovering my place in nature and realizing our responsibility to protect what we love has motivated me to create positive and sustainable travel experiences.

JEFF PIETKA
Born and raised in Portland, OR, when Jeff studied International Affairs and Geography in Washington, D.C. he had an eye on working in the foreign service, and becoming a professional naturalist and interpreter was the furthest thing from his mind. But upon graduation, his father asked: "So, what was the most important thing you learned back East?" And after a moment's contemplation, he replied: "That I belong back West." Travel became a central theme in his life, and he learned quickly that a good guide can make or break a traveler's experience. Inspired by his own travel experiences with guides both skilled and dubious, he started his interpretive guiding career in Southeast Alaska, and branched out year by year, working in the Pacific Northwest, then Mexico's Baja Peninsula and British Columbia. Jeff is a National Association of Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide, and has learned from some of the best working, as an Interpretive Ranger at Glacier Bay National Park in '09 and '10. After seven years guiding from 30 to 60 degrees North latitude, he has returned to his roots in the Portland region - smack in the middle at about 45 North - where he is prepared to put the places that are nearest and dearest to him on center stage and make them shine for you.

NICK THORP
A New England native, I ventured out to the West coast in 2003 to attend the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR and quickly fell in love with the lifestyle, the land, and the endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. After graduating with a dual degree in International Environmental Studies and French (pour vous qui sont des françophones, ça me fait grand plaisir de server de guide pour vous) in 2006 I moved up to Seattle. Since then I have spent time with several local non-profit organizations working on issues to promote and support the active sustainable agriculture communities of Washington. Curerntly, when not guiding trips with Evergreen Escapes, I work with the Washington Toxics Coalition and Toxipedia on several research campaigns and projects to reduce pesticide and chemical use in the state. I try to fill my weekends and any spare time exploring the endless hiking and backpacking options of the Cascades and Olympics and seeing live music up and down the West Coast.

LISA KUMMER
Lisa Kummer comes to Evergreen Escapes with over 5 years of experience as an interpretive naturalist guide for Hawaii Forest & Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii. She grew up in Madison Wisconsin and received her degree in Wildlife Biology in 1996 followed by several internships studying birds. One of those internships was on the Big Island studying the effects of predators on the endangered Hawaiian Honeycreepers. She fell in the love with Hawaii and the native birds, staying there for 10 years before moving to Portland 2 years ago to experience the mainland again and be an auntie to her niece. As a guide she enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for the natural world with people. If you spend a day with Lisa she hopes that it will give you the opportunity to reconnect with nature, slow down from our busy world, and take in the sounds, smells, and beautiful sights our world has to offer us. Recently she self published a book called “MyPLANet weekly planner and personal pathfinder”. This unique weekly planner invites you on a journey to unite your inner and outer worlds. It also gives you the tools to actively set your weekly intentions, putting you in the driver’s seat of your own life! MyPLANet features her own nature photography taken in Hawaii and Oregon. You can learn more on her website at www.coloryourpath.com


MIRA ANSELMI
The two great passions of my life are art and nature and this is apparent in almost everything I do. The foothills of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico were my backyard growing up. I spent much of my youth exploring these mountains, but while the desert is still in my bones, I longed to be closer to water. I studied photography at the the University of Oregon and then moved to Seattle in 2003. I have spent the last eight years exploring the region from "urban hiking" all around the city, to back packing, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, sailing, snow shoeing and skiing all around the state. When I'm not playing outside or leading tours, I am an avid vegetable gardener, owner of my own portrait and special events photography company, Mirastories, and volunteer with the Nature Consortium working on the annual Arts in Nature Festival to teach conservation lessons through the arts. Seattle is the perfect city to practice conservation and be immersed in art and nature simultaneously. I feel so lucky to get to share this fascinating place with others and to teach photography while showcasing my favorite city.

PENNY ROSE
I was fortunate enough to be born into my vocation – literally. I was born as the daughter of a ranger in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. My formative years were spent living in a State Park in Pennsylvania. I have turned my childhood wanderings through the woods into a full time job at the largest park in the City of Seattle – Discovery Park. I have spent several years leading programs in the meadow, beach, forest or wetlands for children of all ages (2 to 92) in Seattle’s crown jewel park – allowing visitors to discover their own joy in nature. While my natural history knowledge is extensive and well rounded from the intertidal zone to creatures of the night, my first passion is birds. As a Master Birder I have led trips throughout Washington State. An ideal birding trip with me is the chance for everyone to see a diversity of species, discover something new about bird habitats and perhaps “get” a life bird.

ANDREW SMITH
The son of a Presbyterian minister, I was introduced to wine at an early age through the Biblical text. The first wine I drank was port and then discovered dry table wine in my very early 20s. During college, I worked in restaurants to make a buck, and continued to be fascinated with wine and its effects. After 10 years in the restaurant industry, I decided to formalize my drinking career by actually learning about alcoholic beverages, and completed my Sommelier Diploma with the International Sommelier Guild in 2010. In the fall of 2011, I worked as a harvest intern for Shea Wine Cellars in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, putting that D- in AP chemistry my junior year of high school to good use. Over the coming months, I'm taking my first stab at making wine, which is currently sitting in a five gallon carboy in the outdoor closet attached to the back porch of my apartment (this is certainly a recipe for success). At EverGreen Escapes, I head up our epicurean programs, making sure you have the highest quality, most delicious food and drink wherever your Escape may take you.

TAMMY LELAND
Born and raised in the Montana, Tammy’s craze for mountain adventure was ignited by the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains. For the past 22 years she has climbed, scaled, scrambled, skied, criss-crossed, trudged, trekked, hiked, biked and kayaked some of the Pacific Northwest’s classic adventures and hidden gems. Tammy has had a variety of careers all involving education and the environment: She has been the owner of an outdoor adventure company in Seattle, a program developer and educator, a coordinator for college environmental education, a back country crew leader for restoration and trail work in the North cascades and Alaska, a geologist in the Olympic National Park, wilderness guide in the Pacific Northwest and currently the co-founder and international program director of Crooked Trails, a nonprofit international travel company. She has earned a reputation as a passionate adventurer and traveler.  Wandering over 5 continents she spent her time learning from different cultures around the world. From these travels and her studies she has gleamed important lessons about sustainable tourism and began offering practical guidance as a tourism consultant and environmental educator.Tammy holds a Master’s of Environmental Education from Western Washington University and a Bachelors of Science. in Geology from the University of Washington. She wrote her masters thesis on the environmental, cultural and economic impacts of travel and developed an industry workshop on responsible travel.

CHRISTINE T. MACKAY
Chris Mackay has dedicated her life to working and volunteering in environmental education, community development and eco-tourism. She spent 9 summers working as a wilderness guide in Colorado, 5 summers as a marine biology guide in the San Juan Islands and 5 years guiding her own outdoor adventure company out of Seattle called Bearfoot Backpacker. Her Native American background brings a unique perspective to her guiding and you will learn a great deal about Native perspectives, lore and ethno botany on one of her escapes. Lover of all things natural, her passion for the outdoors is palpable. Chris’s love of international travel and her concern about the negative effects of tourism on culture and environment, led her to co-found Crooked Trails in 1998. Crooked Trails is a non-profit community based tourism organization based in Seattle WA dedicated to offering clients a way to “travel with a purpose”. Chris holds an MA in Natural Science Education and a BA in Geography and Biology. Chris’s ability to engage and impassion her audience has led to speaking engagements at clubs, international conferences, bookstores, universities and schools.