Meet Erica, from Algonquin Park, Ontario, with a deep connection to the outdoors and alpine terrain. Her love for wild places only grew stronger during nine months spent living the van life in New Zealand, where she explored hundreds of kilometres of alpine terrain throughout the South Island. With nearly 350 kilometres of hiking under her boots—Erica knew her passion for hiking was more than a hobby. Now an Adventure Studies student, she’s focused on turning her love of exploration into a career guiding others through some of the world’s most incredible landscapes.
Tell us a little about yourself — where you’re from, what you’re passionate about, maybe a fun fact, or anything else you’d like to share.
I grew up in Algonquin Park, Ontario. This greatly influenced my love for the outdoors. Before joining the program, I spent nine months living the New Zealand van life. It’s hard to pick a favorite spot along the Southern Alps of the South Island, but if I had to, Queenstown and Wanaka are two of the best places that I’ve ever visited.
Fun Fact: I’ve hikes almost 350 km of New Zealand’s alpine trails.
My top three hikes would be the French Ridge Hut in Mt. Aspiring Park, the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, and the Tongariro Northern Circuit in Tongariro National Park. After hiking as much alpine terrain as possible, I decided to make a career out of it!
What drew you to this program, and what are you most looking forward to this year?
Travel brought me to this program. I was hoping to find like-minded people who also like exploring the unknown and the path less taken.
I specifically chose the Adventure Studies program to refine my hiking skills under certified instructors and turn a recreational passion into a career. My biggest goal is to complete the Apprentice Hiking Guide exam with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
I want to be a hiking guide because it provides the same sense of discovery and exploration that travel provides. Guiding in the back country immerses you in the natural environment, offers unique experiences that many people don’t get to experience, and challenges you beyond what traditional tourism does.
I’m most looking forward to the Wilderness Travel and Mountaineering courses with the program.
What do you hope to do with your training after completing the program?
I hope to continue to explore and travel the world while showing people how incredible the outdoors can be. I would love to go back to New Zealand and work as a guide. I’m also interested in going to South America (Peru, Argentina, and Chile) to hike in the Andes and Patagonia.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying to Adventure Studies?
Do it scared, do it uncomfortable. This program isn’t just about adventure, it’s about pushing yourself further than you ever thought you would.
I knew coming into the program that Rock 1 would be a challenge—I’ve always been uncomfortable with heights. I internally (and externally) screamed through the entire course and swore I’d never climb again. But I also knew that giving up would mean missing out on the mountaineering path I wanted to explore.
After the course, I kept challenging myself by asking my peers to take me climbing and by getting a membership at Cliffside Climbing Gym to build my confidence and comfort with exposure. As I head into Rock 2, there’s still some uncertainty, but I know I can push through the discomfort using the skills I’ve gained over the past few months in the program.
