Meet our Trail Guides…

Our Trailbound guides:
• Began as trip participants – just like you
• Were chosen for their friendly, positive, and sensitive attitudes
• Are certified in CPR and first aid
• Enjoy, and are experienced in, guiding women’s hiking groups

Debbie Hager (aka “Lucy Bright”) doubles as Trailbound’s business manager and our guide for Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail. She’s a farm girl, born and raised on fresh air and exercise, and is an avid hiker, fitness-walker, snorkeler, and kayaker. When not hitting the trails or travelling, Debbie works in hospital patient relations and also does volunteer work with the elderly. She and her husband have an adult son.

Carol Ruhter (aka “Scout”) founded Trailbound Trips to help women experience nature’s magnificence and to inspire their confidence, camaraderie, and playful, adventurous spirits. She’s led women’s hiking, biking, and canoeing trips since 1996 and has recently discovered the wonders of dog-sledding and scuba diving. (Stay tuned to see what adventures this will inspire… ) Carol also works as a freelance writer and editor and is active in her community. She and her husband have two children.

Colette Szczesny (aka “Zip”) is our guide for Maine’s Acadia National Park and Montana’s Glacier National Park, and also handles aspects of Trailbound marketing. For Colette, the beauty of each day, different from the last, makes it a joy to get outside and enjoy the experience. She is active in many outdoors sports, including fitness-walking, hiking, bicycling, water-skiing, snow-shoeing, and downhill skiing. Colette is president of a corporate retail graphic sales firm and enjoys ornamental gardening, cooking, world travel, spending time with her dogs, and volunteering for a number of organizations. She is married, with one son.

Janice Wells (aka “Tracker”) serves on Trailbound’s “advance” team that scouts out future trip locations. She also guides our Chicago-area, day-long hike and bike trips, and guides in Acadia National Park. Janice has been a life-long outdoor enthusiast, and has hiked and backpacked throughout the country, in addition to venturing on week-long canoe trips. Committed to fitness, she is a sales associate for Mannatech nutritional supplements. She also volunteers her time for a number of groups. Janice and her husband have a college-age daughter.