Madison

Trip leader

Madison grew up in a military family and moved around a lot, though currently calls O‘ahu, HI, home. There, she’s worked as an outdoor instructor at Camp Erdman. She began thru-hiking the Pacific Coast Trail this spring, and after her summer with Adventure Treks, she’ll hop back on trail! Madison has been an instructor at Black Mountain Expeditions in western North Carolina, the Outdoor School in Texas, and at a variety of summer camps in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains region. Madison has also worked as an English teacher through the Peace Corps in Ha’apai, Tonga. In college, she spent her summers as a counselor for Camp Merrie-Woode, while through the year she worked as an after-school teacher for elementary-aged kids. Additionally, Madison completed an interpretation internship with Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Education

Western Carolina University, bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management

Certifications

Wilderness first responder

Favorite hobbies

Working with children, chasing waterfalls and sunsets, camping, backpacking, traveling to new places, and binge-watching Friends. I recently started getting into yoga!

Favorite outdoor achievement

Climbing Gokyo Ri (a 5,357-meter peak in the Khumbu region of the Himalayas) with my father and seeing Everest so clear, without any clouds!

Favorite outdoor memory

My favorite outdoor memory was last year’s first backpack on the California Challenge trip. We did a sunset hike, and it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. We ate ramen at the top and laughed about our adventures thus far. This whole backpack was so much fun, and I will truly never forget it.

Favorite place in the world

Indonesia: The culture is beautiful, the food is so tasty, the people are so kind, the landscapes are incredible… I spent a month here this past fall and I find myself often missing this place.