About Us

Abby Strauss-Malcolm believes in dynamic balance — stretching comfort zones — life as an experience of change and growth. She’s always willing to get out there to experience things for herself, and she’s always got an outstretched hand and quick laugh ready to encourage anyone who wants to join her.

Trained in Holistic Health and Adventure Education at Prescott College, Abby is also a certified yoga teacher, Wilderness First Responder, and nationally certified massage therapist. Like many professional guides, she considers her ‘office’ to be one of the best parts of her job, and she’s had the opportunity to explore widely from Israel and Jordan, to Mexico, Canada, Alaska, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Burma, and much of Europe.

Abby’s approach to leading a fulfilling life: “Time spent sharing incredible places with a group, moving through the landscape on foot, enjoying good conversation and food, and inspiring people to reach their goals and attain new heights.”

After years of travel, Abby now lives in Massuchusetts. She works in our office as a tour designer, helping to organize our guided and self-guided tours, and leads many of our local tours in the fall, winter and spring.

“Our guide, Abby, was excellent. Just loved her!! The whole trip was like a dream come true.”

Before talking with Zach Dahlmer, you might not know there’s world-class surfing to be had off the coast of Nova Scotia. As one of his first adventure playgrounds, those waters gave Zach some of his most significant encounters with the sheer strength of nature — and the meaning of responsibility. Now, as a professional outdoor guide, Zach calls on that responsibility and those life lessons on a daily basis.

Zach focused his degree in Adventure Education on the educational and interpersonal aspects of outdoor adventure with small groups. “It helps me understand students and clients needs on many levels; to know when to offer a challenge. They’re at a point of stretching, of growth, while they’re out there. My job is to have fun with people and meet them where they are.”

Certified as a Wilderness First Responder and trained in a wide range of skills such as backpacking, climbing, sea kayaking, sailing, and wilderness navigation. Before moving back home to Massachusetts, Zach spent years guiding in the mountains and canyons of the U.S. Southwest and the nine years prior to that as a sail charter guide on the New England coast. His favorite part of leading a group is the chance he gets to share his passion for wild places, “to offer them the chance to interact with the world and each other in a very real way.”