Testimonials
Sarah Hughes (Oceanside, CA)
"My husband Jay and I are lifelong outdoor enthusiasts who have been fortunate enough to hike some of the most awe-inpiring trails in the U.S. and Europe. So I'm almost embarrassed to admit that we were in our 40s before we made it to Yosemite. When that window finally opened, we took the advice of friends who raved about Brian's local hikes in the Bay Area and signed up for a Hills & Hops Yosemite excursion. I'm only slighly exaggerating when I say that Brian could probably give John Muir or Ansel Adams a run for their money as Yosemite guides . . . and I doubt either one of those guys ever had more fun celebrating a hike! Truly a bucket-list adventure!"
Luis & Louisa Lott (Columbus, OH)
"Best fucking hiking experience EVER!!"
Robin Getty (Seattle, WA)
"I've been hiking in the Bay Area for more than 20 years, but I'd never heard of Sunol Regional Wilderness before I went on my first hike with Brian. It was truly one of the most amazing experiences I've had in two decades of hiking! I've been on four more Hills & Hops hikes since Sunol, and I plan on many more!"
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Jorge Obragada (Mexico City)
"I had never been to the United States and my English was poor when my company assigned me to a tech project in San Francisco. One of the project managers was excited about an "urban hike" she was going to do over the weekend, and encouraged me to come along to meet some new people. I was nervous when I showed up because of my language skills, but Brian singled me out during group introductions and asked me some questions in Spanglish that was soooo bad that everyone started lauging. I was instantly at ease, and had in-depth conversations with maybe a dozen people that day (most of whom didn't speak much Spanish but were very patient with my English). That's the day I fell in love with San Francisco. I have been lucky enough to return on assignment many times over the years. I love walking the streets, and have done so on dozens of occasions. But I don't think I'll ever see the city like I did that first time."
Prisha Raji (Boulder, CO)
"My husband and I have been coming to Point Reyes for years. We always book about six months out. About three months before this year's trip, Viyaan was killed in auto accident. It turned my world upside down. There was so much to take care of that I completely forgot about our reservations until two weeks before it was scheduled. My best friend Brooke talked me into going anyway. She took Viyaan's spot, and off we went. While we were there we discovered Hills & Hops, and signed up for a hike. That was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was an intensely personal experience, so I won't share all the details. But between the hike and Brian toasting Viyaan's memory after the hike, I feel like I took a big step toward moving on."
Seamus Donahue (Key West, FL)
"My husband Jonathan and I have been vacationing in the San Francisco area for 20 years or so. Last year, we stayed at Olema House because of its top rating on Conde Nast, and we kept hearing guests talk about the amazing hiking experienced they'd had. One of them showed us some pictures, and we were hooked. This year, we returned to Olema and signed up in advance for a Hills & Hops hike. The vibe that Brian gave off from the outset was one of gratitude for our presence. He also talked about the sprituality of walking among the redwoods, but once we got on the trail he gave us space to discover that for ouselves. The best part was the apres-hike! We bonded with our fellow hikers so thoroughly that we're planning to return next year and hike with a couple from Atlanta that we met this year!"