What Every Traveler Should Know About Guides | Chris Anderson (Part 2) | Hike Strong Podcast

Most travelers walk away from a guided trip thinking, “That was amazing”—but they have no idea what it actually took to make it feel that way.

In Part 2 of my conversation with former REI Guide of the Year Chris Anderson, we go behind the curtain to uncover what guides really do:

How REI tried to flip the script and treat guiding as a real career—and why that model didn’t survive
The long hours, behind-the-scenes prep, and emotional labor that guests never see
The broken tipping culture—and why it puts guides in a tough, awkward position
What it really means to serve 10+ guests for 14+ hours a day with zero margin for error
How underprepared guests affect group dynamics, safety, and morale
The impossible math behind seasonal contracts, no PTO, and $100 day rates
Why the best guides make you feel like the trip ran itself—and how much effort that actually takes

If you’ve ever been on a guided trip—or plan to—this episode will change how you see your guide forever.

🎧 Start listening now—and maybe rethink that tip envelope.

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Most travelers walk away from a guided trip thinking, “That was amazing”—but they have no idea what it actually took to make it feel that way.

In Part 2 of my conversation with former REI Guide of the Year Chris Anderson, we go behind the curtain to uncover what guides really do:

How REI tried to flip the script and treat guiding as a real career—and why that model didn’t survive
The long hours, behind-the-scenes prep, and emotional labor that guests never see
The broken tipping culture—and why it puts guides in a tough, awkward position
What it really means to serve 10+ guests for 14+ hours a day with zero margin for error
How underprepared guests affect group dynamics, safety, and morale
The impossible math behind seasonal contracts, no PTO, and $100 day rates
Why the best guides make you feel like the trip ran itself—and how much effort that actually takes

If you’ve ever been on a guided trip—or plan to—this episode will change how you see your guide forever.

🎧 Start listening now—and maybe rethink that tip envelope.

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