AWR Staff
Robin Paschall
Robin & Dean Paschall on Safari |
I started AWR in 2000 after traveling around the world for my honeymoon. Normally when I travel, I like to make my own schedule instead of being tied to a group. However, there are places in the world where a guide is either required or makes the whole trip worthwhile. The Inca Trail, African safari, and Tibet are classic examples of this. Looking back at my various travels, I find that my favorite trips are ones with a sense of adventure with a combination of activity, wildlife/nature, and local culture. Rather than taking a bus tour to a bunch of museums, I would prefer to hike to some remote Inca ruins or visit a local Bhutanese family or watch ostrich parents protect their babies from a nearby jackal. This is what I try to accomplish for our clients – the best travel experiences but saving time and money. For all you independent travelers like me, we can have all the comforts of a group trip but customized to our own personal tastes. |
Some of Robin’s favorite travel moments:
- Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
- Walking the Kora around the Buddhist icon Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet
- Snorkeling with sharks in the Galapagos
- Dining at a beachside table on Zanzibar Island
- Hiking to the Dragon’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan
- Watching my son’s incredulous face as an enormous herd of elephants pass in front of us in Kenya
Join Robin in Tanzania or South Africa this fall!
- 15-Day Owner-led Kilimanjaro Trek and Safari (October 20 - November 3, 2012)
- 16-Day Owner-Led Best of South Africa (November 11-26, 2012)
Barbara Hakala
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I started working for AWR in 2006. My degree in geography and economics has proven to be an asset for planning adventurous travel itineraries. Planning and coordinating a client's trip-of-a-lifetime is central to my job. Making friends all around the world has become one of my greatest joys, and my new motto is “expect the unexpected”. |
Barbara Colliander
High on the Inca Trail |
Barb has loved the outdoors her whole life, thanks to a lifetime of camping and travel experiences with the Girl Scouts of the USA. While she traveled extensively in Europe over the years, it wasn’t until joining AWR in 2004 that she ventured to more “adventurous” areas of the world. Barb is a role model for all women over 60 – hiking Peru's Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Santa Cruz Loop in the Cordillera Blanca, climbing Mt. Meru in Tanzania, hiking the Druk Path trek in Bhutan, Class IV white water rafting, and snorkeling and scuba diving in the Galapagos. She and friends are still tackling the Pacific Crest Trail by sections...a lifetime challenge! We all want to be like her when we grow up! As the AWR Peru reservations specialist, Barb does an amazing job of putting together the best itinerary for each client’s time frame and budget. Her travels to Peru have helped her to learn what each city and village offers and how to make the trek, tour or excursion an authentic cultural encounter for our clients. Her experience with our high quality and energetic outfitters ensures a superb travel value! |
Dan Crandall
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While growing up in Wisconsin, all Dan could ever think about was getting outside. His love of the outdoors fueled his desire to see more of this beautiful world. Dan has traveled the globe, from the high Arctic to the Antarctic, from Africa, India, and Thailand to North Dakota & Iowa (and many points in between and further out). Experiencing other cultures and encountering truly wild places and wildlife has been his calling since graduation from the University of Wisconsion-Oshkosh. When he's not at the office helping clients with their trips, you can find him backpacking in the mountains, skiing, rafting or canoeing a river, hiking nearby trails, or checking out a "must-see" concert. |
Tilden Daniels
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As an avid climber and back country skier I bring my passion for the mountains to work every day! I began working for AWR in August 2009. I lived in Switzerland and France for several years and I've been able to use this experience to help add trips in the European Alps and in nearby Morocco. This year I traveled to the Alps, Morocco and Ecuador/ the Galapagos - currently I'm also helping to develop trips in South America and I hope to travel to Patagonia and develop more trips down there. I can help you plan your trip but also lend a hand in AWR's web presence and product development. Some of Tilden’s favorite travel moments: |
- Watching the sun rise on top of a 4,000 meter peak in the Alps
- Skiing fresh powder down amazing glaciers in Switzerland and Italy
- Photographing animals in the Galapagos
- Drinking tea and eating crepes with Berber hosts in the mountains of Morocco
