Tusker Trail's US-based staff is made up of absolute professionals. They go to great ends to ensure that your trip plans go smoothly. Each staff member has been hired for their commitment to the environment, their love of the outdoors, and their efficiency.

And, to experience the magic that drives our company, they join Tusker treks on a regular basis.

Eddie is the founder of Tusker Trail and was born and raised in Africa. He has been leading remote expeditions in Africa for the past 31 years. Over the years he has climbed Kilimanjaro 35 times and crossed the Sahara 34 times. As a "Roads Scholar" he has accumulated numerous degrees which include bush mechanics, trekker psychology and tribal communication.

Short term goals: Trek.

Long term goals: Trek more.

Craziest thing he's ever done: With 4 broken trucks scattered over the Sahara Desert, he still had to hitch hike out.

Andrew is 31 and was born in Ohio, USA. He studied journalism at Ohio State University. Andrew is fanatic about hiking with his wife and 2 young boys. He has trekked in Nepal, Tanzania, Mongolia and all over the US. In 2003 Andrew climbed Kilimanjaro - as a Tusker client. 3 months later he moved to Lake Tahoe and joined Tusker Trail. He is also a certified EMT and Wilderness First Responder.

Short term goals: Spend lots of time with his family in the woods; learn to snowboard before his boys do.

Long term goals: Hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail; build a house from indigenous materials.

Stupidest thing he's ever done: Flipped his catamaran in a shipping channel in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Julian is 26, and was born and raised in Africa. Eddie has known him most of his life. Julian has lived most of his life a stone's throw from Victoria Falls in Zambia, where he worked as a river rafting and safari guide. Julian is marrried to a Tanzanian woman and lives in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. He runs Tusker's Kilimanjaro climbing operation.

Short term goals: Travel as much as possible before starting a family.

MEL KAIDA
Expedition Coordinator

Mel is 25, and was born in Lodi, California, USA. She has a Bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure management from San Diego State University. Mel is a certified snowboard instructor at Lake Tahoe and is an ace surfer. She moved to Lake Tahoe for the snowboarding, hiking, the mountains, and the beautiful lake.

Short term goals: Snowboarding in fresh powder; traveling, having fun.

Long term goals: Living in Tahoe; success; getting old with no regrets.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Skiing down a double black diamond slope of shear ice during a snowstorm - when she was 6!

Jim was born and raised in Southern California, and is 37 years old. He graduated from Sierra Nevada College at Lake Tahoe, and has a BA in Humanities. Since then he has been skiing, climbing and backpacking from Alaska to the Andes, and from Colorado to Katmandu. Jim, his wife and their 4-year-old daughter live a stone's throw from the Tusker office.

Short term goals: To find a babysitter, so he and his wife can keep traveling.

Long term goals: Pay for his previous 10 years of travel.

Stupidest thing he's ever done: Fell and broke both legs while skiing.

Brianne is 27, and was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She then moved to upstate New York and obtained a bachelor's degree in studio art from Hamilton College. Brianne recently moved to South Lake Tahoe to pursue rock climbing and skiing and to escape the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. She is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher and an avid traveler.

Short term goals: Climb harder and ski harder. Paint more. Take a ceramics class.

Long term goals: Learn Spanish. Buy a house in Tahoe! Never stop learning and exploring.

Stupidest thing she's ever done: Climbing to the top of Abraham Lincoln's head in D.C. and then falling off, luckily onto his lap, and thus avoiding any major injuries.

DYLAN STANIEC
Expedition Coordinator

Dylan is 24, and was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California. He has always had a passion for the outdoors. At the age of 18 Dylan set out on his own for Africa , and joined Eddie Frank on an exploratory expedition. They’ve been friends ever since. He has traveled through 25 countries across 4 continents, which include a Kilimanjaro climb and a Tusker Mongolia trek.

Short Term Goals: See as much of this planet as possible.

Long Term Goals: Share my adventures and passion for travel with my future kids.

Stupidest thing he’s ever done: Realized he left his passport in a hostel in Honduras after he was already a day and a half bus ride away.