The People Behind the Peaks
We are explorers, conservationists, and storytellers united by a single passion: the mountains.
Defining Our Purpose
Our mission is to create transformative wilderness experiences that challenge the body, inspire the spirit, and foster a deep respect for the natural world. We are dedicated to providing impeccably planned, safety-conscious expeditions that allow our clients to disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with something more profound within themselves and the environment.
Guiding the Future
We envision a future where more people find connection and perspective in wild places, becoming lifelong advocates for their preservation. Every tour we design, every guide we train, and every partnership we form is a step towards that vision. Our goal is to be a global leader in sustainable adventure travel, proving that exploration and conservation can and must go hand-in-hand.
Our Core Beliefs
We believe the mountains are not just a destination, but a classroom, a sanctuary, and a mirror that reflects our own potential for resilience and wonder. Our core values are: Safety above all, unwavering Respect for the environment and local cultures, and an infectious Passion for adventure that we share with every person who hikes with us.
Meet Our Founders
Elias Thorne
Lead Guide & Operations
With over two decades of mountaineering experience across seven continents, Elias is the heart of our operations. His obsession with logistics and safety is matched only by his passion for sharing the profound silence of a high-altitude dawn. He founded Apex Trails to build a community around responsible, awe-inspiring adventure.
Lena Petrova
Community & Sustainability
A former conservation biologist, Lena ensures that our love for the mountains translates into meaningful action. She spearheads our sustainability initiatives, from trail maintenance partnerships to carbon-neutral trip planning. Her vision is to make Apex Trails a global leader in ethical and regenerative adventure travel.
Our Guiding Principles
We never compromise on safety. Our guides hold advanced certifications, and our protocols are continuously refined to meet the highest industry standards.
We are guests in nature's home. We practice and teach Leave No Trace principles, aiming to leave every environment better than we found it.
The bonds forged on the trail last a lifetime. We foster an inclusive, supportive, and encouraging atmosphere for every hiker in our group.
We strive to ignite a lifelong passion for the outdoors by sharing our knowledge, enthusiasm, and profound love for the mountains in everything we do.
2015
The First Ascent
Apex Trails is born from a shared dream. Our first official trip takes a small group to the summit of Mount Elbert, Colorado.
2018
Going International
We launch our first international expedition: a trek to Everest Base Camp, marking our expansion into global destinations.
2021
Sustainability Pledge
We partner with '1% for the Planet' and achieve Climate Neutral certification, offsetting our entire carbon footprint.
2025
A Decade of Adventure
Celebrating 10 years, we launch the 'Apex Academy' to train the next generation of responsible mountain guides.
More Than Words
Our commitment to sustainability is woven into the fabric of our operations. We partner with local communities to ensure tourism benefits them directly, sourcing food from local suppliers and hiring local support staff. We've eliminated single-use plastics from all our expeditions, providing clients with reusable water bottles and purification systems. Annually, our team volunteers over 500 hours for trail maintenance and habitat restoration projects in the national parks we operate in. We believe that true adventure travel enriches both the traveler and the destination, creating a virtuous cycle of appreciation and protection for our planet's most magnificent landscapes.
Think You Have What It Takes?
We are always looking for passionate, certified, and personable guides to join our growing family. If you have a deep love for the mountains and a gift for leadership, we want to hear from you.
View Open Positions