Dahlia Blau grew up along the California coast but now resides where she can be close to the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Some of her favorite activities growing up involved swimming, kayaking, river rafting, and desert camping. Now, her soul resides in the mountains where she can trek, climb, hike, ski, trail run, and swim in the alpine lakes. When Dahlia isn’t in the mountains she can be found exploring the canyons of Utah. Dahlia graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2015 with a degree in Environmental/Biology. It was at UC Santa Cruz that she discovered her passion for opting outdoors and being a naturalist. By observing nature and doing some of her favorite activities such as birding and botanizing, she can share the importance of our natural resources with others. One of her greatest accomplishments so far has been completing the Khumbu Three Pass trek in Nepal during the summer of 2015. Along the trek she had the opportunity to visit Everest Base Camp and to sit at 18,500ft looking up at the top of Everest Mountain itself. Her philosophy: Feed your soul through curiosity.

It's been a strange road to this job for me. A Bay Area native, I studied linguistics at UCSD and worked for years as a paralegal in San Diego. On my first backpacking trip in college, I walked 20+ miles in inappropriate footwear and spent a few cold nights in front of the fire without a sleeping bag, and I absolutely loved it. Soon, I was spending most of my free time and some not so free time plotting and executing adventures to the endless wild places of California. Instead of law school, I took a sabbatical from the office to go live on a fishing boat in Alaska. I had a total blast working outdoors, 12 to 17 hours a day?or more often, night?during one of the harshest winters in Alaskan history. My reasons for pursuing a law degree were lost at sea. I finally quit the legal business, and I'm now an EMT with a certification in wilderness medicine. To date, I've walked and climbed thousands of miles in, on and around the Sierra including a solo 200+ mile hike of the Sierra High Route. In the winter, I work (using the term loosely) as a ski patroller. I'm not a morning person and don't tell my bosses, but getting up at 5 a.m. to throw explosives and ski fresh powder is something I'd without a doubt do for free. The rewards of working as a guide at SYMG are likewise numerous. To name just a few, you meet people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world and can often play a part in bringing those people to the realization that they are capable of great things in the outdoors. Your office is the big outside, and reading up on geology or mountaineering techniques or culinary arts is no longer procrastination; it's study time. Last and perhaps least, the water from glacial tarns does absolute wonders for beard growth. In short, I've found my dream job.

Whether it be backpacking, climbing, biking or botanizing; I cherish being able to fully immerse myself in captivating landscapes. I have realized a passion for public outreach and educating on behalf of the wild and unique places in which I enjoy. I believe amassing public support is a crucial part in conserving our natural resources and have found sharing of knowledge to be a powerful way to contribute. It is the positive influence which comes from outdoor experiences that has led me to pursue my work as a Guide. During my life it has been a priority of mine to dedicate time for travel. During this time, I have been fortunate to make it to Costa Rica, Spain, Nepal, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. During my time traveling I have learned to operate in logistically challenging circumstances. These trips have also shown me the importance of maintaining an open mind and positive attitude to maximize one’s experience.

Sierra Zacks was born and raised on the entrance road to Joshua Tree National Park and spent her early years hiking, rock climbing, and horseback riding in the park, as well as here in the high Sierra. Her family has deep connections to these mountains and in high school she was fortunate to participate in a thirty-day expedition through Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks. It was then that knew she had found her favorite place. She has since graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Ecology and Plant Biology. It was there she worked as a guide for UC Santa Cruz’s Adventure Outings Department where she led climbing, backpacking, and river trips. She now spends her summers in the High Sierra with SYMG. In her free time you’ll find her rock climbing, botanizing, or gazing at High Sierra birds.