What Every Traveler Should Know About Guides | Chris Anderson (Part 2) | Hike Strong Podcast | Ep. 21

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 surviveThe long hours, behind-the-scenes prep, and emotional labor that guests never seeThe broken tipping culture—and why it puts guides in a tough, awkward positionWhat it really means to serve 10+ guests for 14+ hours a day with zero margin for errorHow underprepared guests affect group dynamics, safety, and moraleThe impossible math behind seasonal contracts, no PTO, and $100 day ratesWhy the best guides make you feel like the trip ran itself—and how much effort that actually takesIf 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.Check out the LinkedIn post from Chris that sparked this two-part series…HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:https://hikestrongpodcast.buzzsprout.comLIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos:https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast