Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Schuler.
Hi Audrey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Connecticut and always dreamed of traveling out west and being a Park Ranger. Everyone laughed at me and told me I was dumb for wanting to choose that path and that I’d be poor and unhappy but I wanted to be rich with memories and adventure.
Flash forward to college, I chose a school in North Carolina for my first two years because of the amazing environmental program but after absolutely hating the college, fate slapped me in the face. I saw a TikTok on my FYP in 2020 of a girl skiing and climbing all over Tahoe and she said it was all classes from her college. I immediately looked up the school and applied and then transferred a couple of weeks later.
BEST DECISION EVER!
The school was Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe and it was the most amazing experience I have ever had I learned how to set my climbing routes, guide white water rafting and backpacking trips, and create professional travel guides. Sadly University of Nevada Reno (UNR) bought our school and completely ruined it but moving on haha…. Anyways, that got me out West so I had to drive from the East Coast which was over 2,000 miles away so it gave me the unique opportunity to plan a very long road trip to a lot of cool places. One of my favorites is our stop in Utah! It was the first national park we hit and I was mind-blown.
I had never in my life seen landscapes like these and I cried while hiking the Navajo Loop at how beautiful it was. Growing up in CT, all I saw was trash on the side of the highways, the polluted Long Island Sound and some rolling hills which I used to think were considered mountains. I spent over a week traveling to places around Moab and fell in love. I had to keep going through to get to school so now I was in Northern California/Nevada which is a great hotspot to be. From here, I was able to travel to a lot of different places and also use resources from my teachers to find amazing job experiences on the West Coast!
I worked on a ranch in Big Sky, Montana outside Yellowstone guiding children on tours through the park and nature centers. I also WORKED at a visitor center in Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooths for a non-profit ORGANIZATION PARTNERING with the Forest Service where I gave guided walks and programs, helped people trip plan and create cool backpacking routes, and volunteered for an outdoor education agency in Tahoe called TINS. Most recently I quit my job at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Tahoe and decided to move to Spain for a year to do the WWOOF work exchange program and live off the land. and learn about their culture. This move would not be possible without l the skills and knowledge I learned from moving out west!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. Getting from the East Coast to the West Coast takes a lot of planning, determination, and a strong support system especially when you do it at a young age. I was 19 and it was during Covid my second year of college that I decided to transfer out west. I had to get approval from my mom first but thankfully she is my biggest supporter and has always wanted me to follow my intuition to go out west.
I had to figure out how to be independent 2,600 miles away from home. I came to school with zero outdoor gear because you just didn’t need it in Connecticut in such an urban area. All the kids at this new school had fancy name-brand gear and I felt left out. I had no idea what any of the brands were or what to buy I was clueless. I eventually through experience and a lot of awkward conversations that I pushed myself to have with random people, felt confident in buying the right gear. This was a huge step that I think a lot of people struggle with when trying to get into the outdoors more because when you’re new it’s hard to know if you need a piece of gear or not, what brand, how much it should be, etc.
This was probably the biggest struggle but I’ve always constantly battled comparison. It took me a while to realize that just because someone else is at a certain point or skill level doesn’t mean I need to be too. I would get discouraged on trips when a friend would set up all our climbs and know what all the jargon meant and I didn’t even understand what crag meant.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I went to school to earn a BS in Environmental Science and Outdoor Adventure Leadership to become a park ranger and guide, somewhere in that range. My classes taught me all the skills I needed to know to guide backpacking, rafting, and climbing expeditions and I am so thankful for that prior knowledge before entering the workforce. My most beloved job was as a Naturalist for a non-profit called the Sawtooth Association in Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. This non-profit helped the forest service in the area, bc they were so understaffed.
We ran and operated the Redfish Visitor Center, gave guided walks, and evening programs on wildlife, geology, etc, and helped people plan hikes and backpacking trips. We also did trail head portals where we collected wilderness permits but also were there as a reference and guide to the hikers going on the trail. I got free housing, and a stipend, and met lifelong friends I still talk to today. It was also my first experience going on long backpacking trips of more than 5 days which was a big step for me who had been camping twice with one of those times being in an RV at the beach.
We got to take out paddle boards and other water sports boards in our free time and go to town music nights. This experience showed me that I much prefer small rural western towns to large urban cities in the east. Now, I use all this knowledge to make travel guides for my audience on Instagram to help them feel more prepared for the outdoors like I wish someone would’ve done for me!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Utah! From the geology to the cities it’s all so inspiring. I feel so safe and calm surrounded by tall mountains.
I visited Park City, Utah this past fall and saw epic fall foliage and plenty of wildlife. I love the biodiversity and variety of landscapes Utah has! My least favorite thing is probably all the buildings that block our pretty view of the scenery!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://audgadventures.gumroad.com/?_gl=1*1n6g5x2*_ga*MTAxNzQwODgzMy4xNjk5Mjg1OTUz*_ga_6LJN6D94N6*MTY5OTM2OTY1OS42LjEuMTY5OTM2OTcwNC4wLjAuMA..
- Instagram: @audgadventures
