Dan Nash founded Hiking the Ozarks in 2007, after spending most of his life in the outdoors, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing and camping. As the CEO, Dan coordinates the various programs offered by Hiking the Ozarks, along with instructing various outdoor education classes and participating in the guiding program and expedition trips. Dan has backpacked and mountaineered in Iceland, South America, Mexico, Canada and locations throughout the United States. Dan is also proud to be a sponsored athlete by Raw Revolution, Skin Blends and Jetboil.

Krista Bowman, a native Canadian, joined Hiking the Ozarks in 2009. Krista splits time between the Ozark Mountains and her native Ontario, participating in the outdoor education program and coordinating the rock climbing curriculum. Krista also participates in the expeditions and coordinates the itineraries for the trips. Krista is a true outdoor gear junkie and can usually be found on a rock or writing gear reviews while drinking her favorite Starbucks coffee. The resident rock climbing expert, Krista has rock climbed and backpacked in Patagonia, Canada and numerous locations in the United States.

Melinda Dean joined Hiking the Ozarks in 2009 after a life long love affair with the outdoors. Melinda coordinates the Internet activities, including website creation, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. When not being a tech geek, Melinda participates in the gear review program, the expedition trips and cordinates the women’s backpacking clinics. Melinda is a graduate of Evangel University and is known for her ability to recover from head injuries and her super soft feet. Melinda has backpacked in Patagonia, Europe, Asia and numerous locations in the United States.

Tess Flood joined Hiking the Ozarks in 2009 after moving back to the Ozark Mountains from California. Tess coordinates the marketing and news releases for Hiking the Ozarks, along with conducting gear reviews and joining the crew on various expedition trips. Tess has a true love for the outdoors and the mountains, despite her Southern California valley girl dialect and accent and her love for home brewed beer. Tess has backpacked and climbed in Europe, South America and North America and calls Patagonia her favorite expedition trip.

Dana Jezkova is a native of the Czech Republic, but now calls Iceland her home. A lover of the mountains and outdoors, Dana is a certified Mountain Guide and is the coordinator and lead guide for the Iceland expeditions for Hiking the Ozarks. Dana speaks fluent Czech, English and Icelandic and has conquered Oraefajokull, the tallest peak in Iceland. Dana is also a regular and lover of the Laugavegur trail, which is known as one of the world’s best treks. If you need a quick sugar fix, no worries, like any good guide, Dana always has chocolate hidden in her backpack.