About Outdoor Bound

Kirk Reynolds

Owner & Guide; Wilderness EMT; Leave No Trace Trainer

Kirk Reynolds

Since 2003, Kirk has co-owned Outdoor Bound. Kirk’s adventures throughout the world have given him an appreciation for fearless travel. A lifelong participant in sports and four-time NYC Marathoner, Kirk relishes the day trips spent exercising in the great outdoors! Kirk holds a Trail Guide License from the state of New York and holds certifications in Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR and Water Safety. Kirk loves the international mix of people who come on Outdoor Bound trips. There is always a fun array of new adventurers and returning friends, which makes for great conversations. Kirk loves what New York City has to offer, and the chance to get out into the woods year-round makes for a great life here.

Connie Magee

Owner & Guide; Advanced Wilderness EMT; Leave No Trace Trainer

Connie Magee

Connie has been co-owner of Outdoor Bound and NYS Licensed Guide since 2003, and she loves the balance it provides to city living. In past lives, Connie taught eighth-grade science and English in the inner city and was also a technical trainer for several Wall Street banks. Fun stuff indeed (ha!), but she finds leading outdoor adventures far more fun and interesting! An avid international traveler and adventure-seeker, Connie has led Outdoor Bound trips to Belize, Peru and Croatia and personal adventures climbing and hiking in Hungary, Utah, Nevada and all over the Northeast. She believes there is no substitute for outdoor exercise, and the wonderful clients Outdoor Bound attracts make it even more fun — some of Connie’s closest friendships in New York have come out of hiking trips! Connie is thankful to have a dream job of taking like-minded city dwellers on explorations of the natural world. Connie has years of experience hiking, boating, climbing, camping, skiing, deep-water scuba diving, climbing cliffs and jumping off them. Some of her greatest travel experiences include hand-feeding howler monkeys, diving with sharks and lately big wall climbing.

Garan Mangan-Dimuzio

Guide, Youth Program Director; Wilderness First Responder, Outdoor Emergency Care Technician

Garan Mangan-Dimuzio

Garan recently joined Outdoor Bound and New York City from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Originally from Vermont, Garan pursued his education and undying lust for the outdoors at Colorado College, where he graduated in 2004. Since then, he has worn many hats in the outdoor world. He has served as the Senior Field Instructor for a wilderness therapy program specializing in survival skills. In addition, Garan has been a lead guide for several outdoor schools where he specialized in rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, backpacking and backcountry skiing. He has enjoyed countless personal expeditions, most notably hiking the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada as well as trekking in the Annapurna and Khumbu regions of Nepal. Garan has worked as a member of the Telluride Ski Patrol for the past two years where he maintains his Wilderness First Responder and Outdoor Emergency Care certifications as well as his Avalanche Control license. In his spare time, you may find Garan on any of his outdoor toys that provide an agreeable measure of lateral G-forces, or maybe just reading a good book.

Dann Landau-Gahres

Senior Guide; Leave No Trace Master Trainer

Dann Landau-Gahres

Dann has always loved and sought out the wilderness. He has been able to share that passion with others by guiding trips for the last six years. Dann has a wide range of outdoor experiences both personally and as a guide, from single-day rock-climbing and caving excursions to 31-day backpacking trips. He has had extensive Wilderness Medical Training and currently holds certification in First Aid and CPR for the professional rescuer. Believing the outdoors to be more than just a playground, Dann strives to use his guiding opportunities to allow others to understand the fine balance between the city and wilderness and the potential self-confidence, awareness and restoration nature can offer when we spend time in it.

Thomas Gallagher

Guide

Thomas Gallagher

Thomas has been a guide for Outdoor Bound since January 2006. His enthusiasm for the outdoors began with childhood camping trips to the Adirondack Mountains. Hoping to share his enthusiasm with others, he became a New York State–licensed guide in 2005. Thomas’s experience includes guiding extended wilderness trips and canoe camping trips and a stint as an outdoor educator for Nature’s Classroom Inc. Thomas enjoys bicycling, backpacking and finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Evan Oppenheimer

Licensed Guide, First Aid, CPR

Evan Oppenheimer

Evan has been guiding for Outdoor Bound since April of 2007 and is fully in his element when exploring the world outdoors. He is a local New Yorker and is an avid mountain biker, hiker, snowboarder, trailrunner and yogi. He has recently climbed into the world of mountaineering, completing his first big-mountain ascent in August of 2009 on Mt. Shuksan, and it the process raising $3800 to benefit at-risk-youth served by the Big City Mountaineers Summit for Someone program. Additionally Evan holds a Masters in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University. When not guiding for outdoor bound, he works at the JCCA Compass Project helping young adults with special needs find career and educational direction.

Susan Despins

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Susan Despins

Susan discovered Outdoor Bound while pursuing her Wilderness First Responder Certification with co-owner Connie and Anne. Susan’s main passion is mountaineering, having climbed in Alaska, extensively throughout South America, New Zealand, Europe and the U.S. She is also an active ice and rock climber, hiker, backpacker, runner and anything else worth trying. A native New Yorker, Susan has worked several years in finance and with media companies. In addition to her WFR certification, she is also certified in CPR and a graduate of AMGA’s Single Pitch Instructors Course. Susan holds an MA in Economics and MBA from Duke University. An outdoors enthusiast, through Outdoor Bound Susan has found a balance between the energy of the city and the beauties and refreshing qualities of being with nature.

Eugene Leytin

Guide, Wilderness EMT

Eugene Leytin

Eugene enjoys the outdoors and physical challenges. He has traveled extensively, including a 6 month stay in Australia, as well as Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Canada and Greece. In 2009, Eugene travelled all over the U.S. through National Parks. Eugene is a Wilderness EMT, and has trained gymnastics and taught an after-school science program to children. Eugene also plays the didgeridoo and enjoys slack line.

Jaclyn Shea

Guide

Jaclyn Shea

Jaclyn Shea joined the Outdoor Bound team in the Spring of 2008 and loves the balance of city living with her outdoor adventures on the weekends! Before living in New York City, Jaclyn went from being a high school music teacher in California, to a full time tour leader for Trek America, where she led small-group adventure camping and hiking tours all around the country. Her Trek America adventures brought her from the depths of the Grand Canyon to hiking to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park!
Along with her Outdoor Bound adventures, Jaclyn is an avid yogi, musician, and full-time program manager for The VH1 Save The Music Foundation… Jaclyn definitely keeps busy in this city, but she wouldn’t have it any other way!

Joe Howell

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Joe Howell & Chief

Starting from his home in Georgia, Joe thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2008…‘nuff said. A lifelong outdoorsman, Joe is also a martial arts instructor of many years, specializing in Mixed Martial Arts and Extreme Martial Arts.
In Joe’s own words: “Nothing enters my mind when I am hiking up a mountain side with a heavy pack except “God this hurts” or “when will it end”...lol…NEVER once do I think about work, paying a bill or returning a business call. All I see is beautiful country, all I think of is what is at hand, and all I can smell is mother nature.”

Max Stewart

Guide, Wilderness First Aid

Max Stewart

Max is a transplant to New York City from the Beautiful State of Oregon with a passion for travel and adventure. Max has spent the majority of his life hiking, climbing, biking, camping, rafting, canoeing, hunting, fishing and backcountry snowboarding throughout Oregon and most of the West. He believes that exploring and understanding the natural world around you is the best route to a fulfilling life. He is Red Cross Certified for First Aid, CPR and AED. He’s always looking forward to the next best day of his life and is excited to help others find their next best day…outside!

Martin Hak

Guide, Wilderness First Aid

Martin Hak

Martin Hak began working with Outdoor Bound soon after his arrival to New York and is excited to share his passion and appreciation for the great outdoors with others. Originally from the Czech Republic, Martin has lived for over fifteen years in California and three years in Maine, where he was active in outdoor pursuits including mountain biking, hiking, skiing, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, rafting and rock climbing. While studying at University of California — Davis, Martin was a whitewater guide on the American River and a sea kayaking guide in Sonoma County. Martin has backpacked extensively in the Sierra Nevada, the Rocky Mountains, Patagonia, the Andes, the Alps and the Appalachian Mountains. Before moving to New York, Martin lived in Maine, where he started running marathons as a way to stay warm and has recently competed in the World Championship Pack-Burro Race in Fairplay, Colorado, running alongside his stubborn burro, Masai, for a ridiculously long distance. Martin is one of our mountain biking specialists.

Evan Collier

Guide, Level 1 Snowboard, Level 2 Hatha Yoga Instructor

Evan Collier

Evan Collier grew up in the Canadian outback, spending much of his time doing board sports, sailing, camping and canoeing. In 2001 he moved to the Banff area and became an avid rock climber and mountaineer. He later spent time in the Vancouver area continuing his passions teaching skateboarding, snowboarding, sailing, and rock climbing recreationally. He has been practicing yoga since 2003 and began teaching in 2006. He is still an active skateboarder, and has also taken to running and biking. Evan also works as a carpenter, musician, performer and artist. Evan is very energetic and has a brilliant perspective on life, he is light at heart and wise beyond his years.

Amanda Corbett

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Amanda Corbett

Amanda was born and raised in the concrete jungle of New York City, and has been running towards the wilderness since day one. She began exploring the great outdoors on a family farm in Vermont, and later was swept off by the spirit of adventure to such varied locales as Turkey, Iceland, British Columbia and all across the United States. A lifelong lover of nature, Amanda led wilderness adventure trips with teens around the US & Canada—backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, biking…you name it! After receiving her BA from Harvard University, Amanda begrudgingly returned to NYC after much convincing from her family and friends. Working as a middle and high school math teacher in Manhattan at The Spence School, Amanda found herself losing it in New York’s crazy bustle, and joined Outdoor Bound in Summer 2009. She is very happy to have found an outlet where she can not only explore all of nature’s bountiful wonders but also share the experience with New Yorkers from all walks of life!

Pete Relyea

Guide

Pete Relyea

Pete may say he grew up in Brooklyn but no one seems to believe him. Teen weekends splitting wood in Pennsylvania as well as trips with the Boy Scouts provided a solid base for an outdoor life. A soul sucking stint inside a cubicle in Washington D.C. after college at the Virginia Military Institute led Pete to pack up and thru-hike the Appalachian Trail (in three and a half months!) in 2009. He has spent time hiking and rafting in Ecuador, surfing in Costa Rica and exploring Europe. Military school gave him ample experience orienteering and mentoring groups. When not hiking Pete can be found walking his dog, biking in Prospect Park and baby-sitting his niece.

Brandon Beach

Guide, Dive Master, Rescue Diver, Captain, Emergency First Responder, Wilderness First Aid

Brandon Beach

He lives up to his name. What you don’t know is that he is a strong climber and trail guide with a lifetime of outdoor experience that only the wilds of Texas can provide. He’s got other tricks, too: Pro-Am Water Ski Team, Treasure Diver on Spanish Privateer ship in the Caribbean, Broadway Stagehand/Rigger, Stunt Performer - “The Mariner” in Universal Studios “Waterworld” and
“Riggs” in Six Flags “Lethal Weapon”. Jack of all trades, master of none. Many friends and family state that they live vicariously through Brandon to which he replies, “I am happy to help.”

Ben Chase

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Ben Chase

Ben is a New York City native who was raised to love the city but also to leave it often; he grew up hiking upstate on weekends and making annual pilgrimages to ski New England ice. A former active duty Marine Corps officer, he has lived all over the US and abroad. Having recently completed graduate school, Ben is happy to be outdoors once again, and spends his time backcountry skiing, hiking, climbing, and surfing, preferably in regions abundant with craft breweries.

Boris Fishman

Guide

Boris Fishman

Boris Fishman was born in a faraway land of gray concrete buildings and desolate thoroughfares, so he takes to guiding for Outdoor Bound with special enthusiasm. In his other life, he is a writer of journalism and fiction (see www.borisfishman.com); a frequent traveler and road-tripper (on tap for 2010: The Grand Canyon, Appalachia, Colorado, New Orleans, the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire, Seattle-to-San Francisco, and Turkey); and a halfway decent cook. Past travels have taken him to more than 30 countries with wilderness adventures including Yellowstone/Grand Tetons; Utah National
Parks; South Dakota Badlands; Sangre de Cristos, Colorado; Beartooths, Montana; Downeast Maine; Oahu, Hawaii; Lares Valley/Machu Picchu, Peru; Saba, Netherlands Antilles; Kurdistan, Iraq; Middle Atlas Mountains/Sahara, and Morocco. For years now, he has been more than satisfied by the natural glories of his adopted homeland. In his spare time, Boris reads writers like Coetzee, Steinbeck, and Malamud, and schemes up completely unprofitable ideas for start-ups. (Van service for farm volunteers, anyone?)

David Tacheny

Guide, MA, CPT, LWMC

David Tacheny

David Tacheny is a new guide with Outdoor Bound but is no stranger to the outdoors! He was raised on a horse and sheep farm in southern Minnesota, where he also guided youth groups and taught horseback riding lessons. Whether on his bike or on horseback David’s parents only ever asked two things while he was growing up. “How long will you be gone and which direction areheaded?” This freedom to explore the outdoor world around him was and is one of the things David values most and loves sharingwith others! David is also the founder of Proformance Atheltics, a company who’s goal is to foster the everyday athlete inside all of us. You can find out more about David’s training programs, including the PeAk Fitness Series at www.proformanceathletics.com! See you on the trail!

Jenny Rawdin

Guide, Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard

Jenny Rawdin

Jenny Rawdin joins us just as the weather is getting a bit warmer. Jenny, a New York native loves spending her time in the great outdoors whether it’s here in the city on her bike or star gazing the mountains. She spent the entire summer of 2009 in a constant state of ADVENTURING, whether it was hiking in the Catskills or building houses with Habitat for Humanity in Maine. She does everything with a smile on her face. She had a very successful camping and educational experiences this summer as a trip leader for Teen Adventure trips throughout the North East. She loves rock climbing, biking, backpacking, rafting and swimming too. She has traveled to Hawaii for surfing, Costa Rica to do some zip lining and horse riding and Colorado to chill in some very awesome hidden hot springs. She loves nature and all it has to offer because it’s just so unforgettable and memorable wherever you are in it!

Brent Campbell

Guide, Wilderness First Aid

Brent Campbell

Brent joined Outdoor Bound as a guide in May 2010. Though he loves the fast pace of New York City life, nothing gets his heart racing like carving through fresh powder in the backcountry of Montana, skydiving at his uncle’s Iowa-based drop zone, summiting a peak in the Adirondacks or Rocky Mountain National Park, scuba diving in Brazil, or hunting deer in his native Minnesota. Brent also enjoys rock climbing, wakeboarding, biking, and camping. Besides building fires and cooking for Outdoor Bound guests, Brent’s favorite part of the “job” is meeting new people and watching them discover and conquer new outdoor pursuits.

Arielle Caruso

Guide, Wilderness First Aid

Arielle Caruso

Arielle grew up traveling and developed a passion for foreign people and places at an early age. Although she spends the work week indoors at an art gallery, she spends all of her free time planning her next adventure—seeking out new cities, mountains, beaches, and jungles. Growing up on the grounds of her family’s day camp, she developed a boundless sense of adventure and a love for the outdoors. She filled her days with swimming, horseback riding, and exploring the woods. These days Arielle practices yoga daily, hikes, and snowboards. She lives for adventure and feels there is nothing more thrilling than exploring the beauty of our natural world. She has an enthusiasm for life and looks forward to sharing it with those she meets.

Orlando Vargas

Regional Director, Central America

Orlando Vargas

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Orlando joined the Outdoor Bound team in 2007 as our Latin America Specialist. His passion for the natural world stems from growing up in the Costa Rican countryside, learning about and experiencing nature as part of his everyday life. After graduating from high school, Orlando moved to the capital, San Jose, where he studied Costa Rican ornithology, tropical dendrology, ecology, medical plants, natural history, turtle biology and biodiversity. He has also studied wilderness first aid and CPR as well as foreign languages; he is fluent in Spanish, English and French. For the last 17 years, he has explored Latin America as a Naturalist Tour Guide. Orlando especially loves to bird watch and can identify species by sight and sound.

Craig Loewenstern

Comic Relief, Social Butterfly, Connie’s Husband, Wilderness First Aid

Craig Loewenstern

Craig is usually along for the ride, helping out as Sweep on hikes, providing amusing social discourse and generally winning over all Outdoor Bound clients with his wit and easy demeanor. If you have met him, you have laughed, learned something and likely divulged your high-school sports team name. Craig has traveled as much as anyone you know and probably has a friend in most of the places you’ve been. This Texas native is also a fantastic cook and is the craftsman behind Connie’s gourmet sandwiches & crazy bean salads coveted by other hikers. Craig also assists on Adventure Travel for Outdoor Bound.

Outdoor Bound Hounds!

Dogs You Are Likely to Meet: Tex & China

Tex and China after a hike

Outdoor Bound is dog-friendly! And these are two of our friendly trail dogs.

Tex belongs to Connie and Craig and loves to hike. He is a year-old rescued Boxer/American Staffordshire mix, and super-friendly. He has his own pack and it is loaded with, among other things, a first-aid kit and extra water!

China is an 11-month-old Sharpei/Yellow-Lab mix from Arkansas. She’s as fast as a rabbit when she gets on the trail and she absolutely loves being outside.

If you have a friendly, socialized dog, they are welcome on our hikes (please let us know if you plan to bring a pooch).