Michaela Burns
Having spent her early years in Slovakia, Michaela has always appreciated the outdoors and loved exploring the rocky mountain trails there. However, she didn’t truly fall in love with hiking until years later, when she started exploring nature with her husband. Thanks to his character-building “shortcuts” and other early trials by fire, Michaela found a lifelong passion.
Over the years, Michaela’s boots have tasted an incredible variety of terrain, from braving the intense summer heatwaves of Arizona to navigating the snowy winter landscapes of Utah. Some of her favorite hiking destinations include the Idaho wilderness, Garibaldi Lake in Canada, and the stunning trails of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Bryce Canyon.
Michaela especially loves exploring National Parks during the off-season when the crowds thin out. In fact, it was time spent in the wild landscapes of Arizona that first showed her why it’s so vital to protect these spaces. Because of this, Michaela is a passionate advocate for nature conservation and strictly practices Leave No Trace principles.
For Michaela, the wilderness is both a sanctuary and a teacher. It taught her that she loves challenging hikes because they push her out of her comfort zone. There is nothing quite as empowering as conquering a mountain, pushing through fear and exhaustion, and being rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise or sunset.
Professionally, Michaela works in Human Resources, which means her daily life revolves around supporting and connecting with people. Outside of hiking, her world is centered on spending quality time with her family and dogs. Michaela is also passionate about the arts—whether she’s admiring it, creating it, or getting lost in a good book—and you can regularly find her hitting the gym for weightlifting.
Michaela’s favorite hike: Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon
Michaela’s favorite drink: Pilsner or well-crafted cocktail
Michaela’s favorite piece of hiking or backpacking gear: “Everything else can suck, but my hiking boots and my tent MUST be top quality.”
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