Meet Us!

Amy and I met when we both moved to the small desert town of Page, AZ. We immediately bonded over our similar interests in travel, the outdoors, and the fact that we both have an almost painful amount of things we want to do in this life! In the years that followed, we took our kids and families on many adventures, and then finally decided to put our combined passion of the outdoors, curiosity, adventure, and connection to good use. Thus, Rooted & Wild Adventure Co. was born. This year, as we have grown, we have been honored to add 6 amazing women to our Rooted & Wild team! Click on our bios to learn more about all of us individually.

  • Guiding Marigold, Honey, and Jade Groups

    (she/her)

    I am the mother of three kids whose favorite thing is taking my little ones with me on trips and outdoor adventures. The first international flight I booked for my family had me so excited, that I ran around the house screaming with my hands in the air like Kevin McCallister, in Home Alone. Despite the inconveniences of travel with a 6 year old, 5 year old, and four month old, that first trip to Iceland lit a fire in me, and I’ve never looked back. Several countries later, and always plans for more, I have ridden a double decker bus in London, watched sloths climb through trees in the rain in Costa Rica, explored an old Russian toy museum in Lithuania, and spent St Patrick’s day in small-town Ireland.

    Maybe the only thing I personally love more than exploration is connecting with other humans. Not me whipping out my ever-growing list of deep getting-to-know-you questions that I’ve tediously compiled on the notes app of my phone, any chance I get (ex. Who is a stranger you still remember?)

    Professionally, I love getting to know people through photography. I was a wedding and lifestyle photographer for several years, and I like to call my style of photography “noticing”. I recently put aside taking pictures as a profession, to follow a path of self discovery and healing. I just received my 200-hour yoga teacher training from an Ashram in Hawaii, and am so excited to incorporate asana and meditation into our adventures.

    I am Wilderness First Responder certified and feel equipped in a backcountry setting.

    I used to wonder how I would ever incorporate all the things I love into something meaningful in my life. When Amy approached me about this business, I felt immediately in my core, “this is what you’ve been waiting for”. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to be apart of you are your journey of connection and growth.

  • Rose Group

    I’ve always loved a good adventure on any scale: from visiting a night market in Beijing and trying new (read: unique) foods, to hiking to a cheesemaker in the Swiss Alps, to taking a polar bear plunge in a lake in Maine. I’ll never grow tired of the thrill of trying something new!

    These days I’m a mother to 3 and an Air Force Spouse, and have called Utah home since 2020. My family of 5 is checking off as many National Parks from the list as we can. We’ve tackled 21 parks together so far and have loved hiking, swimming, and camping our way through them!

    Our time in Utah has really crystallized for me a love of the magical outdoors, and being a participant in the Year of Adventure last year was one of my best adventure choices I’ve made to date. I’m honored to guide a group this year!

    So let’s go and get our next adventure started!

  • Magenta and Luna Groups

    Hey ladies, Rachel here! I have two sweet kiddos, an awesome husband, and a fluffy dog.

    The things I enjoy most in life are making core memories with family and friends. Thinking back, many of my core memories have been when I'm outside adventuring. Some of my favorite memories include backpacking the Grand Canyon rim to rim twice, hiking the Inca trails of Machu Picchu, annual Bear Lake camping trips, running half marathons/triathlons, cold plunging in mountain lakes, skiing down mountains, conquering a ropes course in the mountains of Switzerland, snowshoeing through snow laden pines, sunrise Timp summits, sea cave kayaking, wild animal sightings, walking on a 27 mile long Alaskan glacier, deep sea halibut fishing, salmon fishing on the Kenai river, attempted handstands on paddle boards, and jumping on the trampoline with my kids.

    Some other activities I enjoy include, baking, reading, adult gymnastics, going to the gym, bouldering, and regular yoga practice. I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano so I started a year ago and love it so much!

    I'm always ready for an adventure and to learn something new and I can't wait to do that with like minded women like you!

  • Scout Group

    Hi! I’m Emily Johnson. I’ve been married to my best friend for 20 years and we have 4 rambunctious kids. We love the outdoors and adventuring together.

    I work part time as a surgical and Labor and Delivery nurse. I enjoy being active, and move my body daily with such activities as CrossFit, running, and hiking. In my spare timeI love reading and planning vacations on my front porch swing.

    I grew up exploring and enjoying the beauty and wildness of the outdoors. My love and appreciation for nature has continued to grow over the years. My spirit loves and craves adventure and new experiences.

    Rooted and Wild helped me experience nature and new adventures last year. I can’t wait to experience both with you!

  • Guiding Marigold, Honey, Jade Groups

    I grew up in Cincinnati, amidst green rolling hills, humid mosquito-filled summers, and the most awesome thunder storms. While my friends hung at the mall on summer weekends, my dad insisted on dangling my siblings and I off cliff-sides to learn the basics of repelling. My parents were big fans of good old-fashioned fun and we spent lots of family time camping, hiking, rock climbing, and learning to water ski off “Old Smokey”, our endearing sparkly 80’s boat that is still kickin’.

    Now as parents to three little ladies, my husband Scott and I love adventuring with them and introducing them to every outdoor activity under the sun. It is such a thrill to watch them develop skills and confidence outside.

    Our favorite family adventures have included snorkeling with sea turtles in Puerto Rico, staying at an organic farm in Costa Rica, hiking with wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains, yurt-camping along the southern coast of the Everglades. We are huge fans of National Parks and you bet we have quite the collection of Junior Ranger badges.

    At any point of time, I have at least 4 family trip itineraries planned in my back pocket, just in case we can sneak something in. :)

    While living in Page, I was on the founding board of Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy, bringing outdoor-based education to elementary school students in the area.

    I’m convinced that most people are good, and the world is absolutely spilling over with amazing experiences and places.

    One of my very favorite things is introducing people to new places and experiences, so I am thrilled to bring other mothers and daughters along on this journey! Can’t wait to see you on the trail!

  • Rose and Ruby Groups

    Hi, I’m Natalie!
I’m beyond excited to be guiding this Year of Adventure with Rooted & Wild! After moving to Utah from Arizona (where I owned a gym and spent most of my time motivating people to crush their goals), I needed something to help me connect with my new surroundings—and that’s when the algorithm gods worked magic to deliver Rooted & Wild to my IG feed. Signing up was the BEST decision! I’ve met some incredible, like-minded ladies and had so much fun exploring the northern part of the state.

    While I absolutely love Utah, I have missed coaching and that thrill of helping people overcome fears. Guiding a Year of Adventure feels like the perfect opportunity to blend my love for the outdoors with my passion for coaching—it’s like my heart’s happy place! Helping people try new things, push through challenges, and achieve big goals? There couldn’t be a better fit for me (really, there couldn’t!).

    So, big cheers & high fives to more adventures, more laughs, more fun and another year full of making friends & memories with the Rose Group……& a few expeditions too!!

  • Magenta and Luna Groups

    When it comes to the outdoors, I would describe myself as a “late-bloomer outdoorswoman”. While surrounded by adventure in my home state of Arizona, I didn’t fully embrace my own interests in the outdoors until I became a mom and moved to Utah. 

    Through lots of trial and error, I can now say that I am an avid Nordic skier, an enthusiastic hiker, and a forever please-let-me-see-a-critter-er. 

    I’ve found a huge amount of confidence in doing new things in the outdoors, as well as having to frustratingly try things again that I had believed I couldn’t be good at because I failed in my first attempt (hello Nordic skiing). 

    In the past few years I’ve adopted the belief  of “doing it scared”, which has allowed me to hike to an active volcano, spend a summer abroad with my family, climb the Wasatch mountain range’s tallest peak, and to winter backpack during a record breaking snow year. “Doing it scared” has also been my mantra doing smaller things like driving in the snow, putting on ski boots by myself, and having to sleep in a tent because sometimes it’s the little details in adventure that intimidate me the most. 

    Outside of personal adventures, I currently work as a Recreation and Tourism photographer and love that every job is different. 

    This year I’m thrilled to join Rooted and Wild as a guide and can’t wait to work with other women finding the outdoors later in life, as well as any life-long adventurers joining in on the fun. 

  • Scout and Ruby Groups

    My roots are in Columbus, Ohio. I ran cross country and track at North Carolina State University, and then moved to Utah in 2012 and have never left!

    Being from flat farmland filled Ohio, upon arriving in Utah I quickly became obsessed with being in the mountains: rock climbing, skiing, canyoneering, and hiking/ summiting peaks.

    I’m a former data analyst by trade, and am currently home keeping my 4 small humans alive. Few things make my husband Eli and I prouder than when our kids come alive scrambling over rocks during our hikes.

    I enjoy volunteer coaching, empowering elementary age girls with the Girls on the Run program. Recently, I trained and hiked Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon. I still love running races and have high hopes to train for an Iron Man.

    I’m a wannabe gardener and a native plants enthusiast. I love nerding out over recent books I’ve read or a fascinating new podcast I’ve heard, and always have a stomach for ice cream (especially anything s’mores flavored).

    I absolutely love meeting new people and am constantly blown away by how incredible humans can be. As a previous participant of the Year of Adventure, I’m so excited to help introduce women to new adventures and experiences as I guide the Year of Adventure and backpacking excursions!