The Finest Team of Outdoor Professionals Based in NYC

David DiCerbo, Founder and Head Guide

Dave left a successful, but unfulfilling corporate career in publishing to pursue his passion for connecting others with the outdoors. In 2011, he founded Destination Backcountry Adventures in order to share the restorative power of the wilderness with his fellow nature deprived New Yorkers. He and his team of guides have dedicated their lives to sharing their favorite wildernesses, helping people form a closer relationship with nature. Dave has contributed to articles and been featured in Backpacker Magazine, Men's Health, and the Wall Street Journal, and has taught his signature ADAPT approach to survival in front of wide-ranging audiences.

Jessica Tackett, Partner, Director of Marketing, Lead Guide  

Jessica emigrated from the flat plains of Chicagoland to the wilderness of New York City, only to discover her true home in the forest of the Catskills. With a guide license in one hand and background in publishing in the other, she spends her days composing emails to the DBA community and her weekends guiding trips in the Catskills and Hudson Valley. She and Morgana started Women of the Wilds to offer more adventures and classes geared toward women interested in the outdoors. Jessica is a NYDEC licensed guide for backpacking, camping, and boating.

 Morgana Skelton, Photographer, Lead Guide

Migrating from Michigan where she grew up wandering the woods and climbing the dunes of the Great Lake State, Morgan is an outdoor enthusiast and nature lover. Moving to the city was a big change for her until she discovered easy access to the mountains and ocean. An avid bicyclist and outdoor explorer she spends as much time that she can getting out of the city. From surfing to hiking to canoeing she has a wide range of interests. A photographer by necessity, she tries to capture the beauty and serenity of the landscapes around her from city life to natural world. Morgan is a NYDEC licensed guide for backpacking, camping, and boating.

Greg Wilson, Lead Guide

We first encountered Greg during an extended bushwhack deep in the Slide Mountain Wilderness; he rolled out of his hammock and started a proper flint and steel fire to offer a warm welcome. Needless to say, he has been part of the DBA team ever since. Greg is committed to introducing the outdoors to people who desire a fresh perspective on New York City life. He believes that a balance between these two extremes is an opportunity to not only fulfill one's thirst for adventure, but also to challenge oneself to think outside the borough box. Greg is a NYDEC licensed guide for backpacking, camping, boating and fishing, sits on the NY Guide Association's Board of Directors and co-owns Freestone Expeditions, offering custom fly-fishing trips deep in pristine Catskill headwaters. Oh, and he makes a pretty good beef jerky. 

Brad Winer, Lead Guide

Brad is a licensed NY State Outdoor Guide for hiking, camping, and boating. He also holds professional qualifications in Wilderness First Aid and Avalanche Safety. Brad is an Adirondack 46er and a member of the Catskill 3500 Club. When he is not in the great outdoors, Brad organizes and facilitates corporate team-building events—then goes back to scheming and dreaming about getting back outdoors. Brad has lived and traveled all over the world pursuing his passion for hiking and climbing. He is now based in Brooklyn, where he constantly evangelizes about the rewards of getting out of the city and experiencing the world-class wilderness opportunities available in New York State.

Ela Connolly, Head of Holistic

Ela is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200) from Chicago. She fell in love with yoga’s mind body connection, and attributes the practice with helping to manage and overcome issues with depression, and anxiety. Now, her time on the mat is as much play as therapy. Ela encourages students to find inner strength and empowerment. Her teaching demonstrates the importance of persevering and firing forward both mentally and physically. She strives to motivate practitioners to live authentically and take yogic principles off their mat and into their daily lives. Her classes help students recognize the limitless power we all have within our mind and body and are accessible for all levels, providing beginner modifications and advanced variations. 

Destiny Colon, Assistant Guide

A hike on the Devil's Path profoundly changed native New Yorker Destiny's life and she is excited to be able to share her love of nature as an assistant guide. Her confidence and easy demeanor inspires others to new heights—literally and figuratively! Destiny spends her free time completing obstacle course races, swimming, and cooking. She is actively pursuing her Catskills 3500 Club membership and is working towards her NY State Guide License.

Bridget Brogan, Assistant Guide

Growing up surrounded by the beautiful lakes and mountains of New Hampshire, Bridget developed a lifelong love and appreciation for nature and a passion for adventure. She strives to help others develop a similar passion for the outdoors and is excited to do so as an assistant guide. When she moved to New York City, Bridget was as thrilled as she was relieved to discover the mountains so close by.

Lucy Krakow, Assistant Guide

Lucy was raised in an Eagle Scout family in the gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area. After an upbringing of regularly exploring California's immense natural beauty, the transition to the concrete jungle was no easy feat. She sought nature's refuge by spending as many months a year as possible living in an off-the-grid cabin in Puerto Rico whenever she could get away, but is now beyond excited to get her fix—and help other lovers and learners do the same—right here in New York! 

Rachel Talbert, Assistant Guide

A designer by trade and adventurer by nature, Rachel has always drawn creative inspiration from the beauty of the outdoors. After years of working in corporate fast fashion, she now strives to make a more positive impact on the environment and to build a stronger connection with people and wildlife. Outside of the woods, you can find Rachel biking around Brooklyn, escaping to the beach, stopping strangers to pet their dogs, playing skeeball, or telling horrible dad jokes.

Gabriel Peterson, Assistant Guide

Gabriel is a saxophonist from Wisconsin where he grew up hiking, biking, and cross country skiing. After a few months in the city, he began to miss the woods, great lakes, and open spaces that Wisconsin has to offer, and he’s thrilled for every chance he has to get out of the city and into the woods. When he’s not playing the saxophone, Gabriel like to cook, eat, and plan his next trip to the outdoors.

Alexandra Witter, Assistant Guide

Alex spent her childhood in the city, but began spending more time in nature while studying wildlife conservation in college. She lived and worked off the grid on sea turtle conservation projects for a few seasons and found that tent life suited her. A recent thru-hike of the Colorado Trail has solidified her need for both city and wilderness, and she is eager to share this passion with fellow New Yorkers who are also looking for outdoor adventure!