The Story of Tie-Dyed Guide
Hello there! I'm Jeff—aka the Tie-Dyed Guide. Based in North Adams, MA, I'm a Berkshire mountain trail guide providing private guided hikes and hiking experiences to hikers of all ages and range of ability. I'm your guy to help you or your group take advantage of the amazing network of hiking trails that cover the beautiful Berkshire region of western Massachusetts, making sure you get a great hike that you can just enjoy!
The Basics…
I'm all about heading out on the trail, being outside in nature, climbing up hills and mountains, wandering under the green canopy of the forest in the cool, fragrant air alongside babbling brooks, observing wildlife. I have been an avid hiker for nearly a decade and a professional trail guide for six years. Over that period I have helped hundreds of hikers enjoy the simple pleasure (and profound experience!) of being outside in nature. Hiking can be tricky for some—especially if you are visitor to the Berkshires. So it's great to have someone to lead the way to make sure you get to an amazing spot, and have an overall great experience. And achieve something! Climb to a peak... go on a little adventure!
Tie-Dyed Guide Philosophy
I'm amiable, easygoing and love chatting with folks from all walks of life. I call it Tie-Dyed Guide partly because of my personality: I love the 60s, freedom, the colors and variety of our big beautiful world (which, if you ask me, is all considered Nature), Bob Dylan, music, playing guitar, great art, the world of the mind, etc. and all that… (Feel free to ask me about Bob!)
My approach to Guiding
I'm more of an all-around conversationalist than a naturalist. So although I'm pretty good with knowledge of the flora and fauna, I think of my guided hikes as more about the pleasure of being in nature (whether with conversation or in silence) rather than a scripted explanation of the natural world around us. Indeed this is the other reason for the "Tie-Dyed", to describe the experience of total nature immersion--the greens, deep rich browns, blues of the sky (check my ig pics!). It's more about the diorama of colors than it is about knowledge. Most of all I just want to help people get out on the trail and experience nature!
Origin Story
I'm 44, born and raised in Syracuse, NY, then lived in Washington, DC for about 20 years. Back in 2019 I was thinking about leaving the professional world and starting my own business. At that time I had been in academia, but I was really getting deep into into hiking. You see I had recently discovered the trails of Rock Creek Park (which was pretty much in my backyard—I lived in Mt. Pleasant for those that know the city).
Through my regular hiking (I would go pretty much every day for a few hours) I realized that it wasn’t books and scholarship that gave my days positive energy but rather the exercise and nature immersion of hiking. It hit me that it was this, the vitalizing experience of “forest bathing”—total sensory immersion in the world of nature, that I wanted to share with people.
So that summer I launched my first guided hiking experience on the Airbnb Experience platform, The Wooded Trails of Rock Creek Park. The success of that hike—4.97 rating and dozens of happy hikers—confirmed this new path for me: I’d be a trail guide!
Then a big move brings us to the next chapter…
MOve to The Berkshires
In 2021 fate and design took me to North Adams, Massachusetts, a hikers paradise situated in the Berkshire Mountains—an ideal place for a trail guide if I may say. It’s a great town, with incredible people, a couple of amazing museums, great lodging options. But most of all it’s about this small city’s dramatic setting amidst the mountains—very few cities on the east really have that. Greylock Mountain, the tallest in the state at 3,491 ft, towers above the picturesque towns below. The Appalachian Trail runs right through, and that’s just the start. We’ve got miles and miles of trails! I’ve been learning them for a few years now, got it down, and now I’m adding new hikes and experiences regularly. I’ve already taken dozens of hikers on trails from ranging from Wilmington, VT to Lenox, MA.
2022 and beyond: New hikes and Experiences iN Greylock Glen
In 2022, I launched my first Berkshire hike— “Hike up Ragged Mountain Through an Abandoned Ski Area”—in the scenic Greylock Glen of Adams, MA. Greylock Glen is an amazing and unique spot. Mighty Mt. Greylock looms large in this valley right at the foot of the steep east face of the tallest peak in the Massachusetts, nearly as tall as the southern Green Mountains just to the north over the border in Vermont. There is an impressive network of beautiful trails for hikers of all levels where you will rarely encounter anyone, and you'll get the chance to see amazing meadows with mountain views and peaks to climb such as Ragged Mountain. And if you are up for the ultimate challenge, I also offer "Climb Mt Greylock", an epic 2000'+ climb from valley to peak!
tiedyedguide.com
In 2022 I launched my own website, www.tiedyedguide.com. It's a growing site, and the place to go to figure out what hike or type of hiking experience you are looking for. It is organized in that manner, as you have the option to look at the List of Hikes or Hiking Experiences from the navigation menu. For example, I have a Fitness and Exercise Hike for those interested in a hike that is focused on exercise (I'm a big fitness and strength training guy). And coming soon, I am launching a Talkin' Bob Dylan Hike in honor of my personal icon, Bob Dylan, where we can have a chill hike where I discuss my intense passion and love of Bob and his music—so look out for that.
I also have my own blog, TDG Blog, that I occasionally (am trying to!) update. More frequently I'm posting pictures on instagram @tiedyedguide.