In 1988, Andy joined friend and soon to be business partner Mark Van Alstine on his first exploratory trips into the Karakoram Range of Northern Pakistan. In 1990, Andy and Mark became the owners and directors of KE Adventure Travel USA and for the next 17 years created, organized, marketed, sold and led worldwide trekking, climbing, mountain biking and overland adventure travel tours. Andy's love for the Himalayan Lands, the roots of adventure travel, is now expressed through his company One World Trekking. "The experience and expert support we have developed in the Himalayas over the past 30 years is that which few companies possess", says Andy.

We are extremely happy to welcome Manasseh Franklin as the newest member of the One World Trekking staff. Manasseh has recently returned from Nepal after seven weeks of trekking and guiding groups around the Annapurna Circuit and to the world famous Mount Everest Base Camp. Manasseh Franklin loves mountains. When not climbing, skiing, hiking or simply admiring them, she is writing about their splendor. A climbing guide, freelance adventure writer, and avid traveler, Manasseh is "thrilled to join the One World Trekking team and to assist with all of your travel needs". Manasseh is ready to share her stories and unique insight into traveling to the Himalaya.

What can you say about Charles except that he is superb at what he does! Since 1996, Charles has been guiding biking and trekking groups around the world. Whether hitting the trails in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Bolivia or Vietnam, Charles’s positive attitude brings out the best in people. He’s a natural people person, amateur comedian, bike mechanic and professional photographer. In September 2020 Charles will be leading a photographic trek into the recently opened and remote Merak & Sakteng region of eastern Bhutan.

Raised in Ohio, Dennis moved to the Colorado Rocky Mountains in 1989 and hasn’t stopped moving since. His enthusiasm for all things outdoors fueled his passion to stand on top of all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. In addition to reaching that goal he has summited 85 of the state’s 100 highest mountains. Internationally, Dennis has trekked and climbed in the Bolivian Andes and, in the spring of 2008, was a member of One World Trekking’s exploratory trek into the remote valleys of NarPhu in northern Nepal.As a professional journalist, Dennis currently writes for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and specializes in covering stories related to the West’s oil and gas industry. When not wandering around Colorado’s wilderness areas or hiking through canyons in the desert Southwest, Dennis spends his time relaxing with his wife Joyce and their dogs at home in Silt, Colorado.

Lake Tahoe-native Terray Sylvester grew up skiing and climbing in the Sierra Nevada. He's summited peaks across the U.S. and abroad and embarked on other adventures as well, including a journey by oar and sail up the Inside Passage of British Columbia. For One World Trekking Terray has accompanied groups along Peter Matthiessen's Snow Leopard route in Upper Dolpo, as well as over the Teri La from the NarPhu valleys to Mustang. He speaks Nepali and some Tibetan.Terray moved to Colorado in 2009, and since then he's worked for High Country News and as the editor of The Sopris Sun newspaper in Carbondale. He's currently working as a freelance writer and radio reporter in Paonia, which is a great location for desert adventures and an occasional soak in a hot spring. Whenever a potluck rolls around he's been known to cook a mean dhal bhat.

Mark Van Alstine is truly one of the pioneers in adventure travel. Mark’s first Himalayan explorations in the early 1980’s involved wildlife research in the Punjab and the Karakoram. Mark went on to create new itineraries and guide small groups into the remote regions of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, India and, of course, the Karakoram and Hindu Kush in northern Pakistan. Mark officially retired from full-time adventure travel life in 2006, but remains on as a trusted and knowledgeable trip consultant and trekking guide on our newest journeys.

Colorado raised Marcus Thackston has been working in hospitality related positions for the past 8 years both locally in Colorado and internationally in France and Chile, Marcus founded Blend Web Marketing out of a desire to help small businesses thrive in mountain towns without affordable marketing solutions.

Holding a B.A. in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, and an M.Sc. in Tourism Management from the La Rochelle Business School of Tourism on the western coast of France, Marcus’ outlook on small business is unique. New to working with Andy and the One World Trekking team, Marcus is excited to help lead trips and provide a one of a kind experience that will keep guests seeking out his adventurous hospitality and join him in his  infectious desire to explore new cultures.

Peter brings a varied background and multitude of experiences to his life as a trekking leader. Somewhat of a renaissance man, he was a photojournalist in Northern Ireland, Congressional press secretary, teacher of furniture restoration, manufacturer of hi-fi speakers and currently a lawyer for ski areas and travel businesses.

Now our resident “Well-Seasoned Guide,” Peter has led groups in many of the world's most exciting adventure travel destinations; to the top of Kilimanjaro, biking across Bhutan, trekking the Annapurna Circuit, Kangchenjunga Base Camp, Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes in Nepal. Peter's experience and positive attitude brings out the best in people, allowing you to make the most of your adventure. When not leading trips, Peter and his wife Helen, can be found road biking in Denver or hiking with their rescue collies in the Vail Valley of Colorado.

Born in Carbondale, Colorado in 1999, Jake is nothing but 100% Labrador. He’s been walking to work with Andy since the age of 7 weeks and has been greeting friends, clients and the mailman everyday since. Jake enjoys eating, swimming, eating, chasing tennis balls, eating, going for walks, eating, sleeping and eating. Everyday is a great day if you are Jake!

Born on December 20, 2011, Wyatt began working in the OWT office as an apprentice at the young age of 8 weeks old. He has since caught on very quickly as to the many ways to be a complete distraction to everyone in the office and nuisance to every bird and chipmunk that decides to walk in the front yard. As any Labrador, Wyatt is a dedicated eater, swimmer and tennis ball chaser. A dog’s life!