elizabeth lee, outdoor guide - private and group tours

We thoroughly enjoyed a lovely boat ride on Lake Champlain from Westport to Essex,NY with expert narration on the history of the lakeside settlers, maritime battles and sunken ships, and stories about the wealth of waterfront families gained and lost. As we cruised by, we learned about gulls, peregrines, eagles and turkey buzzards, and the unique habitat of high cliffs and Champlain Valley soil. History, nature, lake and land, what a delightful combination for a most, memorable experience. Thank you!.

Our group of friends spent an entire day with Elizabeth. She guided a passel of our young children and several of their parents on a wonderful two-mile hike up Cheney Mountain. We frolicked our way up the trail, stopping to learn exciting tidbits about birch bark, galls, salamanders, and scat. We picnicked at one of the vistas overlooking Lake Champlain, and then descended the mountain at a leisurely pace.Following our hike, we returned to our vacation house on Lake Champlain, and Elizabeth ushered our dozen children out for an impromptu kayak and SUP regatta. Safety was Elizabeth's top priority the entire time, and no one ever felt burdened by her mindfulness and caution.We closed our day roasting marshmallows and making s'mores over a lakeside campfire.Elizabeth is a kind and patient soul, and immensely knowledgeable of Westport's flora, fauna, history, great hikes, and outdoor adventure opportunities. Children treasure their time with her, and she's just as engaging and interesting for adults as well.

Elizabeth was instrumental in helping us plan a week in Westport, NY for seven families (14 adults and 13 children aged 10 and under). We talked several times over email and phone in the months leading up to the trip so she could tailor her program to our group. She planned a day that started with a beautiful morning hike and then moved on to archery (for the kids), several hours on the water in canoes and paddle boards, and, finally, dinner around a campfire. Elizabeth also had a backup plan in mind in case the weather did not cooperate. In addition to planning our day with her, Elizabeth was more than willing to help us in other ways. For instance, I wanted to go on a long run one morning while we were there. I sent her an email simply asking which roads would have the least traffic. She replied with detailed directions for a great run. Not only that, but she attached a topo map with the run outlined in blue. Her attention to detail, great communication, and eagerness to help ensured that our families had a great week. Reviews from our group after our day with Elizabeth included: (from the adults) ‘she is great!’, ‘she was a homerun’; (from the kids) ‘she’s not a nature guide, she’s a fun guide!’ ‘can she please come back tomorrow?’ and one sad face the next day when we had to say no to ‘is the teacher coming back today?’ I think the only change we’d make if we could do this trip again would be to try to get a second day with Elizabeth.

Earlier this month I participated on a 2 hour boat trip out of Westport NY, which Elizabeth Lee organized and for which she provided narration about natural history sights along the way. She provided a wealth of interesting content, including pointing out active bald eagle and osprey nests and sites of former peregrine falcon nests. She talked about the ecology of the lake and shoreline as we passed gorgeous and interesting scenery including rocky shorelines, towering palisade cliffs, tiny Diamond Island, and into meandering Otter Creek on the Vermont side.The boat was the EScape of Basin Harbor VT, and the captain provided additional lore about past history of the lake including a shipwreck site we visited. I highly recommend this experience--she will be repeating it on August 10 2014.

My spouse and I had a great time hiking with Elizabeth Lee. She took us at Cook Mountain, near Fort Ticonderoga, where we could see great views of Lake George and Lake Champlain. She was knowledgeable on plants, birds, trees and history. Most of all, she transmitted her passion for wilderness and the the beautiful Champlain Valley region. Hiring Elizabeth as a guide made all the difference for us. Thanks Elizabeth !

Elizabeth was a guide for our snowshoe hike in Lake Placid to summit of Mt. Van Hoevenberg. We had an amazing experience and looking forward to coming back next winter. Our hike was well organized. Elizabeth is very knowledgeable and professional. We learned so much about Olympic history of the region. We had a chance to hike older Olympic bobsled tracks. Also about animals and terrain. Our hike lasted about 5 hours and we were able to take breaks whenever needed. We had fresh snow that morning and the views were unbelievable. In the middle of the hike we took a break for lunch in a little cabin along the trail. The food was fresh, hot and delicious, especially tomato soup and quiche. After the hike we did a bobsled experience, which is located in the same area. Looking forward to coming back.

We would follow Elizabeth Lee anywhere she wanted to take us! She was knowledgeable, professional and adventurous all in one. We anticipated learning Olympic history along the way but the added benefit of learning about the plants and animals indigenous to the region, was the icing on the cake! Elizabeth is a joy to hike with and we hope to return in the summer for a warmer adventure with her. John and Sherri Ciko

I had the incredible luck of having Elizabeth Lee be my guide for a hike up Mt. Van Hoevenberg and it was by far one of the best experiences thanks to her. She is by far one of the most knowledgeable people I've met when it comes to the outdoor world we live in - from siting and identifying animal tracks, to the fauna of the forest around us, to the history of the land we walk on - there isn't a fact Elizabeth didn't seem to know. Her love for what she does is evident and translates into a bountiful and joyful experience for you. My group consisted of two of my friends and a family of six and she expertly melded all of us in her conversations and in the speed of the hike. I can't say enough about Elizabeth and look forward to returning to the area and using her services again - she is worth every penny!