Meet Your Appalachian Trail Guides:

I’m excited to have these two highly qualified, amazing women guiding our Appalachian Trail adventure! Between them, Steph and Kathy have hiked and backpacked thousands

of miles throughout the United States and internationally. Beyond their extensive trail experience, they have both worked in a variety of outdoor settings with people of all ages.

As educators, they bring so much more than hiking and backpacking experience. They’ll not only guide you along the trail but also share their knowledge of the Appalachian Trail, its flora and fauna, and essential hiking and backpacking skills. Add their infectious smiles, positive outlooks, and genuine love for Maine’s mountains, and you couldn’t ask for better guides.

You’ll be hiking with two of the best guides in Maine!

Stephany Perkins

Stephany Perkins, known to colleagues and students as Steph, has more than 12 years of

experience in outdoor education and recreation. Her journey began with the United

States Peace Corps in Tanzania in 2011, where she worked to connect young people with their local environment and inspire a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Since then, Steph has worked in a variety of formal and informal educational settings, serving as a classroom teacher, outdoor club advisor, and outdoor education coordinator.

She currently teaches in the Natural Resource Program at Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter. She is also a Maine Master Naturalist and recreational guide. In 2025, she was recognized as the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year.

Over the past five years, Steph has spent much of her time exploring Maine’s mountains and trails, deepening her passion for sharing the beauty of the outdoors with others. An avid hiker and backpacker, she has completed the 100 Mile Wilderness three times, both as a guide and for the sheer joy of the journey. It remains one of her favorite places to hike and backpack. Steph looks forward to sharing the challenges, rewards, and unforgettable experiences of Maine’s Appalachian Trail with you.

Wilderness First Responder | Maine Recreational Guide | Maine Master Naturalist

Kathy Dixon-Wallace

Kathy has a passion for wild places and more than 40 years of experience exploring

them and sharing them with others, both independently and in small groups. A strong

believer in the power of experiential and adventure education, she has built a career spanning formal and informal educational settings, including serving as an Associate Professor of Outdoor and Environmental Education at Unity College.

Her journey has taken her to environmental education centers across the country, mountain clubs, and classrooms ranging from middle school to college, with plenty of detours and adventures along the way.

During the summer, Kathy can often be found hiking long-distance trails throughout the United States and Europe. Still, the mountains of Maine hold a special place in her heart, particularly Baxter State Park and the Maine Appalachian Trail. During the school year, she spends as many weekends as possible exploring these special places on foot, by canoe, on skis, or on snowshoes.

Kathy currently teaches middle school science in Milo, Maine. Her lifelong love of wild places and extensive experience in outdoor education bring a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and perspective to every adventure.

BS in Outdoor Recreation, Unity College | MA in Environmental Education, Montclair State University | Middle School Science Teacher