Bear Basin Wrangler-Guides are comprised of an intriguing bunch of characters with a variety of life experiences - as well as an extensive knowledge of horses and wilderness treking skills.

photo by Hannes Zuber

Dave & Michelle Bennett

photo by Kay Huey

Gary Ziegler- Founder
Gary Ziegler is a world famous explorer and recognized authority on the Inca empire. He has lead numerous exploration and research expeditions in remote regions of Peru since 1965. He has co-produced or collaborated in the production of a number of documentary films for National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Readers Digest and Lonely Planet. His archaeological discoveries include Corihuyrachina (National Geographic; February, 2004), Cota Coca and Llactapata; a significant and extensive ceremonial complex associated with the famous Machu Picchu ( Royal geographical Society November, 2004).

His life experience reads like a high adventure novel. He hitchhiked to Peru, served with the Peace Corps, served with Army Special Forces in Viet Nam, chased bandits as a county sheriff and lives part of each year cowboying, leading wilderness horse trips and raising Long Horn cows. As a mountaineer and guide, he holds the first ascents of seven 6000 meter Ice peaks in the Andes. He is founder and operator of Bear Basin Ranch, a four thousand acre educational working ranch and conservation land trust in Colorado.

He designed and instructed outdoor education programs for Outward Bound and lectures part time in archaeology at Colorado College. He is published in numerous journals and publications and has written a book, "Beyond Machu Picchu". He holds degrees in geology and philosophy from Colorado College and completed graduate studies in archaeology at San Marcos, the national university of Peru. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Explorers Club.

Amy Finger - Co-Founder
Amy Finger is co-owner and Director of Adventure Specialists , a world recognized organization that operates diverse educational and adventure programs in Colorado, Mexico and Peru. She has organized field projects for National Geographic, The Royal Geographical Society, The Sierra Club, The Colorado Mountain Club, museums and educational organizations. Amy also manages and is a co-owner in Bear Basin Ranch, a four thousand acre educational working ranch and conservation land trust in Colorado. She operates her own consulting business helping land owners place rural properties and ranches in protective conservation easements.

Amy is an experienced wilderness guide and explorer with more than twenty years of hands on experience guiding back county and wilderness programs. She was a team member and logistics coordinator for several successful exploratory expeditions in Peru including the recent Royal Geographical Society expedition that discovered an important Inca ceremonial complex, Llactapata, in 2003. She holds a BA degree in Geology/Climatology with an emphasis in land use planning from the University of Colorado.

Dave & Michelle Bennett - Owners
Dave & Michelle Bennett met the summer of 2001, when they both went to work for Peak 3 Outfitters, whose base camp was at the foot of Horn Peak in the Sangre de Cristo’s. 

Michelle came from Alabama where she was a youth minister at a church in Gulf Shores.  She had taken her youth group to Colorado which led her to Peak 3.  Dave had been coaching college soccer in North Carolina since 1992.  He spent his summers working for an outfitter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  His desire to do similar work in the West led him to Peak 3.

In the Spring of 2004, Peak 3 began looking at the possibility of purchasing Bear Basin Packtrips.  When Peak 3 opted not to buy the business, Dave & Michelle (who had been married a couple of months) began to explore the possibility of taking on the business.  By January 2005 and with the confidence of the former owners, Gary Ziegler & Amy Finger, Dave & Michelle’s dream became reality.  The Bennett’s became owners of Bear Basin Packtrips, LLC.

Dan Weiss
Dan, our longest term employee, continues with us again this year. Dan is known for his high country cuisine and extensive knowledge of the Sangre de Cristos. He has been in the area for 26+ years and brings a broad knowledge of the history and development of the Wet Mountain Valley area.

Barbara Saint-Amour
Barbara is returning for her 11th season as a wrangler and pack trip guide. She is retired from being an elementary school teacher and brings her love of educating people to the Ranch with her knowledge of horses, flora and fauna. She's also a heck of a guitar player and singer, and if you're lucky, she might just pack the guitar along on your trip!

Emily Otte