Todd Hanna, President and Director of Operations
A native Austinite, Todd graduated from Austin High School and the University of Texas at Austin. After working several years in the commercial construction and insurance industries, he served four years on active duty as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Recalled to active duty military service in 2007, Todd returned to Austin in 2008 and was named President & CEO of Explore Austin, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching inner-city boys leadership skills through mentoring and outdoor adventure. He is a Team ALP Lead Guide and Wilderness First Responder. Todd enjoys running, competing in triathlons, and any other outdoor activity. He has a personal commitment to the community's youth and has coached little league baseball and Pop-Warner football for several years. He is also an Outward Bound instructor. Todd lives in Austin with his wife, Mari Allan, and their two boys, Dillon and Andrew.
Hayden Starkey, Vice President
Brother of Carson Starkey and co-founder of With Carson, Hayden is a third generation graduate of Austin High School and is currently a senior at The United States Naval Academy. He is a squad leader and Brigade officer serving as the Alcohol Drug Education Officer (ADEO). The ADEO is in charge of all education and programming involving the dangers and responsibilities of alcohol and drug use for all 4500 Midshipmen. Hayden is also certified in climbing safety at the Naval Academy. Hayden recently completed the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) 4-week program in Alaska. Beginning at the age of six, Hayden attended and worked at Camp Stewart in Hunt, Texas, and Outpost Wilderness Adventure (OWA) in Colorado. Hayden is an avid outdoorsman and loves cycling, climbing, and camping. Hayden has natural and developed leadership skills.
David Appleton, Director of Programs
David founded Outpost Wilderness Adventure in 1979 and served as Director from the outset until 2004. He now serves as Director Emeritus and continues to be actively involved. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Resource Economics. He previously served as Associate Director at Camp Stewart in Texas and is a graduate of the ACA's Model B Institute for Camp Directors. He is a Past President of the Camping Association for Mutual Progress and is a Wilderness First Responder. He's a NORBA CAT 1 mountain bike racer and still competes in races from time to time. He has expedition experience all over the Western Hemisphere including climbing expeditions in Alaska, Canada, Switzerland, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador; mountain bike explorations on previously unridden trails in Bolivia and Mexico's Copper Canyon; and backcountry trips all over the western US and in Mexico. In 2004 he was recognized by the Campaign for America's Wilderness as a Wilderness Hero. He is fluent in Spanish and while not guiding and working with groups operates a small educational organic farm and helps organizations develop adventure resources such as trails and climbing facilities. He and his wife, Lori, have one daughter-- Adair and divide their time between Texas and Colorado.
Scott Starkey, Advisor
Father of Carson Starkey, Scott is President and co-founder of With Carson, a not for profit organization created after the loss of his son Carson. With Carson promotes education and awareness about hazing and alcohol poisoning. With Carson actively promotes the building of stronger communities by teaching the importance of helping one another. To learn more please visit withcarson.com. Scott has a true love of the outdoors, has built wilderness hike and bike trails, and is an avid mountain and road cyclist. He is a Team ALP Lead Guide and Wilderness First Responder. Scott lives in Austin and Hunt, Texas with his wife Julia and two border collies.
The Team ALP Leadership Team
Founders & Directors
Team ALP Guides
Kirk Scheel- Lead Guide and Medical Director
Kirk is a Paramedic, Wilderness EMT and firefighter with the Kerrville, Texas Fire Department and also a Senior Guide with Outpost Wilderness Adventure. He is the Team ALP medical scenario and instruction chief. He has broad adventure experience in Europe and across the US. He has a degree in Outdoor Recreation from Southern Mississippi University, served in the National Guard and currently lives with his wife, Michelle in Ingram, Texas.
Katherine Verburg- Guide
Katherine currently teaches and coaches in Vancouver, BC. A native Canadian, Katherine has been climbing, cycling, traveling and backpacking for years. She began attending OWA programs as a 14 year old and eventually progressed through the ranks to become a full guide in 2002 working with a variety of outdoor groups ever since. She is fluent in English, French and Dutch, is married to Team ALP Lead Guide Ryan Sullivan and has a young daughter, Saskia.
Quentin Keith- Lead Guide
Quentin is a longtime Senior Guide with Outpost Wilderness Adventure and a former Director. He worked for many years as a member of the Breckenridge Ski Patrol and currently owns and manages Lighthouse Solar of Austin (a solar installation company). He has years of backcountry expedition leadership experience in the US, Mexico, Bolivia and the Alps. He and wife Shelly have 3 daughters, Peachie, Willow and Piera.
Laurie Schuur Duncan- Guide
A native of Vermont, Laurie earned her BS in Geology from Dartmouth and her PhD/MS in Geophysics at the University of Texas. She is a former expert mountain bike racer and competitive rower, a former EMT, a NOLS graduate, and has extensive climbing and backpacking experience all across the country including ascents of the Diamond and the Grand Teton. She has Outdoor Ed teaching experience and is a Senior Guide Emeritus with Outpost Wilderness Adventure. She is married with two daughters and lives in Austin.
James Faerber- Lead Guide
James is the Owner/Director of Outpost Wilderness Adventure and works with Team ALP on specific programs. He's a graduate of Texas State University with a degree in Recreation Management. He has a broad range of personal adventure experiences across the US including climbing in the Tetons, Wind River Range, Yosemite and across the Rockies and has been an active guide and adventure educator since 1998. He's a Wilderness First Responder and lives in Dripping Springs, Texas with wife Chelsae and son, Tobin.
Ryan Sullivan- Lead Guide
Ryan is a native of Austin and began attending OWA programs in Colorado as a teenager. He ultimately progressed through the OWA staff development levels to become a Guide in 2002 and a Senior Guide in 2004. He has led groups all over the Rockies and in Mexico's Copper Canyon and is an avid traveler and adventurer with years of backcountry, rock climbing and mountain biking experience. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and resides in Vancouver with wife, Katherine Verburg and daughter Saskia.
Kirk is a Paramedic, Wilderness EMT and firefighter with the Kerrville, Texas Fire Department and also a Senior Guide with Outpost Wilderness Adventure. He is the Team ALP medical scenario and instruction chief. He has broad adventure experience in Europe and across the US. He has a degree in Outdoor Recreation from Southern Mississippi University, served in the National Guard and currently lives with his wife, Michelle in Ingram, Texas.
Katherine Verburg- Guide
Katherine currently teaches and coaches in Vancouver, BC. A native Canadian, Katherine has been climbing, cycling, traveling and backpacking for years. She began attending OWA programs as a 14 year old and eventually progressed through the ranks to become a full guide in 2002 working with a variety of outdoor groups ever since. She is fluent in English, French and Dutch, is married to Team ALP Lead Guide Ryan Sullivan and has a young daughter, Saskia.
Quentin Keith- Lead Guide
Quentin is a longtime Senior Guide with Outpost Wilderness Adventure and a former Director. He worked for many years as a member of the Breckenridge Ski Patrol and currently owns and manages Lighthouse Solar of Austin (a solar installation company). He has years of backcountry expedition leadership experience in the US, Mexico, Bolivia and the Alps. He and wife Shelly have 3 daughters, Peachie, Willow and Piera.
Laurie Schuur Duncan- Guide
A native of Vermont, Laurie earned her BS in Geology from Dartmouth and her PhD/MS in Geophysics at the University of Texas. She is a former expert mountain bike racer and competitive rower, a former EMT, a NOLS graduate, and has extensive climbing and backpacking experience all across the country including ascents of the Diamond and the Grand Teton. She has Outdoor Ed teaching experience and is a Senior Guide Emeritus with Outpost Wilderness Adventure. She is married with two daughters and lives in Austin.
James Faerber- Lead Guide
James is the Owner/Director of Outpost Wilderness Adventure and works with Team ALP on specific programs. He's a graduate of Texas State University with a degree in Recreation Management. He has a broad range of personal adventure experiences across the US including climbing in the Tetons, Wind River Range, Yosemite and across the Rockies and has been an active guide and adventure educator since 1998. He's a Wilderness First Responder and lives in Dripping Springs, Texas with wife Chelsae and son, Tobin.
Ryan Sullivan- Lead Guide
Ryan is a native of Austin and began attending OWA programs in Colorado as a teenager. He ultimately progressed through the OWA staff development levels to become a Guide in 2002 and a Senior Guide in 2004. He has led groups all over the Rockies and in Mexico's Copper Canyon and is an avid traveler and adventurer with years of backcountry, rock climbing and mountain biking experience. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and resides in Vancouver with wife, Katherine Verburg and daughter Saskia.