Meet the Team
In 2024, Olympic Hiking Co. expanded its operations to lead guided tours, shuttles, and backpacking trips in North Cascades National Park, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and Mount Rainer National Park. Through our Hike Cascades program (www.hikecascades.com), OHC is thrilled to expand its network of expert local guides through Washington State. As we did in Olympic National Park, we are hiring teammates within the gateway communities for these special areas of Washington.
Steve: Naturalist Hiking Guide
A life-long Washingtonian, Steve’s first 25 years were Western Washington based. He grew up in the middle of Lake Washington, attended college in Tacoma, and worked field biology jobs at Mount St. Helens, the Olympic Peninsula, and Yellowstone National Park (no, not in WA state). After four years in environmental consulting in Seattle, he moved to Pullman for his masters degree at WSU then promptly settled on the eastern side of the North Cascades in the Methow Valley. For the last 25 years, Steve and his wife Kim, who he met at a Partners in Flight bird training, have grown roots in the community. Steve was Stewardship Director for the local land trust the Methow Conservancy, co-owner/operator of the North Cascades Basecamp year round guest lodge, and Executive Director of Winthrop Rink community recreation center. Currently, naturalist guiding and property management duties blend with family pursuits, including restoration of a 5 acre piece of paradise, supporting the ambitions of his wife and two children, and fueling addictions to hiking, biking, nordic skiing, birding, travel, and exploration. Steve enjoys meeting people and helping them explore and learn about the natural world, particularly the North Cascades and Methow Valley. He is excited to provide memorable experiences, and a few laughs.
Aaron: Naturalist Hiking Guide
Based in Olympia, WA, Aaron guides with equal parts curiosity, geological nerdery, and heartfelt reverence for the land. With a background in geology and wilderness safety, he has spent the last decade leading small-group adventure travel across North America and Europe, as well as supporting educational field programs. He now brings that experience to the Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mountains, where he helps guests connect not just with the scenery, but with the stories behind it: the volcanic upheaval, glacial shaping, and quiet persistence of moss, ferns, trees, and tidal flats. Aaron believes the outdoors aren’t something to conquer, but places we’re lucky to belong to. Whether it’s a misty forest trail, a picnic on a driftwood-strewn beach, or a spontaneous snowball fight, he helps create moments that feel restorative, grounding, and maybe even a little bit magical. When he’s not on trail, Aaron can be found taking contemplative walks with his cat, skating obscure European backroads, or advocating for a more sustainable future through the development of geothermal energy. Ask him about: marine mammal diplomacy, moss politics, shellfish stories, volcanic grudges, and the sacred trio of cheese, bread, and wine/mead/cider.
Trevor: Operations Manager
Trevor came to the Olympic Peninsula in 2012, assigned to US Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles as a Petty Officer First Class. He found a home among the shorelines and mountains of the peninsula greater than anywhere he had lived before. A lifelong hiker, biker, and climber, Trevor spent every moment exploring western Washington when he wasn't flying on search and rescue cases, or deployed to disaster areas. His time in the service spanned 20 years and took him all over the western hemisphere, but nothing felt like home more than Port Angeles. Trevor decided to retire from the Coast Guard as a Chief Petty Officer and fulfill his dream of making the Olympic Peninsula his home for good. He brings with him a wealth of leadership and management experience, as well as a few skills he picked up along the way. Notably, Trevor has been a member of three Arctic expeditions as a mountaineer and logistics manager. In his off time, you may be likely to run into him almost anywhere on the northern peninsula. His favorite activities are the ones where he gets to spend time outdoors with his wife and their dogs. A life of travel has given him a passion for the outdoors, a love of nature, and a desire for adventure. He is beyond excited to be a part of the Olympic Hiking Company and Hike Cascades team, and he looks forward to being a part of your experience in Olympic, North Cascades, Mount Rainier, or anywhere in between.
Dan: Communications & Systems Coordinator
Dan is a creative storyteller who works at the intersection of place, people, and process. With a background in media, design, and music, he supports Olympic Hiking Co. by crafting digital content, organizing internal systems, and helping the team stay in sync behind the scenes. Dan believes communication can be both beautiful and functional, and he brings that ethos to everything from social content to back-end planning. Living in Port Angeles, he finds constant inspiration in the fog, forest, and rhythm of the Olympic Peninsula. Outside of work, you’ll often find him composing music, filming improvised hikes, or listening deeply to the sound of crows, rain, and rivers.
Tommy: Owner & Founder
After growing up on the Olympic Peninsula, Tommy Farris combined his passions for the outdoors and entrepreneurship by founding the Olympic Hiking Company (OHC) in 2016. In what started as a business school project at the University Washington, Tommy eventually left his career in Finance, moved back to Port Angeles, and began leading guided day tours of Olympic National Park as a solopreneur. Today, Tommy now leads a 28-employee team as Olympic Hiking Co. serves over 4,000 travelers each year on its guided day tours, trailhead shuttles, and backpacking trips in Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier. While OHC continues to grow, Tommy’s core mission for the company remains the same – provide authentic local experiences that strengthen our guests’ connection with nature through responsible recreation and a greater admiration for the natural wonders of the diverse ecosystems that surround us. Outside of work, Tommy volunteers his time on various tourism boards and within the community, including 4+ years as a Board Member with State of Washington Tourism and the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. When windows of opportunity arise, Tommy enjoys backpacking deep into the most remote regions of the Olympics and North Cascades. A once-a-year 50-mile through-hike backpacking trip with his best friend is a milestone event to end every summer busy season.