We had the absolute most amazing time with Lester! He was a wonderful tour guide and also taught us much more about caves than we expected to learn. He taught us how to safely spot or catch someone in front of us if they're falling back, he taught us the different whistle signals used, and how to use a compass! I had no idea that I didn't even know how to use a compass in the first place. Once he navigated us about halfway to our ending point, he had one of us navigate the rest of the way using the cave map and our compass, and then had us switch on the way back (there were 2 of us). We had never caved before, but he saw that we are the active type, so he not only led us horizontally through spaces, but we also got to go vertical and climb up and down spaces. I couldn't stop raving about our experience afterwards. This tops the list of most exciting things I've ever done, and most unique as well because I can't say I know anyone else who has ever done caving. On our way home, we stopped by Luray Caverns and it was really cool walking through with newfound appreciation. We were able to point out things and appreciate how it was formed in ways we never would have beforehand. The only issue is we wished we could have strayed off the beaten path and explore more nooks and crannies the public doesn't get to see! If you're questioning whether to book a tour with Wild Guyde, I would without a doubt recommend it. If you think you might get claustrophic, I had the same fear going into this, but the cave is very open and even when you're crawling you still have plenty space around you that you don't feel trapped. Plus, you don't have to do anything you don't want to or feel comfortable with! I promise you won't regret it. read more

Amazing! Worked with our family to elevate our first underground adventure. Loved the emphasis on safety and empowered us to go out on our own. 10/10 read more

Lester was fantastic! So much fun for our scout troop! Really didn't know what to expect but maybe that was part of the fun!

I took my three kids (4, 7, & 10) on a guided caving tour with WILD GUYde a few weeks ago. I hadn't been caving since college - a long time ago! Lester was great. Clearly very experienced and knowledgeable. He was also incredibly patient with three small excited children asking all sorts of questions - which was very much appreciated. I will admit I was regretting my decision to be an adventurous mom when we started sliding down into a small hole under a tree but once I reminded myself that we were with an expert guide that all went away. My kids on the other hand didn't want to leave the cave. We will be back to continue our adventure for sure! read more

WILD GUYde Adventures - Hiking Near Me - Harrisonburg, Virginia

I really could not have been happier with our time spent with the Wild Guyde himself! Another climbing guide in the area who I had initially reached out to that didn't have availability connected me with Lester. First off, he is SUPER friendly and very accommodating. Planning was so easy ! The half day climbing trip was a a surprise for my husband. Neither of us had climbed outdoors prior to this trip, only in a indoor rock climbing gym. Lester put us both at ease and taught us everything we needed to repel 80' safely and climb back up in George Washington National Forest. He had all the gear we needed. He was an excellent coach throughout the entire adventure and really held safety paramount. He taught us great technique that will help in future climbing trips. Lester really is a true gem of a guide and a really awesome person. He was so knowledgeable and gave us tons of outdoorsy facts that are definitely going to be great in trivia someday. We are truly looking forward to scheduling another trip with him! He also gave me an awesome patch to add to my growing collection on my backpack! read more

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Lester (the owner) is just what you call "good people"! We did the half day canoe trip while we were visiting the Shenandoah National Park. We originally scheduled for Monday afternoon, however, the weather was proving to be nasty so we collectively decided it was best to wait until Tuesday morning. Lester was so communicative and accommodating for something that was completely out of his control. Tuesday, we followed Lester's perfect directions over the Blue Ridge and met him in an area of the river that was calm and beautiful. He taught us 3 main strokes (Sweep, Rudder, Bow Stroke) and one additional advanced stroke called the J-Stroke. Within 20 minutes we were in the water practicing and doing well! He took us through a beautiful stretch of water about 3 miles long with 3 really cool rapid like areas. The water was perfect, we had so much fun, and we learned so much too! Lester was an amazing and patient teacher and was so friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about him and his story! He likewise had a lot of interest in learning about us and our family. It was like we were talking with an old friend and we had never met him before! The canoe trip turned out to be the highlight of our trip! We are already looking to book with him again in the next year or so and take our kiddos this time! We think they would like canoeing under Lester's direction just as much as we did! I highly recommended this company. We were so pleased with the value of what we got and the knowledge and fun Lester shared with us! Also - we asked for a few ideas on local hikes and Lester gave us two great ones. We only had time to do one (Dark Hollow Falls) but we loved it!!! read more

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I signed my husband and I up for a rock climbing adventure sort of on a whim without thinking much about it. i didn't know what to expect but told Lester we were pure beginners. From the very start, Lester was caring and communicated with us proactively and thoughtfully to plan our outing, checking the weather forecast and ensuring we would have a good day for climbing while planning for contingencies. Once we got to the meet up point and through our rock climbing excursion, Lester made us feel so comfortable. You can say you care about safety, and you can live it, and Lester lives it. I expected to be very scared during this experience but Lester had a very inspiring way to support my husband and I as individuals through it. 100% would recommend and do it again! read more

Thank you Lester for taking your time to help us go down and up the rocks. It was an amazing rock climbing trip, we learned a lot from you about techniques, life, and nature. Your patience and ability to tailor your approach to each of us was truly amazing! What a great location and amazing views. Gazing at the turkey vultures flying above made it feel even cooler read more

Caving with Lester is not simply a guided tour through wild caves. It's an experience. Take a journey through beautiful underground formations unspoiled by electricity or walkways. Crawl your way through tight spaces and test your mental fortitude. Navigate a labyrinth, armed with a map and a compass, and feel the rush of adventure. Wild Guyde Adventures lives up to its name and beyond. read more

Lester was an amazing guide for our group of 14! Not only did we get to enjoy caving, we learned a lot along the way. I really appreciated how helpful and receptive he was to our more apprehensive participants. I definitely recommend and will be signing up for future trips. Thanks for the great experience! read more

It was really fun! Scary at times... but fun. I would highly recommend this if you're looking for an outdoor adventure with a little more thrill added. It was our first time climbing outdoors. I would say leaning back at the edge of a cliff prior to rappelling down definitely made me rethink whether I value my life a bit, but Lester was great at encouraging and making us feel comfortable enough to give it a go. There's always a danger factor when doing these activities, but he was a really helpful guide and went through all the safety procedures with us, to make us feel safe, so it was a good experience and I'm glad we did it. read more

WILD GUYde Adventures - Hiking Near Me - Harrisonburg, Virginia

Our group of nine had a great first time caving experience. We will discuss a more advanced caving experience at our next week's meeting

Lester, our Wilde Guyde, was a pleasure to work with from well before we stepped into the cave on our trip to WV. From suggestions on itineraries and camping locations, to making sure that we had the right boys for the right adventure, he was a pleasure to work with. We spend about 2.5 hrs in the cave with each group, with the activity and learning adjusted to match the boys' capabilities and interests. Very recommend! read more

This was an unforgettable weekend! I took a solo half day rock climbing and rapelling trip with Lester and couldn't have more great things to say about it. I am new to the sport and developed such an appreciation for the focus, strength and technicality of it. Lester is really hands on and taught me so much, from terminology and knot tying to route planning and physical awareness. I will definitely be coming back again! read more

Awesome experience! Lester was a great instructor and provided coaching tips throughout the rappel and climb - tips that will be useful on future climbs too. Leading up to the day, he also provided specific directions to the site and responded to questions quickly. I highly recommend Wild Guyde for any adventures in the Shenandoah Valley! read more

Was absolutely the highlight of my kids spring break!! I coordinated with Lester before we left Michigan, and we met up with and were guided on a fun several hour afternoon cave adventure by Ethan, who was incredibly accommodating and helpful. My sons (7 and 9 years old) loved it - and my normal shy quiet 7 year old talked non-stop as he explored, climbed, observed, and learned below. The adventure was well-paced to my family's interests and ability level. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area. read more

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Great find by my wife. Lester, our guide and owner, was great, We only came with one pack but he was able to provide us with another to carry our gear. Along the way to repel and climb he shared facts with us about the flora and fauna as well as schooling us in some cave trivia. Lester was very encouraging and willing to let us decide what we felt comfortable doing. Loved the repelling though my son just couldn't take that first step. Later after climbing though, Lester let him practice on a short ledge (which was great). We then went on the the climbing...a 65ft climb followed by an 85 ft climb. It was great to have him push myself and my son to keep going and reach the top. I also was allowed to belay for my son on his climb. Highly recommend this company for the expertise and the camaraderie that quickly developed. read more

Lester and his son do an amazing job leading small-ish groups through fascinating and very educational journeys into the world below. Their calm and competent manner put everyone at ease, they take time to provide important and interesting information, and give confidence to all in navigating through the dark, strange, and beautiful underworld. You'd be hard pressed to find better guides. read more

Had a GREAT time with Lester! My husband and I wanted to climb Seneca Rocks, and Lester was great in finding a day that worked for our schedule. The weather was cold and a bit rainy in the morning, and Lester walked us through options if the weather turned or if we didn't want to be too cold. We ended up choosing cold and windy, and boy am I glad that we did! Summited Seneca Rocks, and with Lester's patience and 'coaching', did it with no hiccups. He also taught us two rappel methods and was helpful in suggesting other trips we could take. Lester is extremely personable, patient, and knowledgable. He is truly an expert guide and I plan to give our kids the chance to climb outdoors with Lester once they're a bit older. Thanks, Wild Guyde, for a great time at Seneca Rocks! read more

I called Lester mere days ahead to plan a cave diving trip for me, my brother in college, and my 62 year old mother (talk about age disparity). Lester called me to prepare us on what to bring. We met at a 7 eleven a drove to a nearby cave (I requested it be a short distance since I was driving down from Philly to visit my brother at Bridgewater College). I was nervous about my mom since she has never done anything like this before, but Lester was so detailed and inspiring we knew we were in safe hands. He taught us safety and navigation basics and walked us through each step of the cave. I never thought we could find an activity that all 3 of us could enjoy! My brother and I were sufficiently challenged while my mom had a wonderful first experience. I'll be calling Lester for my next caving or rock climbing adventure! read more

What an awesome day! Lester was not only fun, but super safe and educational. My group ( myself and 8 women) had a great time and he was accommodating, supportive, and considerate of our varying fitness levels and climbing experience. It was a great balance of learning, fun, and physical challenges. I've climbed in gyms a few times and outdoors once, but I definitely feel like I learned the most on this trip. As someone who thoroughly enjoys adventure and nature, it's important to me that I not only leave with great memories , but also with new knowledge . I plan on going on more adventure with him in the future . read more

Such a great climbing experience! It was my first time climbing, but my boyfriend is somewhat experienced - Ethan found a way to make it fun and challenging for both of us! Great day and will definitely be returning for more climbs! Would definitely recommend for beginners and experienced climbers alike!! read more

Had a fabulous afternoon hike with Lester. He found the perfect 7 mile hike for us (4 women in our 60's) which was challenging, but not exhausting. The views from the top of Kennedy Peak were amazing, and we had a wonderful time learning about rocks and trees as we hiked through beautiful woods. Lester's goal is for his adventures to be fun and informative, and he definitely hit the mark! Highly recommend! read more

If you're looking for a company to take you on a caving, climbing, canoeing or hiking adventure this should definitely be at the top of your list! My wife and I were looking for something adventurous to do during a recent trip to Harrisonburg. We opted for a caving outing and it was outstanding! I talked with Lester, the owner, the week previous and we were able to tailor what we wanted to do to our level of fitness and experience so it's very 'choose-your-own-adventure'. I thought that was awesome, and that we were able to do it with just 2 of us instead of having to have a huge group. We met up with him in a town about an hour away near where the cave was - we just brought clothes to get dirty and some headlamps and he had helmets, ropes and other caving necessities. It was also very affordable - a little over 2 hours of caving was $125. The caving itself was awesome and also informative as Lester taught the basics of caving and makes you try your hand at navigating, etc. We wanted to do some climbing too but unfortunately didn't have enough time in our weekend for it because it sounded fun as well. Lester's super nice and very skilled/knowledgeable - I'd highly recommend any of the adventures. read more

Aaron did a great job guiding us through a cave near Franklin, WV. We were first timers with kids who were 15 and 12. He was patient and encouraging, taught about cave formations and preservation concerns, and gave easy and hard options for obstacles. He made sure we felt safe throughout the adventure and gave time for question throughout our time. As we pulled away our kids were asking about the next time - we'll be using Wild GUYde Adventures again. read more

Lester was an awesome guide. I loved how it wasn't just a tour but a complete learning experience. My husband and I went to Keys Cave, and learned some geology, navigation skills, about bats, etc. I highly recommend Wild GYUdes for any caving adventure. read more

My husband and I went rock climbing on a beautiful day at Waterfall Mountain with Ethan. We had an amazing time! There was an awesome lookout point on the way in, and Ethan was happy to take photos of us. We followed him off the beaten path, and the three of us had the mountain to ourselves. Ethan was very friendly and talked us through everything, which made us feel really comfortable. I was especially terrified to repel down that first time, but Ethan was very patient and encouraging. He helped me face my fear! We ended up doing several climbs and enjoyed the breathtaking views throughout. Ethan spent a lot of time with us and never made us feel rushed. He wanted to make sure that we got to do everything that we wanted to do. We would definitely recommend climbing with him if you have the chance! read more

I did a caving trip with Lester a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing! My party and I were challenged and educated along the way. Lester is an awesome guide who is very knowledgeable about caves and the caving community. Very professional business and would highly recommend! read more

We loved our half day rock climbing adventure with Wild Guyde Adventures! Lester is the perfect guide who is prepared, engaging, and informative and we look forward to booking a trip with him again! The rocks we climbed are a location that Lester discovered himself and therefore is untouched by tourists and other groups. The rocks were challenging yet very achievable for us beginner climbers - particularly with Lester coaching us the whole time. We loved the rappel as well as the detour to the waterfall. Despite some light rain, Lester remains upbeat and go-with-the-flow making him the perfect guide for a group of any size, skill level, or occasion. His genuine passion for the outdoors is clear which truly made this trip unforgettable and worthwhile. Thanks, Lester! read more

We recently went on caving and rock climbing/repelling adventures led by WILD GUYde over on two consecutive days with a group of about 25 Boy Scouts and adult leaders. Everyone had an excellent time and had nothing but great things to say about the experience. Lester does a superb job working with groups to make sure everyone is included in the adventure, learns some skills and context about the activity and leaves feeling empowered to take on difficult tasks and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. We will certainly be reaching out to WILD GUYde as we plan future high adventure activities. read more

Mid July, myself and 7 friends went exploring Kee's Cave in West Virginia, led by Lester, the Wild GUYde. Overall, the trip and Lester were great. I'd highly recommend him for anyone looking to go exploring caves and if he packs the same energy and knowledge into other adventures, I'd have to recommend him for those as well. He met us less than a mile from the cave where we did introductions and told him our level of experience with caving. From there we followed him and parked, got issued our gear, changed into our spare clothes, and then some safety briefs. After climbing down the hill, we staged at the entrance to the cave where Lester gave background information on the location, caves, and what we could expect inside. As we traversed through, we'd stop at certain points and he would show us how to orient a map, the importance of helmets and additional lights, rock formations, how caves were forms, etc. It was like all the things I learned, then forgot from science class, came rushing back. Before we knew it we were making our way back out which surprisingly took a lot less time than us getting in. Lester is very informative and he worked really well and put up with our group so he can handle anyone. He made sure safety was priority but didn't let it get in the way of having fun and enjoying the trip. I look forward to taking on the more advanced caves with him in the future. read more