Michelle Geis
​Afternoon Walks, Boarding, Doggie Day Trips, Group Hikes, Private Hikes & Runs
Michelle started with Hiking Hounds in March 2020 - coming to us through a recommendation from one of our clients. 

She initially moved to Salt Lake to complete a 'one' year fellowship in health administration as part of her master's degree from South Carolina. She fell in love with the mountains and met her future husband, 'one' year grew into 20 (and counting)!

Michelle worked in healthcare for over 20 years and spent the last 10 years working primarily in Africa on various public health issues. She loves international travel and her job allowed her to have many adventures -  including climbing Kilimanjaro!
 
Like everyone at Hiking Hounds, Michelle is an animal lover. She has always had a special affinity for rescues, especially working dogs. In fact, it was due to her first Australian Shepherd and his insatiable energy that she started exploring the Wasatch.

Michelle is taking a break from the business world to spend time with her family including her Australian Shepherd and Border Collie. She is so excited for this new adventure with Hiking Hounds. 

​Sean Smith
Doggie Day Trips, Group Hikes, Private Hikes & Boarding

Sean, a nature lover and devoted dog enthusiast, spent his formative years surrounded by the diverse landscapes of Utah, Alaska, Florida, and Germany. This upbringing kindled a deep fondness for the environment and a genuine affection for dogs. Sean delved into a vibrant 15-year career in creative fields like Advertising, Vehicle Wraps, and Political Campaigning, before embarking on a new purpose-driven journey.

Atop peaks in the heart of the Rockies, often accompanied by his faithful companion, Hyka, Sean discovered a profound sense of purpose and a strong bond with nature. Beyond his work, Sean seeks thrills on the slopes, enjoys creating music, cycling open roads, and pondering the mysteries of life. With a unique blend of creativity, a deep respect for nature, and a love for dogs, Sean is dedicated to providing expert care, exercise, and guidance for your cherished companions on the trails. They'll not only relish the beauty of nature but also develop the skills for off-leash adventures.

With an artist's eye, Sean captures every step of your dogs' adventure, freezing their moments of pure, untamed joy in the wilderness. Through his lens, their spirit and the wild beauty that surrounds them come to life, creating memories to cherish for a lifetime. Sean is excited to be hitting the trails with your furry family members and sharing in their joy for the great outdoors.

Nikki Numkena
Afternoon Walk & Group Hikes

Nikki joined Hiking Hounds in August 2024, and is very ecstatic about
spending time with the pack. A native of Utah, Nikki has explored Utah trails
since she was a kid. Nature has a healing energy and hiking with dogs is
second nature to her.

In addition to being a natural animal lover, Nikki is passionate about music
too. She has a Bachelor's in Piano Performance from the University of Utah
and enjoys teaching at her in-home piano studio. Serenading dogs is one of
her favorite hobbies. Nikki loves to stay active, so in addition to working
with animals in nature she attends weekly dance classes to keep her mental
and physical mind sharp.
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Nikki locked eyes and fell in love with her family dog 2 years ago. Snickers is
a sweet, high energy, silly standard poodle who loves making friends. Nikki
is passionate, engaged, and intuitive and will treat your dog like her own.

Devin Pearson
Doggie Day Trips, Group Hikes, Private Hikes & Training

Check back later for bio :)

Savannah Evensen
Afternoon Walks &, Group Hikes

Raising her Saint Bernards, Bianca and Dottie, drove Savannah to research more deeply into pet care and enrichment, leading her down a fascinating rabbit hole. Because of them, she entered the pet professional world as her dog grooming husband's assistant bather. From there, she worked her way up from animal transporter to kennel technician to dog trainer. She loves watching dogs have their "lightbulb" moments after working with them!

In her time off, she enjoys tending to her pet snakes and their enclosures. When she’s not playing with reptiles, she spends time with her cats and dogs, often coming up with new puzzles for them to complete.

​She can't wait to work alongside Hiking Hounds to help dogs spend more time outside sniffing!​

Michelle Forsgen
Afternoon Walks & Group Hikes

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​Sam Debenham
Afternoon Walks, Group Hikes, Private Hikes

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