History of Colorado Mountain Expeditions

About Colorado Mountain Expeditions


Dan and Emily Weida operate CME from Winter Park, Colorado. They both grew up outside Kansas City, Missouri, and went to school at Missouri State University, studying Recreation Management. After spending six months in Estes Park, they moved to Winter Park, Colorado, for the ski season and never left. They have lived in WP for more than seven years. They enjoy sharing Winter Park Adventures with friends and family, whether it's hiking, skiing, or paddleboarding. Winter Park is the perfect landing pad for snowy winters and beautiful Colorado summers.

A Brief History of the Colorado Trail Trekking Program

The Colorado Trail was conceived in the 1970s by a collaboration of private citizens and USFS personnel as a way to link the state together and give backcountry enthusiasts a way to see the best and most remote parts of Colorado. It was completed in the 1980s, although it is still a work in progress (as all the best things in life are). The Trekking Program began informally in the 1990s when Gudy Gaskill, referred to by many as the "Mother of the Colorado Trail," started to lead through-hikes. Within a few years, this had morphed into a rudimentary supported hike program, allowing hikers to hike with only a daypack, although still quite a rugged, no-frills approach. 

Szczech Family

Run on a shoestring, Mac & Cheese, and broken-down trucks were the norm for this original program. However, the program soon became quite popular, and upgrades were continually made. Since 2000, the Trek Program has been run by Pete and Lisa, who established Colorado Mountain Expeditions in conjunction with the CTF. Improvements over the years include gourmet meals, increased dietary choices, more spacious tents and camping arrangements, and professionally trained, certified guides and support staff. The Treks now offer all the amenities and safety standards that other professional guide services do, with a high focus on customer satisfaction and safety. Chris and Jeanne Sczcech were the owners of CME from 2006-2022. They set the high-quality standards CME offers and expanded CME operations to include additional weeks on The Colorado Trail, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Weida's purchased the business in the fall of 2022 and hope to continue to expand operations while maintaining CME standards that guests trust.