For Immediate Release

January 16, 2008

Contact: Chris Pranskatis -Phone: 970.708.7359

Telluride, CO- Ryder-Walker Alpine Adventures, a Colorado-based adventure specialist that offers hiking and trekking tours in the European Alps and the American Southwest, recently received recognition as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” from the Editors of National Geographic ADVENTURE Magazine.

National Geographic surveyed more than 200 outfitters for their February 2009 feature story, "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth.” They sent each outfitter a comprehensive survey, interviewed their clients and scored them based on Education, Sustainability, Quality of Service, Spirit of Adventure and Client Satisfaction. Ryder Walker’s overall score landed them within the top ten best outfitters on the planet for the hiking and trekking category. This marks the second season in a row that they’ll enjoy this recognition.

The 2009 season also heralds the 25th Anniversary since Ryder-Walker first offered exciting inn-to-inn hiking tours through the mountainous regions of Western Europe. They were one of the first adventure travel companies to pioneer self-guided hiking tours, and their commitment to outstanding guest satisfaction helped earn them recognition as one of the best on earth.

“It takes more than trail smarts to be a Ryder-Walker guide,” according to National Geographic. “You need to have a way with words too. Most of them can speak three languages (in addition to English), a skill that comes in handy when leading treks between little-known Italian villages, along the tongue of a Swiss glacier, from Chamonix to Zermatt. “

Peter Walker, Ryder-Walker’s Founder and CEO, expressed gratitude for the recent accolade and stated a renewed commitment toward sustainable tourism, cultural awareness, highly innovative hiking adventures and the best guest experiences on the planet.

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