Aspire Adventure Running exists as a community of friends who share a passion for running and playing in the world’s most wild and beautiful places. Our staff are knowledgeable and experienced guides who are constantly searching out new adventures. We are inspired and humbled to be a part of a larger community of runners whose passion and training push the envelope of the possible. We are also individuals who have been profoundly influenced by the power and beauty of the wilderness.
Abram Dickerson
Abram has been planning and executing wilderness adventures for over two decades. Running, climbing, and skiing are expressions of his desire to live a life defined by passion and challenge. He has over 15 years of guiding experience, a love of good food, and a deep respect for the mountains. As a husband, a father, educator, and urban homesteader he lives his life with intention and simplicity. He loves trails and the friendships that result from the suffering and satisfaction of running on them.
Trent Banks
Trent Banks ran the Wonderland Trail as an Aspire client in 2017. is a mountain rambler, a disc jockey, and father of two daughters, based out of Bellingham, WA. He joined the Aspire crew in 2018. You can find him playing clubs and livestreaming DJ sets, working aid stations at races across the Pacific Northwest, and guiding trips with the rest of the Aspire team.
Listen to his Spirit Ventures DJ mix series, inspired by and made for trail running.
Kara Folkerts
Kara Folkerts is a plant powered trail runner, sustainable travel advocate, yoga teacher, and passionate about all things sustainability, travel, health, and outdoor movement. Originally from Canada, Kara has spent the last few years exploring and living abroad in various countries across the globe before joining the Aspire crew in 2020. Kara has been guiding various trail running, sustainability, and health retreats internationally since completing her undergrad in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. With all of these experiences, she seeks meaningful connections with others, loves to learn of new cultures, and fosters the mindset of a lifelong learner. With a big heart for trail running and exploring wild places, she’s always stoked to get out there with others.
She writes about all her adventures on her blog at www.karafolkerts.com and on her instagram @karafolkerts
Ian Ramsey
With three decades spent exploring the PNW and Alaska, Ian is based in Maine, where he directs the Kauffmann Program for Environmental Writing and Wilderness Exploration, and teaches writing, ecology, brain science, music and mindfulness to high school students. With over two decades leading trips and expeditions across the US, Alaska and internationally, he loves empowering people to take agency in their lives and discover new places. Ian is a poet and graduate of the Rainier Writing Workshop, and his writing has been featured in places like Terrain.org, Orion and High Desert Journal. He also directs a community steelband, loves kayaking big water, drinks copious amounts of coffee, geeks out around nutrition, literature and fitness, and was once a member of an Inuit Dance Troupe.
Check out his website at Ianramsey.net
Nick Danielson
Seattle born and raised, the ranges of the Pacific Northwest are where Nick cut his teeth and first learned of the magic of moving quickly through rugged places. After a four year hiatus in Bellingham studying design and learning what trail running had to offer in the famous Chuckanuts, Nick returned to Seattle where he now works as a freelance photographer, videographer, and designer. Nick joined the Aspire team in 2019 and has spent countless miles running with his camera attempting to document the stellar places Aspire runners venture to on their trips. Favorite things include chatting about the geography of the North Cascades, splitboarding, and drinking backcountry coffee with friends.
Find Nick and his work at www.nickdanielson.com and on instagram @nickmdanielson