Who is Higher Ground Adventures? We are a provider of Adventure Experiences. As a tour operator and travel agency, we specialize in meeting the specific needs of groups. Since 1995 HGA has been a leader in group travel.
Our Mission: To serve groups as they travel, allowing leaders to focus on their people, maximize their budgets, and lighten the administrative load involved in group travel. We do this by providing excellent service and attention to your specific details.
What we do: We make your experience an adventure – while you travel – not while you prepare! Higher Ground Adventures is the one-stop-shop. We build custom trips, based on your needs. Winter destinations, transportation, summer adventures; you name it we do it. You provide your dates, numbers, dreams, goals and we’ll provide you an ideal experience; our travel specialists will handle the details and get you on the way to an amazing adventure.
We take planning and attention to detail seriously. From the first contact we listen to your specific needs, and tailor a fit just for you.
Where we came from: In 1995, John Russell, founder and entrepreneur had a vision. He envisioned providing a turn-key, cutting edge adventure travel experience for group leaders and program directors. A simple goal: easy to plan, great experiences, at an exceptional value. In 1995 the first 500 students travelled to June Mountain and Utah ski resorts with Higher Ground Adventures.
Now: In 2001 Matt Wenger, took the helm at Higher Ground Adventures. Fueled by his passion for a great outdoor adventure, and 8 years as a youth worker, Matt continued to seek ways to make planning and executing a successful group trip easy and a cost-effective. Higher Ground Adventures still has the same heart, as we now have over 8000 people travel with us a year. At the center of every Higher Ground Adventures trip, there is a huge amount of personal investment and care to ensure you have the very best experience.
Since taking the lead at Higher Ground, Matt’s been on a few personal adventures. On March 3, 2004, at 30 years old, Matt was riding a motorcycle on Mulholland Drive in Malibu, CA. Matt, losing control in a tight corner, slid across the yellow line on his motorcycle, colliding with an oncoming pickup truck . The collision severed 3 of 4 ligaments in both knees, and broke his pelvis in 3 places, among other major internal injuries. Five days later, Matt woke up at UCLA Medical Center, to be told he might not walk again. His question, “Will I be able to ski again?”.
Long story, just a little bit shorter, there was a greater story taking place. 4 months in a wheelchair and another 4 on crutches, 7 surgeries, and 8 months in physical rehab, he took his first steps. Matt re-united with Charity, a gradeschool friend, and his now-wife, that September, and they were married in 2005. Matt, Charity and their 2 children live in Orange County, CA.
Matt, is back skiing, surfing, scuba diving, and mountain biking and chasing his two year old around the house as she giggles “run, run, run” (the best adventure race in the world)!
