Meet Your Guide

Person hiking in a forest, wearing a purple shirt, teal backpack, and sunglasses, and friendly smile, standing with hand on a tree trunk.

Rachelle is the founder and lead guide of Rise Up Retreats RVA. While originally from Northern Virginia, she gained a lot of her outdoor adventuring skills and passions in Alaska. She spent 8 years plus several summers throughout the state and grew her love of hiking and her outdoor confidence. With a BS in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, she had unique field experiences working in remote areas that has given her a wide range of field experience.

Rachelle has taken classes in Outdoor Leadership, Wilderness First Aid, CPR. as well as a background in Bear Safety. She has had 4 + years as a Rewired Mindset member where she continues to be coached on her mindset and how to help others. She combines her knowledge of nature with her understanding for mindset work, and wraps it all up on the trail through her passion for teaching and connecting with others through their stories.

When she is not on the trails, Rachelle enjoys curling up with her cat in the sun, playing with her wild puppy, drinking coffee listening to birds, and reading a good fantasy or memoir book. She is married to her amazing husband who proposed on one of her favorite hikes- Humpback Rocks. While an introvert at heart, she loves celebrating everyone she meets. She is a proud Christian and strives to always make everyone feel welcome and safe on the trail. Only select hikes have a Christian theme for those that would prefer that. Want more of something? Just Ask!

See you on the trail xoxo🥾🥾💜

Person in a grassy area pointing at a green covered mountain under a clear blue sky.

That first mountain hike in Kodiak, AK

Person in pink shirt and cap standing on rocky mountain peak, overlooking vast green landscape under cloudy sky.

Hiking with ladies from her rugby team in AK

Person doing a yoga pose on a hiking trip in a lush, green mountainous landscape.

A hike that resulted in a windy and rainy summit but it was worth this photo

Four women smiling outdoors in a forest, wearing casual hiking attire.

Leading ladies on a Rise Up Retreats trail walk

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