Settling into a hi-tech career in southern California, Summers sought the mountains for hikes of all kinds at every opportunity. Dayhikes, ultra-light, or week-long.
As friends asked Summers to arrange and guide them on trips, it seemed like an appropriate time to take on some new skills.
A month-long expedition in Wyoming's Wind River Range with the National Outdoor Leadership School not only enhanced those skills but taught Summers how to safely share the outdoor experience using Leave No Trace practices. By 1991, ?Summers Trails" was leading clients on treks into wilderness areas of Oregon and California using a string of trail-friendly llamas to transport gear.
Leading treks, Summers enjoyed introducing novices to the outdoors in a way that made it accessible. Summers served as a local Chapter President of the Sierra Club, returning the favor of its earlier outdoor introduction.
Sacramento has been Summers' gateway to the Sierra and coast ranges for ten years.