Meet Wintergreen Guiding
In 2026 Tony Barnes made the leap from educator to full-time entrepreneur. The jump is the hardest, but landing on the rocky terrain of the Upper Peninsula northwoods is made easier when you’re a wilderness guide.
Tony grew up hiking, skiing, fishing, and being outside at his home in Ishpeming and his camp in Au Train. Wintergreen Guiding is a startup born from those experiences, currently offering hiking trips, historic walking tours, backcountry ski tours, and an Outdoor Activities Program for kids. In partnership with Innovate Marquette, Tony registered his Limited Liability Company (LLC) and Wintergreen Guiding became the go-to resource for residents and visitors alike to emerge themselves into the history, culture, and landscape of the Upper Peninsula.
“My background is in education and leadership, having worked in both K-12 schools and universities as well as the head guide at Huron Mountain Club,” says Tony. “These experiences are what allow me to effectively plan trips, teach the knowledge and skills of the outdoors, and make sure everyone has a great day outside.”
Creating Wintergreen Guiding
Tony created Wintergreen Guiding with the pillars “Respecting the land. Honoring its history. Feeding your curiosity” – all mantras that shine through in every experience booked with Wintergreen Guiding.
“Although we are technically a guiding business, we like to see ourselves as an education company that also dabbles in multimedia development,” says Tony. “We build experiences that are more than just to get from point A to point B and include interpretation of both the natural and human history throughout.”
With Wintergreen Guiding, each trip is completely unique to the experience you’re looking to get out of it. Learn the local lore and history of buildings downtown? Hike through the rocky cliffside of Sugarloaf Mountain? Take a leisurely stroll through the woods while stopping to learn about the birds and trees that surround you? Wintergreen guiding can do it all– plus a dedicated children’s program so the little adventurers can develop their outdoor skills too.
Help Along the Way
As a startup, Tony has been the steward of the creation, operations, and marketing of Wintergreen Guiding. This summer, two skilled Northern Michigan University (NMU) students stepped up to help.
Summer Internship Program
Innovate Marquette launched a pilot internship program for Upper Peninsula outdoor recreation companies to be matched with college students looking to build their skills outside of the classroom. The pilot program is made possible due to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant called the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant.
With the assistance of the pilot internship program, Tony has been able to work alongside Allison Haldane and Hayden Miles to prepare the Outdoor Activities Program for kids, plan and guide experiences, and share the history of the Upper Peninsula.
“I needed help with my social media and some of the more technical pieces of the work,” says Tony. “We’ve done a number of different things including social media posts, marketing and promotion, asset collection and development, and technical repeat photography work.”
Allison Haldane – Marketing & Social Media Specialist
NMU student Allison Haldane is Wintergreen Guiding’s marketing & social media specialist. Allison is a senior at NMU majoring in public relations (PR) with a minor in sustainability.
Allison is passionate about creative storytelling, outdoor culture, and purpose-driven work, making a summer spent outside with Wintergreen Guiding time well spent.
“Growing up in Michigan as one of four girls, including my identical twin sister, who is my absolute best friend, shaped my deep appreciation for close connections and community,” says Allison. “Choosing to study in the Upper Peninsula took that foundation and pushed it further; taking that leap taught me that growth starts outside your comfort zone.”
Wintergreen Guiding interested Allison as an internship because she wanted to learn more about startup businesses and the landscape of the Upper Peninsula. “I wanted to see it come to life and I wanted to be a part of it,” says Allison. “I was interested to learn more about the place that surrounded me for the past almost four years and to really understand what came before me.”
Allison’s Role
This summer, Allison has done social media content creation, created promotional materials, and gained experience writing through public relations tactics and campaign creation for the Outdoor Activities Program.
Allison’s short time with Wintergreen Guiding will create a lasting legacy long after she’s graduated from NMU. She’s currently working on a brand kit and assets folder that Tony can access for years after her internship has ended.
Outside of the classroom, Allison has been able to experience publishing real work for a real company, meet with professionals, and be part of a team dynamic. “There’s a lot of “what ifs” in the classroom, but those are coming to life with internships like this one!” says Allison.
After graduation, Allison wants to work for a sustainable outdoors company in PR or marketing, and travel as much as she can.
“When I’m not studying, you can find me hiking, golfing, disc golfing, practicing photography, snowboarding, chasing the northern lights, or catching every sunrise and sunset I can,” says Allison. “I bring that same adventurous mindset and love for authentic connection to my PR work, telling meaningful stories for brands that celebrate nature and exploration.
Hayden Miles - Technical Specialist
Hayden Miles is Wintergreen Guiding’s technical specialist. At NMU, Hayden is studying Geographical, Information Systems, Technology.
“I loved the idea of being a local guide for the area of Marquette,” says Hayden. “Since I have been going to school here for the last three years, I decided it’s time I learn a little bit more about the place I call home.”
Learning about the local history of the Upper Peninsula and getting outside in the expansive trail systems steered Hayden toward an internship with Wintergreen Guiding.
Hayden’s Role
Alongside Tony, Hayden spends most of his days helping with the business side of guiding. He’s enjoyed seeing how the company operates so that the guides and tours offered can be as professional and immersive as possible. His goal for Wintergreen Guiding is that every client can walk away having learned something new or go somewhere they haven’t before, and ultimately, have a better appreciation for the land they walk.
Currently, Hayden is working on a project that will compare the history of the Upper Peninsula to present day. He is recreating old photographs of Marquette and the surrounding area in preparation for a Wintergreen Guiding podcast.
History Recreated by Drone
Having a drone license has made the project easier for Hayden, as he’s able to line up new photographs with old photographs with precision.
“My internship has influenced how I appreciate the world we live in,” says Hayden. “It’s taught me that whatever I end up doing in life I need to focus on keeping the Earth green and our minds curious.”
After graduation, Hayden would like to work for a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and use his drone pilot’s license to study the Earth. For now, you can find Hayden hiking or backpacking outside, playing rugby, or even woodworking.
As for the Marquette community, “There is plenty Wintergreen Guiding can teach you,” says Hayden. “Come to a weekly Historic Walking Tour around Marquette and learn more about the rich history Marquette holds.”
The Wintergreen Guiding Experience
Wintergreen Guiding’s approach to exploring the outdoors comes in three Experiences:
- Historic Marquette Downtown Walking Tour
- Outdoor Activities Program
- Half/Full Day Custom Trips
Historic Marquette Downtown Walking Tour
Designed for both locals and visitors, this walking tour visits Marquette landmarks, discussion, and a history lesson on everything from prehistory to shipping and mining to recreation, tourism, and everyday life along the lakeshore.
Join the Wintergreen Guiding team every Wednesday at 4:30 PM throughout June, July, and August. Learn more and book the tour here.
Outdoor Activities Program
The Outdoor Activities Program is designed to help young people develop confidence, curiosity, and a lasting connection to the outdoors. Each program is built around emergent learning, with small group sizes that allow every participant to engage, explore, and contribute. By the end of each program, participants leave with new knowledge, stronger outdoor confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the landscapes of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Learn more and register the kid in your life here.
Half/Full Day Custom Trips
These custom outdoor guided trips are designed around each group’s interests and desired pace. Choose from Lakeshore tours like Wetmore Landing and Little Presque Isle, Forests and Rivers like North or South Trails, Ridges and Summits like Hogback or Sugarloaf Mountain, or even a Backcountry Skiing excursion.
Learn how to book your custom trip here.
Guided by Principles
Each Experience is guided by these principles and expertise:
- Safety First:
- expert navigation and advanced wilderness readiness for all UP conditions.
- Tony plans conservatively, monitors weather, and carries navigation devices, communication tools, and first aid kits
- Local Lore:
- A deep library of knowledge covering local history, geology, and ecology
- Tony is passionate about the Upper Peninsula and loves sharing what he knows, as well as learning from others
- Atypical Locations:
- Access to off-the-beaten-path locations that standard maps leave behind
- Tony makes sure make sure groups get to experience the real wild Upper Peninsula
- Pace-Adjusted Planning:
- Every route is calibrated to your group, ensuring the challenge is rewarding, never overwhelming
- Tony takes care of the trip so you don’t have to
- Leave-No-Trace Principles:
- Groups maintain a low impact and practice respect for the landscape
- Tony ensures every location is ready for the next group by being present and moving mindfully through the environment with each trip
With the help of Allison and Hayden, Wintergreen Guiding has finalized a catalog of custom guided trips, began preparation for the Wintergreen
Guiding podcast, curated a collection of marketing materials, and began a major historic photography recreation project.
Learn more about Wintergreen Guiding and and book your personalized guide at wintergreenguiding.com.