19th August 2025
Beyond the Boots: Meet Amanda
Aka — The Lingui-stick
Stories from the Guides Who Lead the Way
Amanda didn’t plan to become a hiking guide.
In fact, for years, her days were shaped by books, research, and quiet study, the life of a linguist, immersed in the intricate beauty of language.
But something in her longed for movement. For fresh air. For the kind of connection you can’t find in front of a screen.
So she made a shift, and brought her deep listening and curiosity to the trail.
“I love movement, being outdoors, and sharing both of these with others. As an academic, I’d ended up in a sedentary and solitary line of work. I started guiding at The Hike Collective to change that.”
And with that, she stepped into a new kind of classroom. One where the forest speaks, and every footstep is a lesson in presence.
If you ask Amanda about her favourite experience to guide, she won’t point to a rugged mountain or hidden gorge.
She’ll say: the Perth Zoo.
“You wouldn’t believe how different it is before the gates open. The animals are waking up, the birds are singing, and it’s like another world.”
And that tells you something important about her.
Amanda is someone who notices the quiet things.
The dawn moments. The birdsong. The unseen magic that most of us rush past.
She brings that same awareness to her experiences, and adds a beautifully unique twist.
As a researcher who’s worked with speakers of many different languages, including Indigenous languages across Western Australia, Amanda has a gift for connecting across cultures and perspectives.
“It also means I can offer some fun language-related facts on the trail, and as a researcher, I always check my facts before I share them!”
It’s why some of us secretly call her “The Linguini.” Or her personal favourite:
The Lingui-stick.
The Trail Within
Amanda’s ideal day on the trail isn’t about conquering a summit. It’s about sinking in.
A soft forest floor beneath her boots. Dappled green light overhead. Shared conversations and shared silences. And at the end, a beautiful kind of tiredness.
“Pay attention,” she says. “There’s always something interesting to notice if we take the time to do it.”
It’s a trail lesson she carries into life. And it shows in everything she does. From the way she looks at the world, to the way she leans in to examine a flower or insect with childlike curiosity (a moment, she admits, that would probably sum up her vibe in a candid photo).
For those who feel unsure about joining a hike, Amanda offers the gentlest encouragement:
“Come along! There are no prerequisites, and everyone started somewhere (sometimes more than once!).”
She gets it. Trying something new can feel daunting.
But the trail, and Amanda, will always meet you where you are.
And if you ever need a grounding moment mid-hike, try her ritual:
“Look up at the leaves or clouds. Then see if you can hear the quietest sound around you.”
Yes, Amanda still carries pens, whiteboard markers, and paperclips in her backpack.
Yes, she might look like she’s ready to run into a classroom at any moment.
But here’s the truth: the forest is her classroom now.
And we are lucky to learn from her.
This is part of our Beyond the Boots series. Real stories from the guides who lead with soul.
