19th August 2025

Beyond the Boots: Meet Chrystal

AKA — The Route Ranger

Stories from the Guides Who Lead the Way

Some people hike to clear their head. Others do it to feel connected.
For Chrystal, it’s both, and something more.

She’s always been drawn to the outdoors. To exploring. To the slow calm that settles in when your boots find rhythm and your thoughts get quiet. But beyond that, she loves creating shared experiences. The kind that bring strangers together and turn them into friends by the final lookout.

“I was inspired by a love of the outdoors, exploring and mindfulness, and wanting to meet like-minded people. The Hike Collective felt like home.”

And now, on trails across WA, she helps others find that same feeling.

Her favourite hike to guide?
No hesitation: Rossiter Bay to Lucky Bay, in Cape Le Grand National Park.

“It’s such a beautiful part of the world, with undulating terrain, stunning views, a touch of history, and a long enough stretch to really immerse yourself.”

It’s also the trail where, mid-tour, a big dugite snake once wove its way through the trees, right next to the group.
Unforgettable? Definitely.
Unnerving? Just a bit.
Handled with calm confidence? That’s Chrystal.

The Trail Within

What makes Chrystal such a magnetic presence on the trail isn’t just her sunflower earrings (though they’re iconic). It’s her superpower: listening.

“I love chatting to guests, especially on the longer hikes. Listening helps me learn what they’re really hoping to get from the experience.”

That gentle curiosity and genuine care are what turn a hike into something more.
A space for connection. A soft reset. A shared adventure where everyone feels seen.

Her ideal day on the trail reflects that too. Morning light, mixed terrain, photo moments, a few breaks for conversation, and of course, a group that starts as strangers and ends as friends.

“Expect the unexpected,” she says. “That’s the biggest lesson the trail has taught me.”

Chrystal is currently in a new kind of season. The early days of motherhood, soaking up slow mornings with her little one. And while the trails are calling, she’s exactly where she needs to be.

No doubt, her baby will join her soon. Tiny boots beside hers. Soaking up wildflowers, bird calls, and that same joy of shared adventure.

For first-timers feeling nervous, Chrystal’s advice is simple and heartfelt:

“Introduce yourself to the guides. You’ll be well looked after.”

It’s not just reassurance. It’s a reminder that you’re never doing this alone.

And if you need to ground yourself mid-hike, take a page out of Chrystal’s ritual.
Shoes off. Bare feet on the earth. Sun on your skin. Just for a moment

She may call herself a Route Ranger, but if someone snapped a candid photo that captured Chrystal in her true trail element, it would show her laughing mid-conversation. Joyfully unposed, probably slightly blurry, and definitely real.

Because that’s her vibe. Warm, open, a little cheeky, and always up for a good story on the trail.

With snacks in her pack, SPF lip balm in her pocket, and a future trail buddy in her arms, Chrystal is proof that guided hiking isn’t about going fast or far.
It’s about going together.

This is part of our Beyond the Boots series.
Real stories from the guides who lead with soul.