We had the good fortune of connecting with Hunter Cripe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hunter, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I would like to think I’m a big risk taker and that, for the most part, everything has worked in my favor. Growing up in Northwest Montana has meant that risk taking has been an engrained part of life. I’m very fortunate to have grown up and still live in a community where most people tend to enjoy their time outdoors taking full advantage of what the season offers, myself very much so included. Outdoor recreation, especially in the backcountry, is always a matter of calculated risk and while accidents happen and unfortunate events can occur, that shouldn’t be something to deter you from enjoying life and the world around us. While I may not have known it at the time before I entered the workforce, I carried this mentality with me, almost assuming that everyone else was equally comfortable with the possibility of epic failure.

My time working on the central coast of California was where I had taken the biggest risks that I credit for having lead me to my current career today. I started a new job with no experience, I was responsible for my own means of living, and just as we all ‘leave the nest’ at one point, I certainly felt unprepared and as though I wasn’t really ready to live life on my own and everything felt like a risk. While having a few childhood connections, by the time I reached the coast just shy of my 20th birthday, I was more or less by myself. I was very fortunate to have a family connection who helped me get on my feet and for them I am eternally grateful. I began working in the hotel industry until COVID brought me back home to Montana as it did for so many other young adults my age. While I loved my time in California and would do it all again in a heart beat, I’m incredibly happy and content being back home in Montana.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After working in hotel management at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa in San Luis Obispo, CA and relocating back home to Montana and I picked up another job in hospitality as a Concierge for the state’s only AAA 4 Diamond Resort, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Having grown up in the region I found myself at a substantial advantage to provide the personalized and local recommendations you come to expect from a hotel of that caliber. After happily departing that job I began working for a local tour operator and outfitter providing private driving tours of Glacier National Park as well as other seasonal activities. The combination of working in both the hospitality and tour operator industry opened the door to the travel agency world, something that had always been of minor interest to me as I had always enjoyed planning activities and trip details for guests far more than any other job duties. You could ask any one of my coworkers from any job I’ve had and I’m sure they would give you a resoundingly similar answer, I’m at my happiest when I’m on the phone talking to a guest answering questions and giving recommendations. In doing so I will be the first to admit that it’s not unlike me to stretch what could have been a 10-15 minute call into a comfortable 45 minutes. What can I say, I’m an extroverted theater kid who just loves to talk about travel!

Currently, while still employed part-time by the outfitters I have begun leading tours as well. This certainly has been the most unexpected turn of my career and yet, one that I consider the most engaging. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting a real local Montanan you know we have a deep unparalleled love and appreciation not only for the outdoors, but for our home in Big Sky Country. As a 4th generation local kid growing up just 45 minutes away from Glacier National Park I entirely took my surrounding for granted and truly didn’t discover the love, passion, and appreciation for my home until leaving it all behind. My return back home has easily been of the best decisions of made, not only in my professional life but my personal life as well. I largely credit this rediscovery of passion for Montana toward my boyfriend and forever adventure buddy, Matthew.

Having been born and raised in Nashville, TN his first visit to the state, and to Glacier National Park nonetheless, was enough to convince him to leave the city life behind and slow things down a bit for a more rural way of life. Through his eyes this is was all new to him and the towering mountains of the Rockies that I simply considered everyday landmarks were the objects of his fascination and this trend has continued as we’ve crisscrossed the state. On our first roadtrip through The Last Best Place I was the one pointing out interesting landmarks and providing some history on the towns and cities we passed. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to catch him reading historical articles on important State landmarks and providing me the abridged version from the passenger seat. It has been an absolute joy and pleasure to share this love with him and without his own passion to jump start my rediscovery, who knows where I would be today, and in so many more ways than that.

With an ever developing love for my home, the ability to share that passion directly with others, and the wonder of modern technology I found myself where I am today. Selling and promoting adventure travel while leading private tours through Glacier National Park… a gig I’m still surprised I have the pleasure of doing. It took an immense amount of work, a few fortunate happenings, and an unreasonable amount of confidence to make it happen and for that, I consider myself very lucky.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Now THIS is my bread and butter if there ever was…

Whitefish, MT & Glacier National Park

Day 1 – Whitefish
*Breakfast at Buffalo Cafe
*Activities on Whitefish Mountain Resort, the Danny On trail is my absolute favorite in all of Whitefish
*Lunch at the Summit House
*Dinner at Abruzzo Italian Kitchen

Day 2 – Glacier National Park
*Day Hike – Aster Park in Two Medicine
*Drive scenic Going-to-the-Sun Rd
*Dinner at Tupelo Grille

Day 3 – Glacier National Park
*Breakfast at Eddies Caffe in Apgar Village
*Scenic boat tour on St. Mary Lake

Day 4 – Flathead Lake
*Scenic drive around Flathead Lake, multiple State Park/beach visits
*Sunset drinks & dinner at The Raven on Flathead Lake

Day 5 – Flathead National Forest
*Day Hike – Cyclone Lookout
*Lunch at Northern Lights Saloon in Polebridge

Day 6 – Whitefish
*Easy leisurely day float down Whitefish River
*Dinner at The Boat Club

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The biggest creditor to my success was my time at Sycamore. Through a few amazing human beings from equal coworkers to upper management I found myself in an environment that sowed the seeds of not only my career but finding myself and making a mark outside of the workplace. I would specifically like to mention Amanda, Nicole, and Stephanie but there are countless others who made my time at Sycamore more than worthwhile and if you’re reading this, you know who you are. These three women, whom I still very much so value my friendship with today, have had a profound influence on my working and personal life. I not only learned critical skills which I still use today in my career but have fostered amazing lifelong friendships that have provided an incalculable amount of love, support, and mentorship.

Website: https://bahamas.signpostdestinations.com/hunter-cripe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntercripesd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hcripe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HunterCripeSD

Image Credits:

All photo credits to Matthew Iacolino other than the first photo (landscape of mountains with rocks in the foreground) which is my own.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.