Meet Heidi Kumm of Adventure Feet First in Summit County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Kumm.

Heidi, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have had a bit of that “travel bug” for as long as I can remember, always wanting to go out and see more. A curiosity, if you will. About five years ago, I had an opportunity to take that exploratory passion to the next level. After a big job change [jumped from marketing to medical], I had a bit of time to travel, so I headed to Europe as a solo traveler on a shoestring budget and a loosey-goosey plan to participate in a variety of volunteer exchanges. My goal was to truly experience the new areas and cultures I was living in. It was a mind-blowing and eye-opening experience.

Not only did I learn about train schedules, new languages and aggressive budgeting, I also learned a lot about myself. From what I was capable of to what I was comfortable with. At the time, as a bit of a remedy for my solo traveler loneliness, I was regularly updating my website with raw, honest stories of adventure, mishap and more. As I traveled, people asked more questions from how to why to where. I was also open to discussion and loved encouraging people to travel.

This went on for a few years. My life fell into a routine of seasonal work. During the winter months, I worked at a ski resorts emergency room. During the summer, I traveled. I became quite skilled at finding affordable travel and making very creative itineraries that made the most of unique areas. As people showed more and more interest in my version of adventure travel, I realized I could offer so much more if I built a business plan and offered my services [rather than just bits of chatter] to those looking for similar styles of travel. This is how Adventure Feet First was born.

Adventure Feet First was launched in January 2019 and since then it has evolved to offer services for individual travelers [itineraries, consulting, etc.] as well as event planning for groups. Every step of the way, it has been the questions and feedback from clients that propelled my business forward. It is a goal of mine to have an adaptive, responsive business, which can only be done if I’m listening to the people utilizing the services!

Has it been a smooth road?
The most challenging parts of owning my own business probably fall into two categories — time management and reaching new clients. I am someone who needs to feel busy to feel productive. When I’m working for someone else, this makes me a great employee! When I’m working for myself, without an office door to close, this makes me a bit of a workaholic. In the past year, I have put a lot of conscious effort into making sure I spend time without my phone, computer or to-do list. I am learning to truly relax during downtime, which is actually quite amazing.

It is also challenging to get into contact with new clients. I know I am offering a valuable service because of the feedback I have received from past clients; however, the feeling of ease and calm that comes with a fully planned adventure is difficult to convey in words. I know there are a lot of avenues for advertising but it’s hard to force myself to trial and error advertising when I could be planning epic adventures instead! I have a feeling I’ll always be chasing after balance in this part of my business.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Adventure Feet First – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Adventure Feet First is all about getting outside and doing a bit more than you’re accustomed to. This means different things for different people. For some travelers, thinking up the adventure is easy but executing a plan is a struggle. For others, the mere idea of adventure travel is a bit overwhelming. This is where I come into play. I have been all of those people at one point in the past five years, so I can understand and appreciate where they are coming from.

My focus started on just individual or family travel planning. This is still an awesome part of what I do. I will work directly with individuals [not just solo people, small friend/family groups too!] to figure out what they are interested in and how they like to explore. From there, I bring together their time frame and destination together to create a full-fledged itinerary. Many people are seeking adventure in the Mountain West. I have traveled extensively throughout this region so most itineraries have a lot of “been there, done that, love it” flair added in.

Last year it became obvious that there is also a need for a similar personal touch and creative flair in planned group events [retreats, workshops, etc]. As soon as event planning became a plausible business opportunity, I took a leap of faith and went after it. It is so rewarding to see hours of detailed, creative thinking come together for these events! My favorite part is seeing the client’s “big picture” concept blossom into a day [or weekend!] that everyone attending loves.

With a healthy mix of individual adventure travel and outdoor focused event planning, I get to bring people to places they wouldn’t otherwise see or experience. From secluded trails to local diners to a new group of friends. It is very rewarding to see my itineraries and events unfold!

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am based in Summit County, about 90 minutes west of the Denver Metro. It is an absolutely stunning area with endless trails to explore on foot, bike or skis. During the “off season,” we get to experience small-town life, but when the “peak season” of winter or summer kick in we’re hopping with activities.

To be honest, tourists are both my favorite and least favorite parts of living in a heavily visited area. The tourists bring a lot of interesting events, perspectives and conversations to my backyard, which is great. I also work in tourism, so I truly understand how essential these visitors are. However, if I’m being honest, I do get a little frustrated when I can’t find parking at the grocery store when I need just a few quick items. It really is a double-edged sword!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adventurefeetfirst.com
• Email: heidi@adventurefeetfirst.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/adventurefeetfirst
• Facebook: facebook.com/adventurefeetfirst

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