Our GUIDES
rod tripp
Rod Tripp, owner of Grub Steak Expeditions, recently returned to Wyoming to retire and enjoy Cody Country’s great recreational opportunities. Born in California and raised in a rural environment outside the San Francisco Bay Area, Rod has a background in Rangeland Ecology and worked in California 30 years in this field. He was responsible for grazing management, wildfire suppression, prescribed fire management as well as an interpretive program. Rod and his wife, Suzie (who grew up in Cody, Wyoming) have three grown children. With over 40 years of observing Yellowstone, Rod understands the changing ecology of the Yellowstone Ecosystem and enjoys sharing his passion for this area with others.
Specialties: Natural Sciences, wildlife, avid outdoorsman
sandy ballou
Sandy Ballou has led an exciting life of various professions, grounded by his respect and belief in agriculture and the benefits of an outdoor lifestyle. Growing up horseback, Sandy incorporated his love of the outdoors in every step of life. While attending college, Sandy would leave for Wyoming the day school got out every year to work as a seasonal guide and packer for the R Lazy S Ranch in Jackson Hole. Northwestern Wyoming was calling and eventually Sandy was able to move back. His love of Yellowstone and the surrounding area found its way to guiding for Grub Steak Expeditions, where he can share his knowledge and experiences with guests.
mike stewart
Mike Stewart, managed public land resources in Wyoming and throughout much of the west for 30 plus years. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Rangeland Management from the University of California at Chico and retired in Cody from the Bureau of Land Management in 2015. Mike has a broad range of experience working with wildlife habitats, wild horses, livestock grazing, recreation opportunities and mineral development to name a few. These experiences have developed a deep love and unique understanding of Wyoming and it’s treasure trove of natural resources. Mike is a passionate advocate for public lands and enjoys sharing his broad background, experiences and knowledge with others.
Specialties: Natural Resource Science and Management, Wildlife and Outdoor sports
lisa peterman
Originally from Ohio, Lisa has lived in Wyoming for 36+ years and is Executive Director of a local non-profit. Once she got to Wyoming and saw Yellowstone for the first time, she vowed to live as close as possible to the Park. Lisa now lives 30 miles from the East Gate in the beautiful Wapiti Valley. She Says “Yellowstone is her happy place!” Lisa has shared her love of this area with her daughter and grandson. Lisa and her husband Robert love to spoil their grandson and their two dogs an Alaskan Malamute named “Chief Joseph of Wapiti” (Joey) and a Pomsky called Pippin. Hobbies include cooking, reading, hiking, snowshoeing, and attempts at gardening. Lisa has traveled the world extensively, but her favorite place to be is Yellowstone, where she spends most of her free time! Lisa has lived in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for 36 years, and does not take her good fortune lightly. All of us at Grub Steak Expeditions know that we hit the geographic “jack pot”. In addition to Yellowstone trainings, Lisa feels the best way to keep updated on Yellowstone is to go there…a lot. She takes her family (especially her grandson) frequently. But she also truly enjoys just going by herself and “being there” in her Park. As a frequent visitor, you tend to get to know where certain animals hang out and notice changes to various geothermic features. Lisa simply can’t get enough of the wonders of Wyoming and loves sharing it with others. She imparts her love of Yellowstone to everyone she meets!
Clint Dawson
Clint Dawson brings decades of deep experience in forest and fire management to Grub Steak Expeditions. Having served for 40 years with the Shoshone National Forest based in Cody, Wyoming, he has become a respected figure in the region’s ecology and land management community. Clint’s career has included significant responsibilities as a fire management officer for the Shoshone as well as traveling across the country helping to manage some of the largest complex wildfires. Over his four decade tenure, Clint has accumulated hands-on knowledge of forest ecosystems, wildfire behavior, habitat restoration, and land-use issues within the Greater Yellowstone region. His long-standing presence in the Cody/Wyoming area gives him a unique insider perspective—one that enriches any guided tour of wildlife, geology, history, or wilderness. At Grub Steak Expeditions, Clint serves as a guide and educator whose background allows him to translate complex ecological and management issues into engaging stories and insights for guests—whether spotting wildlife, understanding fire’s role in the landscape, or exploring the historical interplay between human use and wild places. When you tour with us, Clint’s expertise means you’ll not only see spectacular scenery and wildlife—you’ll also gain a deeper appreciation of how that landscape has been shaped by decades of natural processes and professional stewardship.
GRETCHEN HURLEY
Since graduating from the University of Wyoming, Gretchen Hurley has worked as an environmental scientist and geologist for the past 44 years. She began her career in the oil field working throughout the Rocky Mountain West. Since 2004, she has worked full time for the Bureau of Land Management as a Geologist, managing the solid minerals, abandoned mine lands, and paleontology programs for the Cody Field Office. She loves working with people of all ages to promote a love of Yellowstone, nature, and appreciation for the outdoors.
Guide q&a
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How Do You Customize Tours Based on What Guests Want to Experience?
With over forty years of observing Yellowstone’s evolving ecosystem, I’ve learned how to read both the land and the people I’m guiding. I enjoy sharing the big-picture stories—like how the 1988 fires or the reintroduction of wolves reshaped the park in profound ways. But honestly, the most rewarding moments come when we’re tracking wildlife. Sometimes, the animals vanish into the trees and most folks move on—but not us. I’ll tell my guests, “I think I know where they’re headed,” and we’ll drive around to a quiet spot. A few minutes later, those same animals reappear, and we’ve got them all to ourselves.
That’s the magic I love to share.
– Rod Tripp
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Guide Lisa Peterman's Favorite things to do in Yellowstone:
1) See my grandson take the Yellowstone Pledge as he gets his Jr. Ranger Badge
2) See grizzly bear, wolves, bison, moose, swans, beavers, river otter (in that order)
3) Sit at Lake Hotel and listen to the grand piano or string quartet play, having a cocktail, waiting to go in to dinner.
4) Picnic at Bay Bridge Marina
5) Read at Sylvan Lake
6) Any short hike
7) Seeing Old Faithful erupt from the balcony at Old Faithful Lodge (gets me every time)
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What makes the Yellowstone region truly special?
Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders—like geysers, hot springs, and mud pots—are unmatched anywhere in the world. But it’s more than that. Towering waterfalls, dramatic landscapes, and striking geologic formations add to the awe. And then there’s the wildlife—roaming free, much as it did when Lewis and Clark journeyed west in the early 1800s. It’s a place where nature still runs wild, and no two visits are ever the same.
– Rod Tripp
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What inspired you to become a guide in the Yellowstone region, and how has your background shaped your approach to leading expeditions?
Yellowstone is my “happy place”. I tease tourists that if it seems I am driving fast to get there and then driving back to Cody slowly, it’s because I never want to leave my Park. I grew up in Findlay Ohio taking family vacations either to northern Michigan or through the south and to Florida. We never went east or west. Once I traveled to Wyoming to visit family who had moved here, I thought; “Why am I not living here?”. In short order, I became a Wyomingite and have never looked back.
-Lisa Peterman
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How Do You Stay Updated on the Yellowstone Region?
I stay current by visiting the park as often as possible. Regular time in the field keeps me in tune with wildlife activity, seasonal changes, and long-term shifts in the ecosystem. I also talk frequently with rangers, biologists, ecologists, and locals—conversations that offer insights you won’t find in any guidebook. Over the years, I’ve gathered stories and management knowledge that aren’t publicly available, and every visit brings something new. Additionally, I participate in annual training provided by the park, which helps me stay up to date with the latest scientific research happening across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
– Rod Tripp
