Bio's
Debra Andaloro, Owner/Lead Guide. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Debra grew up in the Santa Barbara area and spent much of her teens and early 20s exploring the Santa Ynez Mountains and surrounding local trails. After high school she worked for a year with the United States Forest Service before pursuing an education in environmental planning and public policy at University of California at Santa Cruz.
Debra’s love of hiking spurred her to complete some of the most awesome hikes in the Western US and Canada including: Mount Whitney, CA; Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite NP; Rim-to-River-to-Rim at Grand Canyon NP; various hikes in Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce, Zion, in Utah as well as hikes in the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Olymipic National Parks; hikes in the Black Hills of South Dakota; and, hikes on Vancouver Island and in Banff and Jasper National Parks, as well as Whistler, BC.
When she’s not hiking, Debra loves walking. She combines her professional career, spanning more than 25 years, as an environmental and land use planner with her love of walking to explore the built environment, both from an historical perspective and from an architectural/land use perspective. Debra believes there is no better way to understand the intricacies of a town or city than by walking its streets.
Debra is married and has one teenage son and resides in Santa Barbara, California. Both her husband and son enjoy walking and hiking and many vacations are spent exploring national parks, other scenic destinations, and cultural or urban venues.
Debra’s love of hiking spurred her to complete some of the most awesome hikes in the Western US and Canada including: Mount Whitney, CA; Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite NP; Rim-to-River-to-Rim at Grand Canyon NP; various hikes in Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce, Zion, in Utah as well as hikes in the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Olymipic National Parks; hikes in the Black Hills of South Dakota; and, hikes on Vancouver Island and in Banff and Jasper National Parks, as well as Whistler, BC.
When she’s not hiking, Debra loves walking. She combines her professional career, spanning more than 25 years, as an environmental and land use planner with her love of walking to explore the built environment, both from an historical perspective and from an architectural/land use perspective. Debra believes there is no better way to understand the intricacies of a town or city than by walking its streets.
Debra is married and has one teenage son and resides in Santa Barbara, California. Both her husband and son enjoy walking and hiking and many vacations are spent exploring national parks, other scenic destinations, and cultural or urban venues.
Elaine Georges, Assistant Guide/Social Director. Late one afternoon in 2006, Elaine attended a local women’s fitness group meeting. By the end of the meeting, she found a walking/hiking team, signed up, and has not stopped doing this activity since that time. She loves that through fitness she has been given the opportunity to make many new friendships and becoming more physically fit. By being a part of SBGAL, she has enjoyed the camaraderie of all of the women in the group with a wide range of life experiences and enjoys doing all of this in our own backcountry.
Growing up in Santa Barbara, Elaine has now developed a deep love for both the mountains and discovering Santa Barbara by foot. Hiking and walking with her friends where she can enjoy the views and their company is the best. Her passion for the outdoors has now taken her to such places as the Grand Canyon; Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite; Zion and Bryce in Utah; Sedona in Arizona; Pt. Reyes National Seashore in Marin County; Niagara Falls in Canada; and Aspen, Colorado.
Elaine has over 25 years of experience as an administrative assistant. When Elaine is not working, she is happiest when she can get outside and exercise. She loves spending time cooking with her husband and enjoys the time they can spend with their family.
Growing up in Santa Barbara, Elaine has now developed a deep love for both the mountains and discovering Santa Barbara by foot. Hiking and walking with her friends where she can enjoy the views and their company is the best. Her passion for the outdoors has now taken her to such places as the Grand Canyon; Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite; Zion and Bryce in Utah; Sedona in Arizona; Pt. Reyes National Seashore in Marin County; Niagara Falls in Canada; and Aspen, Colorado.
Elaine has over 25 years of experience as an administrative assistant. When Elaine is not working, she is happiest when she can get outside and exercise. She loves spending time cooking with her husband and enjoys the time they can spend with their family.
Gail Milliken, Assistant Guide/Naturalist.Gail loves the outdoors! Growing up in Santa Barbara, her interests in flora and fauna were spawned playing in San Antonio Creek and on family camping and backpacking trips. After earning a degree in botany in San Diego, she worked for Adventure 16 Inc. Wilderness Camping Outfitters selling camping and backpacking gear through college, then continued there as assistant manager until the opportunity to come back home to Santa Barbara and a dream job at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden became a reality in 1985. Working at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as the Garden Shop and Visitor Services manager now for over 26 years, Gail has many opportunities to share her passion for California's native flora and fauna and through the Garden she was able to visit and hike on all eight Channel Channel Islands. Gail's passion for adventures in the outdoors is shared by her husband Gary and training with SBGAL is a great way to keep in shape for their annual backpacks in the Sierra Nevada.
Being a part of SBGAL is one of the most rewarding experiences in Gail's life. Every session provides fresh motivating experiences and shared adventures and
friendships to treasure for a lifetime.
Being a part of SBGAL is one of the most rewarding experiences in Gail's life. Every session provides fresh motivating experiences and shared adventures and
friendships to treasure for a lifetime.
Issy Patton, Assistant Guide/Business Director. Issy was born and raised in a small town in Ontario Canada. After receiving her registered nursing credentials from a city on Georgian Bay/Lake Huron, as well as her BSN from the University of Phoenix, she nursed for 41 years. In 2005 she retired from the Cancer Center in Santa Barbara after 28 years as an Oncology Nurse. Issy is married, Mom to a daughter, and Nana to two boys.
In 2005 Issy joined Debra, Elaine and Gail and started hiking in Santa Barbara, never having been a hiker before! She'll tell you that it was not always an easy chore to keep up with the group, but that over the years she's experienced treks that she never imagined doing, has been introduced and come to know a different Santa Barbara that she previously never knew existed, and has completed goals that she never would have accomplished without SBGAL's guidance. Being a part of SBGAL has been a most welcome addition to her life.
In 2005 Issy joined Debra, Elaine and Gail and started hiking in Santa Barbara, never having been a hiker before! She'll tell you that it was not always an easy chore to keep up with the group, but that over the years she's experienced treks that she never imagined doing, has been introduced and come to know a different Santa Barbara that she previously never knew existed, and has completed goals that she never would have accomplished without SBGAL's guidance. Being a part of SBGAL has been a most welcome addition to her life.
