John and Jane Puckering: Cofounders / co-directors.
Founded Hitch n Hike in 1984. John is an ex-RAF helicopter and fixed wing pilot who left the service in 1976, and along with Jane, opened a camping and outdoor shop in Yorkshire. The mid 80's saw the move of the operation to The Peak District. Both are active walkers who travel the UK and Europe in pursuit of the outdoors.


Shaun Puckering: Co-director, Joined 1988.
Climbed regularly through the 1980's and early 90's before becoming more involved in cave exploration. Caving led to cave-diving and eventually open-water diving. Shaun was part of the team that discovered the White River Series in Peak Cavern, J.H. and Titan, Britain's biggest natural underground shaft. He worked in the industrial Rope Access industry qualified to IRATA Level 2 and is a member of the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Diving Team.

Angela Puckering: Co-director.
Joined: 1991
An experienced hill walker who's climbed and xc-skied at home and abroad including The Alps and Scandinavia.

Jill Rogers: Manager / Customer Accounts.
Joined: 1997
Experienced hill walker, canoeist and down-hill skier. she's into day and multi-day river trips and favours Canada for the white stuff.

Keith Smitheman:
Joined: 1999
Into open canoeing, bushcraft and caving.

Andy Jackson:
Joined: 1999
Experienced walker and trekker with a background in climbing and mountaineering. he's pursued these activities throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and South America.

Keith Joule:
Joined: 2003
Experienced Caver, walker, downhill skier and mountaineer. He's a Rescue Controller for Derbyshire Cave Rescue and has been involved in the sport since 1969. He has been actively involved in the discovery of new caves in the UK and abroad.

Jane Rigby:
Joined: 2008
Jane worked for us last summer and is back again this year. She's an experienced Sheffield based caver, caving with S.U.S.S. (Sheffield University Speleological Society) and the T.S.G. (Technical Speleological Group) throuought the UK and Europe.