Life Needs More Side Quests

At Side Quest Adventures, we create gamified experiences that encourage people to get outside and in touch with nature and themselves.

Some of our events are mosying hikes with puzzles and storytelling. Some are all-night adventures that test your grit, creativity, and determination. Others fall somewhere in between.

Our goal isn’t to build events, it is to create experiences worth remembering.

Whether you are taking your first steps on a trail or chasing your next impossible challenge, there’s a place for you here.

Why Side Quest?

We have a love video games. The feeling of discovering hidden paths, uncovering secrets, solving puzzles, and taking on challenges that seemed impossible at first.

At the same time, many of our favorite adventures happen outside on trails, in the mountains, around campfires, and through endurance events that pushed us far beyond of what we thought we were capable.

Life is busier than ever, making these down-time activities all the more precious, so we asked ourselves a simple question:

What if outdoor experiences felt more like the games we love?

That’s why Side Quest Adventures exists.

We create outdoor experiences that blend adventure, exploration, storytelling, physical challenges, and community.

Some adventures are designed for beginners with little to no outdoor recreation experience. Others are built for experienced endurance athletes looking for something extraordinary. Most fall somewhere in between.

Our goal is simple:

Give people an opportunity to step outside and play, ultimately creating stories worth telling.

Built By Gamers Who Touch Grass

We love video games. We love the outdoors. We got tired of being told we had to pick one.

The Humans Behind the Chaos

Erinn Matesi

Founder • 5e Enthusiast • Former L33T Gamer • Casual Athlete

As the founder and owner of Side Quest Adventures, Erinn helps transform ideas into memorable real-world adventures. Her neurodivergence, gaming background and love of nature have led to this beautiful intersection of nerdom and athleticism.

Erinn believes in accessibility in the outdoors and creating experiences that empower people to get outside and learn! She sees the value in the excruciating effort to reach a summit and also the healing of a quiet nature bath.

Before launching Side Quest Adventures, she founded Her Rustic Adventure, a women-led company focused on backpacking and wilderness skills designed to help women build confidence in the outdoors. And for the past seven years, Erinn has helped shape SISU 24 PNW, contributing to event operations, participant experience and technology development.

Side Quest Adventures is proudly woman-owned and built on the belief that adventure should be accessible, engaging, and open to everyone.

Tony Matesi

Race Director • Author • Endurance Athlete • Soulslike Master

Tony has spent more than 15 years creating endurance events and outdoor experiences.

His background includes serving as Director of Spartan Endurance, directing SISU 24 PNW since its inception, competing on American Ninja Warrior, completing the Cascade Crest 100 mile endurance run and becoming one of the few people to complete the legendary Death Race twice.

He is also the author of Legend of the Death Race, a firsthand account of one of the world's most demanding endurance events.

As an avid gamer throughout his life, he's been determined to bring the adventures of his favorite video games to life in ways that replicate the puzzle-solving, exploration, and decision making that make the challenge worthwhile.

After years spent building extreme challenges, Tony became increasingly interested in creating experiences that blend adventure, storytelling, community, and play. Side Quest Adventures is the result.