Administrative Staff
Vickie Hormuth
Executive Director
Vickie Hormuth
A native of Colorado, Vickie is a lifelong skier who’s been recreating in the backcountry and over 20 years. Thanks to great mentors, she was an early adopter of avalanche and climbing education. Vickie’s passion for the outdoors led her to a career in the nonprofit realm spanning across a multitude of organizations over the past fifteen years including Outward Bound, the Colorado 14ers Initiative, Environmental Defense Center, The Nonprofit Support Center, and the American Alpine Club (AAC). While working in the nonprofit sector, Vickie has gained expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and program development, passion is for partnerships: working with companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Vickie holds a B.A. Geography with an emphasis in Hydrology from the University of Colorado, Boulder and serves on the Executive Committee for the State of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. Vickie, her husband Scott, and two step-sons split their time between Vail and Crested Butte, CO. When not skiing, she enjoys climbing, mountain biking, and the occasional ultra-marathon trail race.
Emma Walker
Education Director
Emma Walker
Emma Walker brings over a decade of outdoor industry experience to her role as AIARE’s Education Director. She is responsible for all aspects of the development and delivery of AIARE's education programs, including curriculum development, managing the instructor training program, and overall program delivery and evaluation. Emma holds a master’s degree in outdoor and environmental education from Alaska Pacific University, where she completed her thesis research on decision-making dynamics among Denali guides. She has edited two volumes of The Snowy Torrents, a collection of avalanche accident data and analysis published by the American Avalanche Association, and her writing has appeared in Outside, Powder, and The Avalanche Review, along with her book, Dead Reckoning: Learning from Accidents in the Outdoors (Falcon, 2021). When she's not geeking out about pedagogy, Emma can be found on skis, boat, or bike with her husband, son, and two pretty bad dogs.
Jake Wallace
Operations Director
Jake Wallace
Born and raised on an Iowa farm, Jake developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors, impactful work, and the power of community. This foundation sparked his passion for adventure and a career focused on human-centered work in the outdoors and humanitarian fields. From living and working in the Andes and Himalayas to teaching wilderness medicine worldwide, he has always felt most at home in the mountains, forging connections through shared experiences and meaningful conversations.
As Operations Director at AIARE, Jake is excited to help bring together teams, instructors, and programs that inspire and empower others to engage with the outdoors safely and confidently. Driven by curiosity and enthusiasm, he is committed to contributing to the future of avalanche education.
Outside of work, his greatest adventure is with his wife and young child, as they build a life of exploration and joy. Whether in the mountains, tending the garden, woodworking, or baking, he is always seeking moments that spark wonder and connection.
Whitney Bradberry
Marketing Director
Whitney Bradberry
Whitney is responsible for AIARE's marketing and communications and brings more than a decade of experience working in the outdoor industry, including roles as the American Alpine Club's Marketing Director, where she spearheaded the first-ever State of Climbing Report, and as a freelance marketer for numerous big-name outdoor brands. Hailing from the flatlands of Florida, Whitney moved across the country to Colorado 17 years ago to be closer to the mountains and has never looked back. When she's not running AIARE's communications, Whitney and her husband are probably tackling a home renovation project or enjoying the trails around Colorado.
Jeff Hambelton
Motorized Program Manager
PRO Trainer
Instructor Trainer
Jeff Hambelton
Jeff started snowmobiling in 2007, quickly adapting to a new mode of mountain access. He completed his AIARE Instructor training in 2012 and joined the AIARE Pro Trainer staff in 2018. He was hired in 2013 by the Northwest Avalanche Center as a Professional Observer and remains on staff as the Snowmobile Education Coordinator. He dedicates the majority of his winter to riding sleds with friends and teaching snowmobile-based avalanche courses with a growing team of inspiring instructors. Jeff resides near Mt. Baker where he enjoys a deep snowpack, loamy single-track, and the fall berry harvest.
Sarah MacGregor
Member Services Manager
Sarah MacGregor
Sarah works as the backbone of day-to-day communications and office operations at AIARE, bringing in over a decade of experience in administration, management, and IT and over 14 years of work in the outdoor industry as a guide and educator. Born in Colorado, she fell in love with snowboarding in high school and began splitboarding and rock climbing in her college years at Colorado State University where she studied Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism and Spanish. Sarah is currently an AIARE Course Leader and is trained by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) in the Splitboard, Alpine, and Rock disciplines. Her experience and training cohesively inform her ability to support the AIARE team and their diverse members. She is among the only Women AMGA Certified Splitboard Guides in the world, and actively makes it her goal to change that by elevating others to strengthen their agency in the mountains and beyond. She is currently based in Fraser, CO where you'll find her ridge hopping in the summer, riding Berthoud Pass in the winter, and playing “hide and seek” with her dog Fawkes who is training as an avalanche rescue dog.
Ron Funderburke
Program Manager
Ron Funderburke
Ron is a career educator, writer, and curriculum designer. He's spent the last 20 years working mostly in the climbing industry, but these days avalanche education has captured his attention. Ron's work as an AIARE instructor and course leader, combined with his leadership and administrative experience, have prepared him to join the AIARE staff as a Program Manager. He'll be focusing on curriculum design, updates, and support.
As a writer, his instructional books are available through FalconGuides, covering topics ranging from rock-climbing to ropecraft to ice-climbing. Ron was also a contributing editor on Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual. You can read shorter samples of his work throughout the Know the Ropes publications from the American Alpine Club, Rock and Ice, Gym Climber, and Climbing magazines. He is an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide, and he still works as a guide at the Colorado Mountain School.
Sheldon Kerr
Operations Manager
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Sheldon Kerr
Sheldon Kerr is an AMGA/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide and was the twelfth woman in the United States to earn that accolade. She boasts a long client list including US Special Forces Teams, fourth grade classrooms, spanish-speaking silver miners, professional skiers, and queer ice climbing enthusiasts. Her accomplishments in ski mountaineering and in promoting gender equity in the guiding world have been featured in Backcountry, Outside, and Powder magazines. She is also learning to skateboard. As of this writing, she can turn on very small ramps -sometimes. (Tell your dog she said hi).
John Mackinnon
Program Manager
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
John Mackinnon
John got his start with AIARE nearly two decades ago when he was working as an avalanche educator, ski guide, and avalanche forecaster in Crested Butte, CO. Since then John has been involved with AIARE as a Course Leader, Instructor Trainer, PRO Instructor, curriculum writer, and member of the Education Committee (now the Technical Committee). In his current role as Program Manager, he supports educational programming, curriculum development and oversees AIARE’s scholarship program.
John is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Ski Guide who has instructed in the Avalanche Science Program at Colorado Mountain College and has been a faculty member in several college outdoor education programs. He holds a BA in Geosciences from Williams College and an MEd from Colorado State University with a specialization in Adult Education and Training. John lives in northern Vermont with his wife, two amazing daughters and their sweet little cattle dog.
Trainer Staff
Aaron Ball
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Aaron Ball
Skiing since the 1970’s, he would burn through numerous gloves a season on the local rope tow. After years of skiing deep powder on skinny skis and surviving his early backcountry skiing career through mostly ignorance and good luck, he became a ski patroller at Mammoth Mountain, where he quickly learned about the dangers and intricacies of avalanches. Working there for six seasons, Aaron served as an avalanche control route leader, often shot a really big gun, and was active in the avalanche and snow study program. He spent many days exploring the backcountry of the Eastern Sierra, and in 2005, Aaron moved to Durango, CO with his partner and their two children where he has been working for San Juan Mountain Guides as an alpine/ski guide and AIARE course leader. He is currently working his way through the AMGA certification process. In 2012, Aaron completed his master’s degree in adventure education where he studied risk management and decision-making in outdoor leaders. He owns Southwest Rescue teaching rescue education including wilderness medicine and swiftwater rescue. He also works for Fort Lewis College as an adjunct faculty and coordinates program operations.
Anna Allen
PRO Trainer
Anna Allen
Anna spent her childhood playing in the woods around her home in Olympia, WA. In college she fell in love with the backcountry during her first backpacking trip, and she spent the next decade building and maintaining trails for Mount Rainier National Park. In 2014 Anna earned an MBA in Sustainable Systems with a certificate in Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and in 2015 she became a mountain guide. She is now an AMGA apprentice Rock Guide and apprentice Ski Guide. After three years of ski patrolling, in 2018 Anna began teaching AIARE recreational avalanche classes, and in 2023 she joined the AIARE Pro instructor team. When not at work Anna loves to sleep, trail run, climb splitter cracks, ski giggle-pow, and spend as much time as possible with her wonderful husband.
Anne St. Clair
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Anne St. Clair
Anne St. Clair is an avalanche forecaster, educator, and social scientist who supports projects that strengthen knowledge and communication systems for natural hazards.
Originally a Pennsylvania native, Anne migrated west on a cross-country road cycling adventure, eventually landing in Breckenridge, CO and Moab, UT. Anne has over a decade of combined experience working in avalanche education, backcountry ski and mountain bike guiding, and avalanche forecasting. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University. Anne is currently pursuing a PhD with the Simon Fraser University Avalanche Research Program (SARP) in British Columbia, Canada to better understand how people process information to manage avalanche risk in their environments. She works with Avalanche Canada as a public avalanche forecaster and with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) as an Instructor Trainer and Education Committee member.
Billy Rankin
Instructor Trainer
Pro Trainer
Billy Rankin
Billy Rankin has been an outdoor professional since 1992 when he arrived in Crested Butte, Colorado focusing on guiding and education. He began with Outward Bound in 1994 leading mountaineering, river, sea kayaking, and canyon courses in Colorado, Utah, Mexico, and Alaska. Billy has worked in several different operational settings in the avalanche world. Billy was a forecaster for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center for 10 years. He worked for 10-years on the Crested Butte Professional Ski Patrol. He also previously worked as a snowcat ski guide for Irwin Lodge and backcountry ski guide for Crested Butte Mountain Guides. He currently works as a snowcat ski guide and avalanche course instructor for Irwin Guides & Eleven Experience. Billy is a certified Pro 1 Avalanche Practitioner, a certified A3 & AIARE (Rec & Pro) Avalanche Instructor. Billy is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician and runs his own business, Intuition Consulting teaching wilderness medicine and also teaches WFR courses for Desert Mountain Medicine. During the off seasons Billy may be found playing in the Elk Mountains with his wife Erin and two kids Revi & Vasey, boating and fishing on a beautiful river corridor, or wandering in a slickrock desert.
Brian Lundstedt
Instructor Trainer
Brian Lundstedt
Brian started snowmobiling in 1993, when his dad took him and his two younger brothers out nearly every weekend to chase powder in the Rocky Mountain high country—spots like the Snowy Range, Cameron Pass, and Buffalo Pass. Drawn to tight, technical terrain, his passion deepened until a 2012 avalanche near Buffalo Pass claimed his brother Tyler's life, sparking a mission for safer rides. He founded Tyler's Backcountry Awareness as a nonprofit to deliver motorized avalanche education, overcoming barriers of cost, time, and access.
Brian completed his AIARE Instructor training soon after and became one of the first motorized course leaders. Now an AIARE Pro Instructor Trainer, he takes great pleasure in sharing what he has learned with up-and-coming professionals. Always one to challenge the status quo and willing to turn every occasion into an opportunity to learn. Brian feels that he embraces the essence of what he feels makes good teammates in not only in the backcountry but also in life.
Ever challenging norms, Brian turns every moment into a learning opportunity, embodying ideal teamwork in the backcountry and beyond. Winters blend training, mentoring, and courses across the Rockies, with occasional freerides. Based in Colorado, he runs a family repair shop as a fourth-generation mechanic.
Bruce Saxman
PRO Trainer
Bruce Saxman
Bruce has worked in the outdoor and adventure education profession for over 20 years as an instructor, guide, educator and administrator. After 12 years running collegiate outdoor programs he transitioned to teaching while at Green Mountain College. After a teaching stint at the University of Idaho he moved to Durango to teach in the Adventure Education program at Fort Lewis College Bruce is a Course Leader for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, and an Assistant Ski Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association.
Chris Bremer
PRO Trainer
Chris Bremer
Chris is the Snowbird Snow Safety Supervisor and calls Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah his home. His journey to Snowbird started long ago on the frozen slopes of the Adirondack Mountains in New York. From there, college took Chris to the Front Range of Colorado where he got an Engineering Degree from the Colorado School of Mines, and more importantly, started dabbling in the snow covered Rocky Mountains. Choosing to leave behind the engineering world for snowy slopes has allowed Chris to work as an industrial avalanche forecaster in Chile, an AIARE certified recreational instructor throughout the western US, and to obtain his Canadian Avalanche Association Operations Level 2. Chris joined the AIARE Instructor Staff as a member of the PRO Instructor team in 2019. Currently, Chris stays busy forecasting avalanches at Snowbird, organizing training for the ski patrol, and teaching AIARE Professional Avalanche Courses.
Cody Richmond
PRO Trainer
Cody Richmond
Cody's dedication to the backcountry started in middle school, fueling a lifelong passion for winter snowmobiling. He quickly advanced through the motorized track of the AIARE program, becoming an instructor in 2021 and achieving PRO Instructor status in 2025. Outside of the snow, Cody's professional life has been diverse, spanning roles as a food truck owner, a commercial guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, the president of the Sawtooth Snowmobile Club, and countless positions at ski resorts—all for the coveted free pass.
Now, Cody channels his expertise and love for avalanches into leading the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, a non-profit organization that maximizes his time on snow. While motorized travel remains his priority, his new role has prompted him to "cross over" and earn his turns by embracing uphill skinning, adding a new dimension to his winter pursuits.
Daryl Teittinen
PRO Trainer
Daryl Teittinen
Daryl has been fascinated with all things snow and avalanches as long as he has known they exist. Originally an east coast skier he has been living and working in the Sierra Nevada for over 20 seasons, currently based in Truckee CA. Daryl has worked as a Professional Ski Patroller and Assistant Snow Safety Director, Professional Observer and Field Work Partner for the Sierra Avalanche Center, Backcountry Skiing Guide, AIARE Course Leader, Outdoor Adventure Leadership faculty at Sierra Nevada College and dedicated trail breaker to find the best snow. He has a Masters in Education Degree, is a Professional member of the American Avalanche Association and is working on the AMGA Ski and Rock Guide Certification process.
Duncan Lee
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Duncan Lee
Growing up in Lake Tahoe, Duncan has been using the backcountry nearly his whole life. From professional big mountain snowboarding, to trekking around the globe, Duncan is always out on adventure. Snowmobiling became an everyday passion in 2002, and Duncan became a snowmobile industry pro with multiple film segments each year. In 2008 Duncan co-founded Alpine Assassins, a pro riders collective producing leading snowmobile films each year. Duncan’s riding, route finding, and safety skills are top-notch and he is devoted to giving clients the ride of a lifetime. Duncan has been instructing Snowmobile specific avalanche awareness classes and is working on becoming an AIARE 1 ProviderAlong with being a backcountry athlete Duncan also produces a monthly web based video series called The Lets Ride Adventures Video Series which catalogs Duncan’s season of riding, where he is, who he is riding with, and the products that they use. So if you want to catch up with what Duncan is up to, then check out letsridetahoe.com.
Geoff Unger
PRO Trainer
Geoff Unger
Geoff is an IFMGA Mountain Guide based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. He works full time in the winter as a ski and splitboard guide. Geoff joined the Instructor Staff at AIARE as a Pro avalanche course instructor in the winter of 2018/2019. In addition to his role as a Pro avalanche course instructor, he teaches AIARE Rec programs in the Sierra Nevada. Geoff has a background in operational risk management from running a small guide service as operations manager. His involvement in the industry also extends to teaching Ski Guide programs for the American Mountain Guides Association and developing ski and snowboard movement standards for guides.
Greg Shaffran
Full Stack Engineer
Instructor Trainer
Greg Shaffran
Born and raised in Aspen, Colorado, Greg Shaffran is a software entrepreneur and avalanche educator who has been involved with AIARE since 2012. At AIARE Greg works as a Course Leader, a part of the Instructor Trainer Team, and a Full Stack Engineer. A passionate skier and adventurer, Greg has been engaged in the realm of mountain safety as a professional and volunteer for many years. In addition, he has worked as a professional chef, backcountry ski guide, and founder of Guide’s Guru. In 2011, Greg joined Mountain Rescue Aspen and has been a board member since 2019. He is also sits on the board for the Alfred A. Braun Hut System, Colorado’s first hut system.
Howie Schwartz
PRO Trainer
Howie Schwartz
Howie Schwartz has been involved in avalanche education since 1996 and has been working to learn, teach, and develop AIARE curriculum since 1999. Howie is an AIARE Instructor Trainer, actively teaches AIARE 1, 2, & 3 courses as Course Leader and Instructor. Howie conceived of the original version of the AIARE decision making framework in 2003 and has delivered ISSW presentations on the topic of teaching decision making in avalanche terrain. He is an IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide since 2001 and has guided professionally worldwide since 1997. Howie is co-owner of Sierra Mountain Guides, based in Bishop, California where he and his family reside. He serves on the Technical Committee for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and has been an Instructor/Examiner and Ski Program Coordinator designing and implementing curriculum for AMGA guide training programs since 2000. He was a founding director for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and is a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association.
Jennifer Boisvert
Instructor Trainer
Jennifer Boisvert
Jenna grew up in the mountains of Colorado, but didn’t recognize her brewing passion for the outdoors until after college. As a young biologist, she ended up in a ski town looking for winter work, and a friend who taught her to telemark ski. After moving to Alaska in 2002, Jenna found “the goods” as a backcountry telemark skier in the big mountains. Amidst her backcountry enthusiasm she recognized the need to empower more women in the outdoors, and began instructing women-specific courses in 2009. She is the former owner of Backcountry Babes, and as an AIARE Course Lead (2017), has helped several AIARE providers across the West start and run their own women’s-specific avalanche courses. She has an Avalanche Level 3 certification, is a Pro Member of the AAA, and has taught co-ed and women’s recreational courses in AK, CO, UT, WA, OR, MT, and ID. Jenna currently lives in McCall, ID and works for Payette Powder Guides as an instructor/guide. She also has a M.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology, and a M.S. degree in Sustainable Design.
John Littleton
Instructor Trainer
John Littleton
John grew up skiing in the Midwest when the Stem Christie was all the rage. After college and a stint in the US Navy, he’s since learned how to make a modern turn on skis and has called Lake Tahoe home for the last 20 years. John has been both a Professional Ski Patroller and Outdoor Educator teaching Experiential Education at Primary, Secondary and College Levels. Most winters he divides his time between teaching Recreational Avalanche courses and Ski Guiding in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Joshua Cole
PRO Trainer
Joshua Cole
Joshua Cole is an AIARE Pro Instructor and Recreational Course Leader, as well as an IFMGA Licensed Guide, certified by the AMGA in the Rock, Alpine, and Ski disciplines. Josh is a risk management consultant for Experiential Consulting, and has provided presentations, training, and audits on wilderness risk management to numerous organizations. Josh has worked as a professional ski patroller in Montana and New Zealand, and has a former life as a geologist. Josh primarily works in the North Cascades of Washington as a ski, alpine, and rock guide for North Cascade Heli Skiing, and North Cascades Mountain Guides, where he is an owner.
Kate Koons
PRO Trainer
Kate Koons
Kate has been teaching avalanche courses for the past 15 years. Her education career started back in 1997 working as an outdoor educator. In 2002, Kate started working for NOLS and also discovered that backcountry skiing was incredibly fun. This lead to years of instructing field courses, instructor trainings and teaching avalanche courses for a variety of providers. In 2017, Kate started working for the American Avalanche Association as the Pro Training Coordinator, managing and overseeing the pro avalanche program which began in the winter of 2017-18. Teaching avalanche courses is just one of the many jobs Kate holds onto these days. She can also be found ski guiding, and most recently working as the field risk manager for the US Antarctic program. Kate lives in Victor, ID where she can be found wandering around the mountains on foot, bike or skis.
Keith Hadyk
Instructor Trainer
Keith Hadyk
Kelly McNeil
Instructor Trainer
Kelly McNeil
Kelly McNeil grew up skiing and snowmobiling in northeastern Wyoming. She now lives in northeastern Oregon and is an associate professor at Eastern Oregon University in the Health and Human Performance department with a focus on community/public health. She teaches both motorized and non-motorized avalanche courses and is an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center. She and her husband also own a backcountry ski guide business. Kelly also works as a program evaluator, assessing the effectiveness of existing programs. Kelly also loves mountain biking, trail running, climbing and doing everything with her golden retrievers.
Kelly Robbins
PRO Trainer
Instructor Trainer
Kelly Robbins
Born and raised in rural Oregon near the town of Corvallis, Kelly developed an early affection for the outdoors and spent countless hours exploring the woods near his house. He is currently based out of Bend, Oregon, where he is able to work throughout the Intermountain West. Kelly has been guiding and teaching avalanche classes for Utah Mountain Adventures since the 05/06 winter season, and he has been working for NOLS since 2007. In 2012, Kelly finished his M.S. in Outdoor Education at the University of Utah, and he joined Westminster College in Salt Lake City as an Adjunct Faculty in 2013. Kelly has also worked as a Course Leader for several AIARE providers, and he joined the AIARE Instructor Trainer team in 2019. Despite all the time in the mountains, however, the true pleasures in his life are his wife Kat and son Zander.
Krista Hildebrandt
PRO Trainer
Krista Hildebrandt
Krista grew up in MN skiing on Tuesday nights with her Dad while he volunteered on the Mt Frontenac ski patrol. She then made her way to Gunnison county to go to college and ski as much as possible while getting her degree in Public Relations. Krista became a professional ski patroller in Crested Butte in 1990 and an avalanche instructor for AIARE in 2008. Years of professional experience lead to her taking on the Snow Safety Director position for Crested Butte ski patrol and joining the Pro Instructor team at AIARE. Krista has a year round love for the outdoors. In the summer she manages her gardening company, bikes, hikes, and guides. In the winter she is a professional ski patroller and teaches Pro avalanche courses. She loves powder skiing as much as she loves her husband and 2 grown boys.
Kristin Arnold
Instructor Trainer
Kristin Arnold
Kristin Arnold is an AMGA / IFMGA Mountain Guide based in Ridgway, CO with a goofy spirit, inclusive attitude, and impressive athletic ability. In a former life, Kristin won national titles in cross country running and was the goalkeeper for championship soccer teams at the collegiate and professional levels. She has also worked as an avalanche forecaster and summited Denali over 10 times. In spite of her accomplishments, Kristin maintains a patient teaching style and commitment to meeting people “where they are at” in terms of skill-level, fitness, and confidence. Most importantly she loves Twinkies...pass her one when you meet in the backcountry!
Larry Goldie
PRO Trainer
Larry Goldie
Larry Goldie is an internationally certified mountain guide based in Washington’s Methow Valley. With over 25 years of experience teaching avalanche education, Larry has dedicated much of his career to helping both recreational and professional backcountry travelers make informed decisions in complex mountain environments.
In winter, he guides backcountry skiing and serves as the Snow Safety Director for North Cascades Heli, where he manages operational avalanche forecasting and mitigation. Larry also teaches professional-level avalanche courses for AIARE and works as an Instructor/Examiner for the American Mountain Guides Association, mentoring the next generation of guides and avalanche professionals.
He lives in Winthrop, WA with his wife and 12-year-old daughter, whom he is barely still able to stay ahead of on downhill skis.
Lucas Mouttet
Instructor Trainer
Lucas Mouttet
I spend most of the winter out of Steamboat Springs, CO, working for Bluebird Backcountry, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Never Summer Outdoor School. In the summer I get to spend time with my family (2 shredder girls), play music, run and bike in the hills and float on the wet stuff.
Lyra Pierotti
Instructor Trainer
Lyra Pierotti
Lyra grew up in Vallejo, California, and was raised by a violinist. In college, she got into rock climbing through UC San Diego’s Outback Adventures where she was mentored in outdoor leadership. She spent her senior year studying in the French Alps, where she learned to backcountry ski and ice climb. This snowballed into a career as a guide, at first focusing on rock climbing and avalanche education, where she found ways to teach others about her passions–much as she watched her mother do as a music teacher.
Lyra is an AMGA Rock Guide, Assistant Alpine Guide, and Apprentice Ski Guide, as well as an AIARE Course Leader and Instructor Trainer. She is a Senior Guide for Alpine Ascents where she guides full time and helps to train the guide staff. She has been teaching AIARE courses since 2011 and makes as much time as possible for mentorship programs to help others find their way into the mountains.
Tangential to guiding, Lyra is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who trains mountain athletes. And you might see her byline on various reviews on OutdoorGearLab.
Margaret Wheeler
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Margaret Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler learned to ski and climb at an early age in New England, and became interested in ski mountaineering while living in Europe for several seasons. As a transplant to the Northwest, she guides ski mountaineering, alpine, and rock objectives. In 2006, Margaret became the second woman in the US to complete her full UIAGM guide certification. An active member of the guiding community, she is an instructor of guide training for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and serves on its board of directors and is a former president of the organization. She is involved in avalanche education through her work as an AIARE instructor and trainer.
Roger Coit
Instructor Trainer
PRO Trainer
Roger Coit
Roger Coit lives in Salida and is the avalanche science program director at Colorado Mountain College. He also teaches EMS, wilderness medicine, and outdoor studies courses. Roger has served as the project lead for the avalanche science program since its inception in 2014, working to design the program in collaboration with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Prior to becoming full-time faculty in 2009, he taught as an adjunct instructor for the college since 1997, leading courses in recreational avalanche safety, wilderness medicine, and urban EMS. He has been an educator since 1995 and has worked variably as a paramedic, EMS agency director, assistant ski patrol director, snow safety coordinator, and manager of a whitewater rafting operation on the Arkansas River.
Travis Feist
PRO Trainer
Travis Feist
Travis grew up skiing in the Adirondacks, and moved to Colorado after high school to explore bigger mountains. He experienced his first Tahoe snowstorm while on a cross country motorcycle trip, and decided to stick around. Travis has been working in the snow ever since; as a guide, pro patroller, and now splitting his time as the Training Coordinator for AIARE, an Observer for the Sierra Avalanche Center, and guiding and teaching in South America in the “off” season. Skiing and motorsports have remained common threads for Travis, both in work and play.
Wendolyn Antibus
PRO Trainer
Wendolyn Antibus
Wendolyn grew up in upstate New York. After earning a degree in Archaeology from Oberlin College (it really is related to snow science), she moved to Tahoe to pursue a life in the mountains. She is an Avalanche Forecaster for Mt Rose Ski Tahoe and brings a wealth of experience from the ski patrol operations world, as well as medical experience as an RN and EMT. She is an Avalanche Dog Handler and teaches AIARE Rec courses in the Tahoe area. When she’s not out on the snow, Wendolyn can usually be found either rafting, backpacking, biking, taking photos, or working on building her off-the-grid cabin.
Weston Deutschlander
PRO Trainer
Weston Deutschlander
Originally from Western NY, Weston was raised by two ski patrollers spending nearly every weekend during the winter on the hill. Somewhat accidentally arriving in Park City, UT in 2007, he never left. Taking an AIARE 1 in 2008 he started his avalanche education. It wasn’t until he started going through his hybrid ITC and fully motorized CLT that he started to get hooked on the motorized side. Fast forward a few years and Weston is an AMGA certified ski guide and spends equal if not more time on the snowmobile. He has worked as a cat ski guide, works for his wife’s guide service, Inspired Summit Adventures and has been a pro instructor for AIARE since 21/22.
Zack McGill
Instructor Trainer
Zack McGill
Zack grew up in Durango, CO and began venturing into the mountains of the North and South San Juans at an early age. He studied Elementary Education and Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder and worked for the Colorado Outward Bound School for 7 years – leading long expeditions (15-52 days) throughout the Southwest and Alaska. Now Zack lives in Bellingham, WA with wife Rachael, son Quinn, and three cats named after vegetables. 7 months out of the year, you can find him on skis teaching avalanche courses, ski guiding, or dreaming of shredding pow in between rain events. The remaining months, he works as a guide and instructor for everything from alpine rock climbing to glacier mountaineering in the Cascades. He is a Founding Member of Cascade Mountain Ascents (a worker-owned mountain guiding cooperative), AIARE Instructor/Pro trainer, and AMGA Certified Ski Guide.