Bradley, Tyson

Tyson is the senior guide and director and of UMA and the author of Backcountry Skiing Utah. Tyson remains passionate about skiing and climbing in the Wasatch Mountains, where he guides 100 days per winter (ski, avalanche instruction, mountaineering and ice) and teaches rock climbing in the summer.

He continues to push himself and his clients in the mountains.  In fall 2011 he led 3 long-time clients to Ama Dablam, 22,250, in the Everest region of Nepal through his private guiding company, Global Mtn Adv. In March, 2009, he led a 20,000 foot ski "tour" in Big Cottonwood Canyon. In August, '08 he guided the Cathedral Traverse in the Tetons in one 20-hour day. He's also led steep ski descents including the Grand Teton, E. Face of Lone Pk, NW Couloir of the Pfeifferhorn, Coalpit, Superior, Stairs Gulch, and SL Twin Peaks.

Tyson grew up climbing and skiing in Idaho and Wyoming, and has guided since 1994. He's led 10 Denali Expeditions and over 100 ascents each of the Grand Teton and Mt. Hood. He heads up UMA's annual Rainier expeditions, and has also guided in British Columbia, SE Alaska, Colorado, California and Russia. He  also does safety work for high-angle construction, teaches Avalanche Level 1 at Westminster College and guides for Wasatch Powderbird Guides, Exum Mtn Guides and independently.

Tyson has made Alaskan first ski descents of Denali's Wickersham Wall, Foraker's Sultana Ridge and Mt. Fairweather. He’s led expeditions to the Himalaya, Alps, and Andes, including Khan Tengri and Pik Pobeda, Kyrgyzstan; Muztagh Ata, China; Snow Lake, Pakistan; Lobuche  and Ama Dablam, Nepal; Huascaran, Peru; Mt. Blanc, Mt. Rose, Elbrus and the Haute Route (EU) and the Ecuador Volcanoes.

Tyson has skied Mt. Rainier 18 times by 5 different routes, including the Liberty Ridge.  He's skied Mt. Adams 22 times, and been on Shasta, Baker, St. Helens, Glacier Peak, and the Sisters.

Bradley is also a Realtor and freelance writer (primarily for the Outdoor Utah Adventure Journal). He lives in Sugarhouse with his wife, Julie Faure -- the President of UMA -- and their sons Roman (b. May, ‘02) and Diego (b. April, ‘05.)

Read more about Tyson's adventures on our blog: utahmountainadventures.blogspot.com

Brechwald, Brian

Growing up in the mountainous terrain of Iowa led to many expeditions bagging summits in America’s heartland. In 1990, Brian ventured toward the Tetons of Wyoming, and thus began the discovery of many new challenges and adventures.

With climbing and skiing experience accumulating throughout the Western US and European Alps, Brian has channeled his passions for the vertical into his profession. A guide with Exum Mountain Guides in the Tetons, Avalanche educator with UMA and AIARE, ski guide with UMA and Ski Utah’s Interconnect Tour, and in a parallel career endeavor, Brian is a sales representative and lift evacuation consultant with solutions-based companies ZipRescue and Petzl America.

Brian lives in the hills north of Park City, Utah, with his wife, son, and host of animals, and enjoys sunsets and walks on the beach.

Budge, Dave

Dave is a backcountry ski guide and avalanche instructor for UMA. He has an intimate knowledge of the climbing and skiing in the Wasatch, and has been working and playing in the Wasatch since moving here from Pennsylvania in the mid-80s.

Dave has been guiding since 1990 and has skied and climbed in the western US and Canada, as well as in South America and Europe. Highlights include ski descents of Denali’s Orient Express, at the Grand Teton’s Ford-Stettner Route, and the Grunge Couloir on Mt. Timpanogos. He has worked for the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta and has works part-time in Snow Safety for the Alta Ski Patrol. Dave has a Level III avalanche certificate through the American Avalanche Institute and has been teaching level I and II avalanche courses since 1997 for Utah Avalanche Center as well as UMA. Dave continues to increase his personal knowledge of snow and avalanche education methods, and has attended International Snow Science Workshops in 2006 and 2008. He also works in the Emergency Department at the University of Utah Hospital.

Connelly, Tim

Ski guide and avalanche instructor with UMA since 2006. Fully-certified IFMGA guide. Spends Feb-April guiding in and around LaGrave, France.

Tim was awarded 2006 AMGA Guide of the Year. 

Tim has extensive experience guiding for the American Alpine Institute on Denali, the Cascades, and South America.

Dempster, Molly

Molly grew up playing in the Wasatch Mountains and has yet to find anywhere better to live. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in Wilderness Rescue and is currently in nursing school. She spent 2 years on the Salt Lake County Search and Rescue team and has volunteered on Snowbasin's Ski Patrol. Molly grew up competing in Freestyle and Big Mountain skiing and is now passionate about skiing in the backcountry and climbing.

Memorable descents include Teewinot in Grand Teton National Park, Mt. Inconoclast in British Colombia's Selkirk Range, and a January descent of Lisa Falls, a 5,000 foot couloir, in 2 feet of perfect Wasatch powder.

Favorite climbs include the Grand Teton via the Complete Exum Ridge, Moonlight Buttress in Zion, and Lucky Streaks on Fairview Dome in Tuolumne.

Personal accomplishments include a successful ascent of Denali via the West Buttress and living with 5 men in a small RV during a ski touring trip in Valdez.

Molly has been guiding backcountry skiing for UMA since 2010. She also instructs avalanche courses with the Utah Avalanche Center. She is an EMT-Intermediate, Wilderness First Responder, and has a Level II Avalanche Certification.

Engelhard, Bruce

Bruce has worked as a guide for Utah Mountain Adventures and White Pine Touring since 1996, teaching avalanche education and backcountry travel in winter months and rock climbing in the summer. He has taught individuals from 4 to 80 years young…though he admittedly loves the opportunity to connect with the younger ones who are just getting going on their quests for mountain adventures.

He has taught and helped develop various avalanche courses for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Logan Avalanche Forecast Center, the Oakley School, the National Ski Patrol, and Utah State University. He forecasted for the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center in the Northern Utah Mountains for four years.

Bruce has also worked as a ski patroller, avalanche technician, and forecaster for the Utah Department of Transportation, Brighton Resort and the Solitude Mountain Resort. He has been living and skiing the in Wasatch Range for over 30 years, compiling over 3000 days of backcountry travel and skiing. He is certified as a Level III Avalanche Forecaster/Educator.

In 2006 Bruce completed a Masters in Social Work from the University of Utah, and he is now also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. His dream is to combine his passion for travel, play and educating in the mountains with his new found profession of counseling. He calls this idea: “Walk and Talk”.

Faure, Julie

Julie was born and raised in France and started mountaineering in the Alps. She has rock, alpine and ice climbed in the continental US, Alaska, France and the Northern Himalaya. She has led two Denali expeditions, completed the first ski descent of neighboring Mt Foraker's Sultana ridge, and summited 23,000’ Khan Tengri in the Tien Shan Mtns. of Kyrgyzstan. She has enjoyed many nights on the big walls of Yosemite’s El Cap and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. In the fall of 1995, Julie traveled by bicycle through Western China, Tibet and Vietnam. Her outside interests include culture, politics and cinema.

Julie has worked for Utah Mountain Adventures, first as a guide since 1995 and then as director and president of the guide service. She and Tyson Bradley have two sons: Roman (b. May, ‘02) and Diego (b. April, ‘05).

George, Adam

Adam was bitten by the climbing bug at fifteen years old while climbing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. From a simple hobby, climbing quickly became the passion that now defines Adam’s life. Adam is well versed in all disciplines the sport has to offer, from ice climbing WI6 to climbing The Nose in a day. From sport climbing to ski mountaineering and from hard trad up to 5.13 to expeditions, summitting Denali and putting up new ice routes in India. Adam graduated from Middlebury with a BS in Geography. What better way to use this degree than to travel the world, exploring new cultures and mountain ranges, setting foot on each continent. Adam is a fully certified IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide and has completed his Avalanche Safety Level III with AIARE. Adam winter guides out of Salt Lake City, and in Ouray. He spends his summers guiding and climbing around the Alps

Adam is co-owner of www.IntoTheMountains.com

George, Caroline

Born in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Caroline was immersed in the mountain culture from the time she was born. Every holiday with her family was spent traveling the world, using climbing as a way to discover new places and cultures. Upon graduating from law school, Caroline took a sabbatical to compete in the Ice Climbing World cup and travel to Nepal, before returning to law. But her passion for climbing soon took over and she traded in her lawyer’s outfit for one of ropes, crampons, ice axes and skis.

Caroline calls Salt Lake City home. She is a guide for Utah Mountain Adventures in the winters, teaching ice climbing and taking her clients skiing in some of the world’s best backcountry snow. She also guides for Chicks with Picks, teaching women how to ice climb. She spends her summer guiding in the Cascades and Europe.

Caroline is a fully certified AMGA Alpine, Ski and Rock Guide. She has also completed her Avalanche Safety Level III with AIARE.

Caroline is an athlete for First Ascent, Scarpa, Petzl, Julbo and Heidiskis.

Caroline is co-owner of www.IntoTheMountains.com

You can keep track of Caroline's many adventures on her blog: carolinegeorge.blogspot.com and www.carolinegeorge.com

Glew, Todd

Todd has been a member of the US National randonee racing team. He distinguished himself between 2005-2008 as one of the top ski mountaineering racers in the US, culminating in a 3rd place finish at the North American Championships in 2007. He built this speed and skill primarily by touring in the Wasatch Range six-days a week every winter since 2003. He has dropped into almost every skiable line in the range and knows where to find “the goods” for his groups, whether its in Willow Fork or the Coalpit Headwall.

Todd has been on the UMA roster since 2008 and also guides in the summers with Timberline Mtn Guides in Oregon. He previously guided on Mt. Shasta, Ca. He has skied extensively around Chamonix, France and Mt. Washington / Tuckerman’s Ravine. He has skied Mt. Rainier, Lassen, and many lines on Shasta and Hood. He also climbs water ice and leads traditional rock climbing up to 5.11.

Todd is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Outdoor Rec program, and NOLS semester in Patagonia. He has been an outdoor leader for at-risk high-school boys and a mountain bike instructor.

Gonzalez, Higinio ("Quino")

Quino, who was born in Chile, grew up climbing and skiing in the Andes and Patagonia. His first experiences as a guide took him to Antarctica, where he helped to set up the now legendary ANI base camp in Patriot Hills. Quino was trained as a Journalist and has a degree in Political Science.

He has organized and led expeditions in Patagonia, Peru, Pakistan and India. In 2001, he summitted Broad Peak, an 8.000 meter peak in the Karakoram and got very high on nearby K2. In 2005, he led an expedition to Gasherbrum I. An avid rock and ice climber, Quino has climbed extensively in the Wasatch Range, the Rockies and Canada. He has also spent years exploring the Wasatch backcountry on skis.

Quino feels that his obligation to his client goes beyond guiding. He believes in “a need to teach and educate every time we go out, not only to secure safety, but also to help people understand the beauty of a good line, whether when climbing ice or rock, or when skiing a snow slope” as a practice. He has recently completed his Level III Avalanche Training and is pursuing a full IFMGA certification.

Griffith, Dan

Dan has been living and skiing in the Wasatch Range of Utah since 1991. Dan has completed Avalanche Safety Levels I and II with the American Avalanche Institute and Level III with Swiss Rock Guides. He is on his way to becoming fully certified through the American Mountain Guides Association, having completed the Ski Guides & Ski Mountaineering Courses. He has 17 years of backcountry skiing experience. Dan has been a guide with UMA since 2003 and with Powderquest Tours in the Andes of Chile & Argentina since ‘04. Dan is the owner of an international ski guiding business, Endless Turns.

All of this experience has allowed Dan to acquire an intimate understanding of some of the most spectacular ski terrain in the world. Dan has accomplished numerous ski descents in Canada, the Chugach Range in Alaska, the lower U.S., Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Italy.

Gustafson, Eric

Eric has been ski and snowboard guiding in the Wasatch for UMA since 1997. A Ski Patroller since 1982, Eric started in Vermont and ended up as patrol director for Solitude in Utah. Preferring the backcountry, he now spends most days touring the " greatest snow on earth". When the snow is old, he plays at or guides Kite-snowboarding.

Eric’s summers are spent on Cape Cod, MA where he started FunSeekers.org in 1992. Eric teaches kiteboarding, surfing and windsurfing on the beaches of Wellfleet.

Hebert, Calvin

Calvin has extensive climbing, skiing and canyoneering experience in Utah and the Rocky Mountain West. He has climbed big walls in Yosemite and Zion. He has also spent a lot of time in Alaska, climbing Denali, doing a first ascent on Mt. Hunters’ north face and traveling unexplored regions culminating in the first ascent of 3 previously unclimbed mountains (Mt. Beckey, Pirate Peak and Mt. Medusa.)

Calvin spends his summers as an Exum guide in the Tetons. He has also worked as a Nordic Ski Instructor.

Kaserman, Mike

Mike is UMA’s chief rock guide and summer director. He has guided rock, ice, canyoneering, and alpine climbing for UMA since 1994, and he’s also guided for Moab Desert Adventures, Wasatch Adventure Consultants and Snowbird Expeditions.

Mike became inextricably hooked on climbing while spending time in the Tetons in the late ‘80s. It’s been part of his lifestyle since. He has climbed in Thailand, Greece, Cuba, France, and Canada, and has led trips to Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and northern India. His teaching experience is a strong element of his guiding. He’s been a high school and college teacher for 11 years, and was a PSIA certified ski instructor for 6. Kaserman rock climbs at a highest level, which helps him to bring out the best in his clients.

Keeling, Anna

New Zealander, Anna Keeling, is an internationally certified UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide. She has been teaching avalanche classes and guiding backcountry skiing, rock, ice, and alpine climbing for UMA since 2002. From ski racing and sailing in her teenage years, Anna moved into endurance sports (now known as adventure racing) in her early 20's while a student. She won many NZ long distance kayak-cycle-run-ski races, including the inaugural Raid Gauloises Adventure Race in 1989. She came back to a podium place in the world championships in 2005. Anna has also worked on and raced in three Eco Challenges. Endurance sports led naturally to mountaineering and rock climbing. Mountain, ski and climbing guiding have taken Anna all over the world but she finds herself most often in Utah, the NZ Alps, the Canadian Rockies and the Indian Himalaya. Anna completed a university degree in Parks and Recreation Management in 1990. She can also be found painting the mountains, desert and ocean. Anna became a mother in 2006 with the birth of her son, Obie.

Langlois, Kevin

Kevin grew up in hunting, camping, and white water canoeing in northern Wisconsin which sparked his fire for adventures in the outdoors. His white water background led him into taking a NOLS Whitewater Instructor Course in 2006. Kevin is now a kayak, canoe, raft, rock climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering instructor for the school. Throughout the last decade Kevin has worked with different adventure camps, residential facilities, ski resorts (as a ski patroller and instructor), mountain guiding services, avalanche educators, universities, helicopter ski operations, and outdoor skills schools. For the last three springs Kevin has spent his time leading clients up Mt Shasta in California on summit attempts and glacier courses. With an interest in wilderness medicine he has become a Wilderness EMT, and has gotten an OEC through his ski patrolling experience. His time outdoors has nurtured an enthusiastic love for showing his clients the potential for adventure out their backdoor wherever that may be. When Kevin is home here in Utah he enjoys mountain biking, unicycling, skiing, ice climbing, and hanging out with his wife, Whitney.

Lazzara, Lee

Talk about hitting the jackpot... Lee made the move from suburban New Jersey to the good times and even better snow of Park City at age 16 and has called Utah home ever since. Finding a life in the mountains has taken him through a variety of work – from groveling as a ski resort dishwasher, to learning the mysteries of snow shoveling and hot tub maintenance, finally graduating to the world of ski patrolling and mountain guiding. Lee joins our winter guide staff at UMA with 15 years of experience in the Wasatch and loads of enthusiasm to ski backcountry powder. He teaches avalanche courses for and guides ice and alpine climbing and ski touring. In the off-season He leads alpine climbs with AAI and is an AAIARE avalanche instructor as well.

Lemieux, Alexandre

Alexandre started skiing at age 5 and began his ski teaching career at 16. Since graduating from University in 1998 with a degree in Recreation and Tourism, Alexandre’s lifestyle has been focused on skiing in the winter and climbing in the summer, which eventually brought him to Utah. Alexandre is a certified CSIA level IV ski instructor and a CSCF level II coach, and has now been teaching and coaching alpine skiing for more than 20 years. When he’s not guiding, Alexandre spends the rest of his time backcountry skiing in the Wasatch Mountains and rock climbing all over the continent, with occasional trips to Europe. He is also the owner and founder of GearLoopTopo and Superior Mountain Adventures.

McLeod, Scott

Scott McLeod has been an avid outdoorsman his entire life. Hailing from a family that spent every moment of its free time in the mountains, he cannot remember a time when he was not hiking, climbing, skiing, and generally having fun in the great outdoors. As a climber, Scott enjoys it all, from hard sport and trad climbing, to alpine, to big walls, to remote climbs in the West Desert. His notable achievements include 5.13 in both trad and sport, first ascents of hard desert towers, and climbing all over the globe including Africa, South America, Europe & all over the US. He is also a passionate backcountry skier, making the Wasatch Mountains a perfect backyard for winter fun! Skiing and alpine climbing have also taken him abroad, most notably to the Alps to climb the Mönch, the Jungfrau, and the Finsteraarhorn. In addition to guiding, Scott works as a consultant to nonprofits, holds a masters degree in public policy, and speaks French, Spanish, and Kiswahili.

Mletschnig, John

A New England transplant and devoted skier, John began his avalanche education while studying geography at the University of Utah in an attempt for self-preservation. After graduating, John spent several years patrolling and triggering avalanches for the Solitude Ski Patrol where he gained and invaluable base for guiding and an incredible appetite for powder. John has spent the last number of years working as a ski guide, avalanche forecaster, ski patroller and educator while circling the Pacific chasing the snow like a winter possessed Captain Cook.

John currently spends his year working for Utah Mountain Adventures, Park City Powder Cats, Points North Heli Adventures-Alaska, Mt. Olympus–New Zealand, and Ice Axe Expeditions where he recently guided on a ski-mountaineering trip to Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula.

In his free time John enjoys climbing to the tops of high peaks and rock faces, skiing and flying a speed wing down their flanks whenever possible. Living his dream, with an unwavering focus to the mountains, John is ecstatic to lead the way for others to experience the limitless world in the way he sees it.

Ormond, Pat

A top-notch alpine, rock and ice climber and skier, Patrick has guided backcountry skiing, rock, ice, and mountaineering for UMA since 2004. He has been climbing since he was 3 and grew up with an old school climbing education in the Cascade Mountains. Although he can still appreciate a good bushwack in the rain to some remote peak, the sunny rock and bottomless snow of Utah kept him here from 2000-2010. His climbing ranges from big walls to ice and mixed climbing, 5.13 rock and Denali's Cassin Ridge. As a guide, he has led expeditions on Denali and Aconcagua, and has worked in the Tetons for Exum since 2005. Guiding allows him to share his love of the mountains with his clients. His goal is to instill appreciation for the mountain environment while teaching and helping his clients achieve their goals.

Patrick also teaches avalanche courses and has an AIARE level 3 certification. He is an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine guide. Pat got married in the autumn of 2011 and now resides in Colorado’s San Juan range.

Passey, Todd

Todd grew up in Utah skiing and playing in the beautiful Wasatch mountains. He recognized his desire to work outdoors early on, and he earned his degree from the University of Utah’s school of recreation and tourism. In 2000 Todd began guiding for Alpine Ascents International where he became a senior guide, leading trips to Alaska, Antarctica, Tibet, South America and the North Cascades. Todd now guides for a number of guide services, including the Alaska Mountaineering School and independently, organizing and guiding trips around the world. Check out his international mountain guiding group at www.inthecompanyofguides.com.

Even with years of experience under his belt Todd enjoys learning and continually seeks to improve his skill and ability as a guide. In this pursuit Todd joined the AMGA, and is now an AMGA/ IFMGA Certified Ski, Alpine and Rock Guide. He has also completed his level III avalanche training and is a Wilderness First Responder.

A natural leader, Todd takes extreme pride in helping skiers and climbers safely achieve their goals in the mountains, and have a great time doing it.

Among Todd’s personal climbing accomplishments are: a first Ascent of the 5000’ West Face of Mt. Vinson, The Cassin Ridge on Denali and the Walker Spur of the Grand Jorasses.

When not traveling around the world climbing or skiing Todd lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, climbing partner and fellow guide; Winslow Passey.

Passey, Winslow

Winslow has been a professional mountain guide since 2000, guiding in areas such as Nepal, Mongolia, Alaska, Antarctica, South America and the Western United States. Attributes that are frequently used to describe Winslow are her enthusiasm and passion for everything she does. Winslow’s love of skiing and climbing around the world is translated into conscientious instruction and guiding while delivering the goods and enjoying every minute of the adventure.

Winslow is an AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide and has completed her level III avalanche training. She is a Senior Guide for Alpine Ascents International and Utah Mountain Adventures. Winslow is also a Certified Yoga instructor, receiving her training in Nepal from the renowned Yogi Dr. Sushil Bhattacharya. She loves to incorporate the techniques of balance, focus and strength learned through Yoga into her skiing and climbing instruction, bringing out the best in everyone she leads.

Winslow thrives on challenge and finds the mountain environment an exceptional playground in which she can meet this need. Some of her favorite challenges have been climbing Ama Dablam, Mt Hunter and the Grand Jorasses and ski touring 10,000’ foot days in Valdez, Alaska or at home in the Wasatch. Winslow’s international trips are also led through a parallel company owned by the Passeys and Tim Connelly, www.inthecompanyofguides.com.

Patterson, Craig

A UMA rock, ice, mountaineering and ski guide since 2004, Craig has been UMA’s lead Level I avalanche instructor and a Utah Department of Transportation avalanche forecaster for Provo Canyon since 2006.

Craig grew up in Switzerland where he developed his sense of place in the mountains and skied extensively throughout France. He attended college in Ohio, where he spent most of his time cragging at the Red River Gorge and climbing ice and rock in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Yet he still managed to obtain a degree in Geology. He thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in the Spring of 2001 from Kathadin to Springer, and then moved to Alaska to work in the Western Chugach Mountains as an avalanche safety instructor and guide. He led ice, rock and glacier trips, and taught crevasse rescue and mountaineering skills.

Craig has done ice, rock and alpine ascents along the Front Range of Colorado, the Wind Rivers, the Chugach and Kenai mountains of Alaska, West central Wyoming and Montana, and all throughout the Wasatch and desert Southwest. He’s also done numerous ski descents throughout North America and Europe.

Paulos, Trisha

Trisha began instructing and guiding in the fall of 2008 and was hired by Utah Mountain Adventures in the summer of 2009. She is a certified Single Pitch Instructor through the American Mountain Guides Association and is pursuing her rock instructor and rock guide certification. Recently, Trish finished an unsupported, unguided ascent of Mt. Kenya's true summit, Batian, with another UMA guide Nate Smith.

While Trish is most at home on the rock she also guides and instructs ice climbing, spending a majority of her time in the winter climbing water ice in Utah and Colorado. She recently graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Photography and is planning to apply to graduate school in the next year or two. She hopes to study animal behavior and psychology. Trish also works as a lead instructor for the University of Utah Climbing Programs and as an instructor for Wilderness Medicine of Utah. When she is not climbing, Trish can be found running with or launching tennis balls for her two dogs.

Polloczek, Andy

Andy was born and grew up in Germany, where he started climbing and skiing at the age of 12. He has been guiding since 1998 in various fields such as river running, dog mushing, mountain climbing, ice and rock climbing and backcountry skiing. He has climbed and led expeditions to Alaska, South America, Asia and Europe. During the summer, he guides in the Tetons with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and in the Pacific Northwest for International Mountain Guides. During the rest of the year, he guides backcountry skiing, ice and rock climbing and mountaineering in the Wasatch Mountains for Utah Mountain Adventures . If not guiding, he spends his time with his wife and daughter exploring the wild parts of Utah and the world. Andy recently earned his IFMGA /AMGA Rock Guide Certification and is pursuing ski mountaineering and alpine certification as well.

Primomo, Matt

Matt has a diverse background in guiding, avalanche forecasting, and snow science. He first went to school in Leadville, Colorado, for a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. After college, he worked in Lake Tahoe as a ski patroller for a couple years, then went back to school and researched and studied snow at the University of Colorado. During this time, he also completed an internship with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Matt has guided in Alaska, Washington, Colorado, Oregon and the Wasatch Range in Utah. For the past couple of years he has been chasing winters. During the southern hemisphere winter, he performs avalanche forecasting and control work for a remote, high altitude gold mine in the Central Andes of Chile. Matt has completed first descents and likely first descents in Washington, Colorado, and Chile.

Matt is recognized by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) as a Level 3 avalanche practitioner and is an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course Leader. He is an American Mountain Guide Association Ski Mountaineering Aspirant Guide, and plans to take the exam on a split snowboard.

He really enjoys teaching his clients about the natural world and especially about the winter snowscape. Come ski with Matt and you’ll be sure to have a knowledgeable, safe and rewarding experience!

Raynor, Scott

Scott has been a ski and mountain guide since 1996. Since then he has been a lead guide, avalanche forecaster, avalanche instructor and operations consultant. Currently he is the owner and lead guide at Valdez Heli-Ski Guides. In the summers you can find him heli-ski guiding in Chile. Scott has skied and guided all over the world including Alaska, Canada, the Western US, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. He is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association. Scott also has an extensive ski mountaineering/ alpine climbing resume, including expeditions throughout Alaska and Canada and guiding experience on Denali.

Reddish, Patrick

Robbins, Kelly

Kelly hails from such celebrated backcountry skiing locales as Corvallis, OR and St. Paul, MN. He moved to Salt Lake City in 1999 after graduating from college, and although he did not plan on staying through that winter, he is now close to considering the move to be a permanent one.

Kelly has been teaching and guiding splitboarding for UMA since the 05/06 seasons. He also teaches splitboarding/winter camping courses for the National Outdoor Leadership School, and works as a Professional Observer for the Utah Avalanche Center. He has his Level 3 avalanche certification from the American Avalanche Institute, and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder from the Wilderness Medicine Institute. Kelly also owns and operates the Splitboard Education Company, where he is able to fully apply his passion for teaching about splitboards.

In his spare time, he does things like cook dinner, clean the house, walk the dogs, and hang out with his wife, Kathleen.

Smith, Nathan

Nate joined UMA in 2006 and is currently a rock, ice, alpine and ski guide and avalanche instructor. It was Nate's passion for climbing and backcountry travel that brought him to Utah originally. He attended the University of Utah and is now pursuing a PhD studying the link between outdoor recreation and living a healthy lifestyle. His outdoor and guiding experiences have taken him to places such as the local Wasatch, the Cascades, southern Utah desert sandstone, and Ouray's water ice park. Recently Nate did an unsupported, unguided ascent of Mt. Kenya's true summit, Batian, together with UMA guide Trish Paulos. In addition to his involvement with UMA, Nate coordinates the University of Utah’s Climbing Programs, and is an academic liaison/accreditation committee member for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). He is also a wilderness medicine instructor for Wilderness Medicine of Utah. Nate is current as a Wilderness EMT and is working his way through the guide training programs for the AMGA.

Solle, Scott

Scott started snowboarding in the mid ‘80s in Montana at age 12. River guiding in Southern Utah in the mid ‘90s made for an opportunity to end up in Little Cottonwood Canyon to bridge the seasons for one winter… which turned into 5, 10, 15 winters. Working a few years for Voile Equipment led to splitboarding and tele-skiing, but most importantly friends who would promote safe backcountry skiing adventures and show him around the Wasatch. Currently he is a professional ski patroller at Alta. When he isn’t skiing and performing avalanche control work at Alta you can find him splitboard and ski guiding for UMA where he is willing to show you what keeps him in Utah.

Summers consist of slowly remodeling his old house and running his whitewater equipment business, Solgear. Scott is also an EMT-Intermediate and teaches swiftwater rescue for Rescue 3 International, but he would rather just go boating with friends than perform first aid or river rescues.

Spitzer, Jonathon

Jonathon grew up hiking, climbing, and skiing in Washington State. These days his hobby has become his profession, and he can be found splitting his time between Washington and Utah. Jonathon is a fully certified AMGA/IFMGA mountain guide. During the spring and summer months he guides throughout the Cascades, the Alaska Range, British Columbia, and in Red Rock, NV. In mid- winter, he is a heli ski guide with Ruby Mountain Heli-Skiing. He has also guided ski touring, ice and alpine climbs in the Wasatch. When at home, Jonathon can be found at home making pizza from scratch or perfecting his pad thai.

Certifications include:

    •   AMGA Certified Rock Guide
    •   AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
    •   AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide
    •   AIARE Avalanche Level III
    •   EMT License
    •   Leave No Trace
    •   AIARE Avalanche Instructor level I & II
    •   IFMGA Certified Guide

Awards & Recognition:

    •   Black Diamond Equipment: Field Tester / Product
         Development team
   •   2008 W.L. Gore Scholarship
   •   Outdoor Research clothing Connector Program

Trujillo, Annie

Annie is a native Californian and a lifelong High Sierra devotee but moved to the Wasatch in the spring of 2011 to pursue incredible ridge traversing, diverse rock climbing and the lightest powder skiing the US has to offer. Annie has been a mountain guide since 2002. Guiding and climbing have taken her to Alaska, Argentina, Chile, Greenland and around the Western US. She has taken the AMGA Rock Guide Course, the AMGA Ski Guide Course, AIARE Level II Avalanche Course, and the AIARE L1 Instructor Training Course. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a PSIA Level 1 certified ski instructor.