Adrian Ballinger is one of the USA’s premier high-altitude mountain guides, and the only American guide to have both AMGA/IFMGA guide’s certification (one of roughly 150 in the USA) and more than a fifteen summits of 8,000 meter peaks (17 total, including 8 summits of Mt. Everest, 1 without supplemental oxygen, as well as an ascent of K2 without supplemental oxygen). As founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, Adrian has been guiding full-time for over twenty years and has led over 130 international climbing expeditions on 6 continents.

In 2011 he, along with 2 Sherpa partners, became the first people to summit three 8,000 meter peaks in only 3 weeks (Everest twice and Lhotse once). He is also the first person to ski Manaslu (the 8th tallest mountain in the world) from its summit, and the first American to successfully ski two 8,000-meter peaks. These personal successes are combined with Adrian’s passion for guiding and teaching others. Adrian has successfully led more than 100 clients to the summits of Everest, Lhotse (the 4th tallest mountain in world), Cho Oyu (6th tallest) and Manaslu (8th tallest).

Whether on skis, in rock shoes, or mountain boots, Adrian thrives on sharing the big mountains with friends and clients, and helping them to build their skills and experience to be successful on the world’s most beautiful mountains. In the coming seasons, Adrian plans on continuing to enjoy big-mountain skiing, climbing, and guiding in the Himalaya, South America, Europe, and of course closer to home in Squaw Valley, CA. Adrian is a sponsored athlete for Eddie Bauer, La Sportiva, Blizzard, Tecnica, Hiball Energy, and Favre Leuba.

Learn more about Adrian at adrianballinger.com

co-owner / chief guide

Logan has been guiding professionally for over a decade in the disciplines of Rock, Alpine and Ski Mountaineering. When not out guiding, Logan spends time in the office helping the team with the day-to-day operations of the business. From one day ascents of El Capitan to big Alpine climbs in the Himalaya, from ski descents on Denali to backyard ski tours in Lake Tahoe, he can’t help but smile when out running around the hills. Logan is an AMGA/IFMGA mountain guide, an Avalanche course leader with AIARE, as well as a wilderness EMT. In addition to guiding, Logan has extensive experience in mountain rescue, having worked for rescue teams in both Yosemite and Denali National Parks, and volunteering locally for Tahoe Nordic SAR. When not out in the hills, he lives in Truckee, CA with his lovely wife Lynette and daughter Maggie.

Carla has been on the pursuit of her climbing dreams for most of her life, she started climbing as a teenager and her love to the mountains took her to the french Alps, where she studied geology and got a masters degree on geochemistry. In 2007 she decided to become a full time climber, which also put her the path of becoming a mountain guide. Carla has trained with and is pursuing UIAGM/IFMGA certification with the ASEGUIM (the Ecuadorian mountain guides association).

Carla has made multiple successful summits of Everest, including an ascent without the use of supplemental oxygen in 2016. She was the sixth women in history to accomplish this feat and the first Latin American woman to do so. She was also the first woman from the Americas to summit K2 without supplemental oxygen in 2019, and was the first woman to summit Everest and K2 in the same year..

In 2008 she did a biking trip from Ecuador to Argentina and had the opportunity to understand and learn more about her home: the Andes.

Today she splits her time between speaking about her climbing experiences all around the world, chasing new missions with her parter “Topo” and guiding big mountains.

Topo’s formal name is Esteban Mena, but he goes by his nickname. Esteban Topo Mena is 28 years old and began his guiding career at 19, when he climbed Aconcagua’s South Face and became the youngest person to accomplish this difficult climb. Topo began guiding in Ecuador and Peru. In 2012, Topo summited Manaslu and in 2013, he summited Everest – both without using supplementary oxygen. Topo again summited Everest in 2016 while supporting his wonderful partner Carla as she successfully summited without supplemental oxygen. In 2018 Topo summited both Cho Oyu and Everest with clients in under 30 days. An incredible achievement that only the best guides in the word could attempt. He also has climbed challenging new routes in Kyrgyzstan and China and one of his climbs (Kyzyl Asker) has been nominated for the Piolet d’Or (as part of an Ecuadorian team).

Jaime is Alpenglow Expeditions’ senior lead guide. A native Ecuadorian, Jaime has been guiding and climbing throughout South America and the world for twenty years. He has successfully led groups on challenging routes like the Southwest Ridge of Ama Dablam (Nepal), the Shield Route of Huascaran (Peru), the Polish Direct on Aconcagua (Argentina), and El Altar (Ecuador). We have been guiding, climbing, and traveling with Jaime since 1998 and the feedback from members is always the same: there is no better teammate. Whether climbing a tough ice route, humping a huge pack, or stuck in a storm, Jaime will keep you laughing, learning, and glad to be in the mountains. He is an ASEGUIM / IFMGA certified mountain guide.

Gaspar hails from Ecuador, and has been guiding for over 18 years, and climbing since he was 12. He has extensive experience in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Patagonia, Aconcagua, the Himalaya, the Cascades, the Alps and the Pyrenees. Gaspar has established new routes in both Ecuador and Bolivia. As an active instructor with the Ecuadorian School for Mountain Guides, he has trained in Ecuador, Bolivia and France. He is a Wilderness First Responder, and has spent a great deal of time working at high altitude.

Gaspar joined one of Quito’s oldest climbing clubs at a young age, which gave him the opportunity to mentor under very experienced climbers. He considers the Andes, including Patagonia, his home, and he love to share his enthusiasm for the mountains, the Andean traditions, food and culture with his guests.

Gaspar is an ASEGUIM/IFMGA mountain guide

Chad Peele has been guiding for over 15 years and works full time as a mountain guide. Based out of Ridgway Colorado, Chad spends his winters instructing and guiding on some of the best ice terrain the U.S. has to offer. Outside of Colorado he has traveled and guided extensively throughout North and South America with several trips to the Himalayas including multiple summits of both Everest and Ama Dablam. When not in the Mountains Chad does clothing and equipment design for Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent outdoor line.

Chad is an AMGA Rock & Alpine guide.

Ben has been in love with the mountains from a young age. He began hiking and skiing with his family and quickly decided he never wanted to stop. After finishing university in Portland, OR Ben moved back to Washington State and began guiding on Mt. Rainier and around the Cascades. For the next many years he followed the seasons, skiing, climbing and pursuing the art of human flight through out the world. He has made expeditions into both polar circles, skied first descents in Afghanistan and climbed throughout the Americas and Europe. When not looking forward to the next adventure he thoroughly enjoys roasting coffee, reading and taking his dog out for walks.

Ben is an IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide, Certified Level III Avalanche Professional, and Wilderness First Responder.

With notable first descents in the Alps, Tim Dobbins represents Alpenglow’s cutting edge guiding philosophy providing only the best guides for every trip and expedition.

Growing up in Oregon, Tim started out skiing at the young age of 4 years old. Tim grew up ski racing for 9 years before he moved on to backcountry skiing in Aspen, Colorado. He spent 4 years working as ski patrol at Snowmass Ski Resort.

Tim moved to Chamonix in the mid-’90s where he spent 6 seasons skiing and climbing while studying French. Tim says that Chamonix is where he really started learning how to ski tour, rock climb, ice climb and eventually began skiing the steepest lines he could find.

Examples of those steep lines were the North-East face of Les Courtes, Couloir Barbey from Aiguille D’Argentiere, Couloir Couturier from L’Aiguille Verte, Couloir du Diable on Mont Blanc du Tacul, East face of the Matterhorn and many, many others.

Tim has spent the last 10 years guiding and instructing in rock, ice, alpine, and skiing. He is an AMGA/IFMGA mountain guide, and lives on Donner Lake in Truckee with his wife Gisele, sweet daughter Manue and son Matisse.

Monica has been working as the doctor on expeditions to extreme altitude since 2007. She has been on more than 15 expeditions to some of the world’s highest peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Manaslu where her work has ranged from monitoring team members’ health throughout the expedition, treating locals and visitors for common illnesses, to treating frostbite and potentially fatal altitude related illnesses and offering diagnostic and therapeutic advice over the radio for unwell climbers being rescued above 8000m.

Over the years Monica has gained a huge amount of experience in this highly specialized field of medicine and she has embraced the challenges of providing the best possible health care in a hostile environment with pragmatism and skill. Combining the reality of the practical limitations imposed by the mountains with the provision of gold standard medical care is demanding but undoubtedly where Monica has made her niche.

Monica trained and worked her early years as a hospital doctor in Edinburgh and New Zealand. When not on expedition, Monica now divides her time between the UK- where she works part time in Emergency Medicine, her home life in Spain and personal climbing and skiing in Europe and beyond.

Ray is an IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide. His passion for the mountains ignited while growing up in Northern California, exploring the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges, followed by years honing his mountain skills in Colorado and Switzerland. As one of our core guides, Ray brings the same excitement to guiding and instructing in Lake Tahoe as skiing and alpine guiding in Europe to expeditions anywhere in the world. Sharing experiences, culture, and beautiful places with others blurs the line between work and play.

He is an AIARE Avalanche Course Leader and an American Avalanche Association professional member. Ray also works as a snow safety consultant for professional winter sport athletes and photographers.

He was a 4 x All American in Track and Field and the 250^th American to ever run the Mile under 4:00, but now enjoys being an average trail jogger.

Nacho was born in Ecuador and started to climb at the age of 12. After that Nacho climbed continuously in Ecuador leading expeditions and people to the summit of the Ecuadorian Andes for the last 15 years. He is a very active guide in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Peruvian Andes where he has been an active guide for the past 10 years.

He started his formal mountain guide training with the Ecuadorian Mountain Guide Association where he received the ASEGUIM certification. After that he continued his process in Bolivia where, with the support of the alpinism French school ENSA,  he received the UIAGM/IFMGA certification. He is also a WFR certified guide and for 5 years has been an instructor for the ESGUIM, the local mountain guide school.

Among his long list of climbs the biggest highlights are ascents in Peru like the South Face of Piramide de Garcilazo, South Face of Caraz I, West Face of Cayesh, and the South Face of Chacraraju Este. He also has notable climbs in  Bolivia like the West Face of Huayna Potosi in 4 hours and 30 minutes and the British Route of Hallomen in the Condoriri Masiff.

General Manager

Starting at a very young age, Sean realized that solo adventures in mother nature are fun, but sharing the thrill of an adventure with friends and family was far more special and memorable. Beginning in the mid 2000’s Sean had a short but fun-filled guiding career based in San Francisco, California where he led clients on single pitch rock climbing days in Castle Rock State Park, or backpackers up to the high alpine areas of Tuolumne Meadows for multi-day excursions, and was even lucky enough to guide a day of surfing in Bolinas.  If you ever get the chance, ask him about the time he was hired to search for pirate treasure on Bunny Wailer’s property in Jamaica. True story.

From 2007 to 2015 he spent 7.5 years working at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, getting a first hand glimpse at the inner workings of a large organization operating in the outdoor space. Sean’s first years in Tahoe were spent as a ticket sales employee skiing every day, before moving up the ranks and working in the marketing department for 5 years building premier music and sporting events while managing the resort’s corporate partnerships. Fun story – Sean brought Squaw Valley into the 21st century when he started their official Instagram channel back in 2011.

In November of 2017 he was able to join an Alpenglow Rapid Ascent team that climbed Cotopaxi in Ecuador. This was his first summit above 14,000′ and even his first time in crampons!

In May of 2021, Sean simultaneously took his AMGA single pitch instructor course while receiving a promotion to General Manager from his prior position of Director of Marketing and Sales.

Local Program Manager

As an avid skier, climber and all around outdoor enthusiast, you can usually find Sara smiling and having fun somewhere in the outdoors. Sara spends most of her free time in the Sierras enjoying mother nature with her friends and family (there’s usually always a dog around too). When she’s not coordinating the logistics of our local Tahoe skiing and climbing programs, she is most likely skiing, climbing, yoga-ing or listening to some really good music.

Sara is on the AMGA track to become a fully certified mountain guide. She is a Wilderness First Responder and  currently guides Alpenglow’s Via Ferrata in Squaw Valley. She also is a certified yoga instructor and loves to teach meditation classes. Sara prides herself in constantly sharing her passion for the outdoors with others and tries to inspire others to get outside as much as possible. Feel free to bring her a beer whenever you stop by the office next. 😉

International Coordinator

Griffin grew up in the great plains of Nebraska, but found his gaze being drawn to mountains that provide such a stark contrast to the flat environment he was raised in. After graduating from the University of Nebraska in 2019, he made his way out to Tahoe to pursue a life spent in the outdoors climbing and skiing.

Griffin can usually be found in a general state of stoke, and spends his time playing in the mountains when he’s not helping to coordinate the international logistics for Alpenglow. He aspires to be a fully certified AMGA mountain guide, and is psyched to share his love of the outdoors by helping to facilitate epic expeditions for our clients.

Front Desk Associate

Amy grew up in Kansas, but the mountains have been calling her since she was a kid. This led her to acquire a degree in Geology so that she could study them. While working as a geology intern in Colorado, she discovered her love of climbing and has been expanding her avenues of mountain exploration and trying to find a career in the outdoor industry ever since. After a few years traveling around the country as a dirtbag climber, she found her way to Tahoe in 2019. At the front desk, she is always stoked to share her passion for skiing and climbing with clients as she helps them get ready for their backcountry trips.  Amy has aspirations of pursuing AMGA Rock and Alpine Guide certifications to accompany her official “rock nerd” qualifications.

Rich has been guiding professionally for over twenty years.  His work has varied from single day backcountry ski tours in Tahoe, to ski expeditions from Alaska to Antarctica.  Rich has been lucky enough to guide, travel, ski, and summit peaks in places such as:  Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Alaska, and Antarctica.  As well as scores of Mt. Shasta & Sierra Nevada summits. Promoting the human powered outdoor experience is a big part of Rich’s passion and work, both locally and nationally.  He feels strongly that protecting our natural environment and educating skiers and climbers about our winter wild places has to be a priority.

Business Partner

A lifelong adventurer in both the mountains and business, Aaron Ollivier is a critical member of the Alpenglow team, advising the office on a daily basis and helping navigate through the folding terrain of a growing business. Aaron also provides wisdom on important subjects like how to have the most fun in life. An accomplished climber himself, ACO, as the team affectionately calls him has climbed high altitude mountains in 5 continents. While outdoor adventure and creating human bonds are his main passions in life, ACO is also the CEO and founder of Precision Concrete Cutting based in Provo, Utah. PCC has been recognized in Forbes list of top 400 franchises since 2012 and only continues to grow with Aaron’s passion and leadership. Aaron is the loving father of two young boys and is often at Alpenglow’s Lake Tahoe headquarters looking for the next powder day in the backcountry or sunny day of climbing on Donner Summit. If you’re lucky enough to catch him in person, make sure to give him a high five and be ready to tell him your 5 year plan… because he’ll ask.

Eric Stendell is a board certified emergency physician at a busy Level II trauma center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM). While training at the UCSF-Fresno Emergency medicine Program he gained extensive wilderness medicine experience while providing medical direction to area National Parks and providing medical training for Park rangers from all around the country. Dr. Stendell has completed the UIAA-ICAR Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DIMM), advanced wilderness life support (AWLS) course, and the AIARE level 1 and level 2 courses. He is an avid mountaineer, backcountry skier, rock climber and mountain biker. He has had the pleasure of combining these passions while working in local ski clinics (evaluating and treating acutely injured skiers – Northstar Medical Clinic), working as a physician on the Alpine Meadows Ski patrol and as a member of the local Search and Rescue (SAR). These duties have included providing medical training for ski patrollers, SAR team members, and Dr. Stendell is currently the medical advisor to the local SAR team. Dr. Stendell has given several conference lectures on wilderness medicine and most recently lectured and taught field sessions at the AWLS course in Lake Tahoe. He is also a candidate for the Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.

Dr. Stendell is our local programs Medical Advisor.

If you are looking for an AMGA Splitboard guide, Jules is your man. He has been guiding for 10 years and spends his winters in Tahoe and summers in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Whether it’s a ski day or time to board, Jules enjoys the rewards that the backcountry experience provides. He is an AIARE course leader and has logged many adventures in mountains up and down the west coast learning about the avalanche phenomena. Jules is also an Ambassador Guide for Jones Snowboards.

In addition to guiding, Jules has worked as a climbing ranger at Mt Rainer and a mountaineer for the US Antarctic Program and has many stories to tell from his time on Search and Rescue in those locales.

Living in Quito Ecuador, Santiago is a certified hard man with many high quality and difficult alpine and rock ascents under his belt. He has climbed on 5 different continents and is currently a part of the Ecuador Escala team pursuing the 7 continents and 14 walls project.

Taking many guide courses in Canada, Santiago is fluent in English and  is an IFMGA aspirant guide currently working on his certification to become a full IFMGA guide through Ecuador’s certifying body, ASEGUIM.

Not only is Santiago quickly becoming a master of all disciplines in the mountains, but he is also a published photographer with his photos appearing in Rock and Ice Magazine, Climbing Magazine, and National Geographic Español. Check out his portfolio here.

Shaun has been based out of Chamonix France for nearly three decades and for the last 20 years has been a full IFMGA / SNGM / BMG licensed mountain guide. During those 20 plus years, Shaun has been working extensively throughout the European alps. During the summers he focuses on the disciplines of mountaineering rock and snow and in winter seasons his focus is in ski mountaineering and ice climbing.

Shaun has several trips to the Himalayas including summits of both the north and south side of Everest under his belt. His passion for rock climbing has taken him from the granite climbs of the alps to the big walls of Yosemite and on to first assents of big walls in Baffin and Brazil.

Mike became a mountain guide immediately upon completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Expeditionary Studies in 2008. Since then, Mike has led expeditions in Alaska (including 6 successful Denali summits), South America, and throughout the American West, and is always looking for the next place to travel. He has completed several first ascents in Alaska, Canada, Washington and California. Mike also completed a Masters Degree in Outdoor Education with a Masters thesis titled “Investigating Climbing as a Spiritual Experience.”  He is a certified AMGA Rock Guide.

After spending the last decade traveling while based out of Washington, Mike and his wife moved to Reno in winter 2020. While Mike feels generally at home on glaciers, snow, rock, and ice, he enjoys rock climbing on big, sunny granite the most. Hello, California! He loves sharing his passion for mountain adventure with others, and teaching aspring climbers to reach their goals. While not on the rock, Mike also enjoys gardening, fostering rescue dogs, mountain biking, yoga, and swimming in as many brisk alpine lakes as his metabolism will allow.

Sid Pattison, a Washington state native, began skiing and climbing in the Cascade Mountains as a kid and never stopped. He became a full-time guide in 2010 and when not working in and around his home base of the Methow Valley, Washington, he guides internationally in Asia, South America, and Africa. He has been on many expeditions in the Himalaya, including both the north and south sides of Mount Everest and has summited Everest and Lhotse. Sid tries to stay close to home in the wintertime, heli ski guiding and raising his two young daughters, Cassidy and Marley, in hopes that one day they will be his primary partners in the mountains.

Operations Manager

Born and raised in Northern California, Sam began exploring the Sierra and developed a love for the mountains at a young age. A Squaw Alpine passholder for more than 20 years, Sam’s passion for the Tahoe area is infectious, and he’s excited to bring that passion to the bigger mountains of the world. In the summer, Sam jumps out of bed at the crack of dawn for pre-work waterskiing on Lake Tahoe and in the winter, he’s searching for fresh turns in the West Shore backcountry. Sam is always down for a new adventure, and loves being a part of your adventures too.

Skiing is just part of life growing up in Colorado, so naturally, Sydney has been in love with skiing since she was 3-years-old. At 18 she started her guiding career as a raft guide and became enamored with working in the outdoors.  For years she honed her backcountry skiing skills in France, Idaho, Colorado, and Tahoe, and she is so happy to be able to share her love for human-powered turns with others.  Sydney has worked at Squaw Valley on Ski Patrol for 4 seasons and guiding was a natural progression.  Recently, she was accepted to the AMGA’s Ski Guide track and she is on the path to becoming a certified Ski Guide. Once the skiing dries up in the summers, you can find Sydney guiding trips in the Cascades.

Iris is Lake Tahoe native that now chases adventure and work all over the country from her home base, Jackson Hole. Iris has been a professional snowboarder since she was 17, competing in rail jams, slopestyle and big mountain freeriding. Most recently, she competed on the Freeride World Tour for 2 consecutive seasons. Over the last few years her focus transitioned to sharing and exploring mountains on her splitboard while pursuing becoming the first AMGA certified female splitboard guide. Iris is currently an AMGA apprentice splitboard guide with all of her Professional Avalanche certs and experience riding all over the world, including Japan, Europe, Iceland, Canada, Chile and Alaska. Iris has a contagious laugh, love for snow and an energy that lights up the room.

In 1988 Lydia became the first woman in the world to climb Mt Everest without supplementary oxygen. 

To date, she remains the only New Zealander to have climbed Everest without oxygen, has climbed Everest 5 times, is the only New Zealand woman to have climbed Everest more than once, and has guided it successfully five times, including a record-breaking 2-week “Lightning Ascent”.

Lydia holds a BHSc (Physiotherapy), a post-grad in Acupuncture, and is an IFMGA International Mountain & Ski Guide. Lydia splits her work schedule between mountain guiding and professional speaking.

Lydia grew up in New Zealand, and lives by the side of a lake near Wanaka, NZ.

Danny was born and raised in Texas, but that did not keep him from getting on skis at the age of 9 in New Mexico and Colorado, where he would try to spend as much time as possible exploring the mountains until graduating college from Texas A&M University.  After school, he spent 10 years throughout the west ski instructing and developing a passion for ski mountaineering.  This lifestyle was a natural progression into guiding.  Danny first began guiding in 2011 in Washington on mountains such as Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker and many others throughout the North Cascades.  His winters would be spent ski guiding in the Wallowa Mountains of Northeast Oregon, or the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado.  Much of the last 8 years has also been spent guiding expeditions on Denali and Aconcagua.

When not guiding, Danny has spent his time skiing and climbing throughout the West, Alaska, British Columbia and Europe.  Some of his favorite trips have been ski expeditions into the Wrangell Mountains and Alaska Ranges in AK, multiple trips to Chamonix, and fall climbing trips in Southern Utah.  Now that Danny and his family call California home, he is looking forward to the balance between climbing and skiing that is offered in the Sierra Nevada and throughout California.

Danny is an AMGA Certified Ski Guide and has completed the AMGA Rock and Alpine Guide Courses.  Additionally, he is a Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Course Leader, Leave No Trace Trainer and a PSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor.  Danny intends to continue to pursue AMGA Certification in the Rock and Alpine disciplines.

Growing up just outside Lake Tahoe in Reno, skiing has been keeping Ali motivated her whole life. As she grew older and gained more appreciation for moving through the mountains, whether it be on skis or via long alpine rock routes, the journey toward becoming a ski guide has only been a natural progression.

On this journey, she’s had the opportunity to ski and rock climb in multiple venues including the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Tetons, Japan, Canada, and beyond.

Ali has experienced firsthand the transformative powers that guided trips can have on someone looking to break through comfort zone barriers. She is passionate about sharing similar soul-filling, life-changing experiences with others.

Ali is currently an AMGA apprentice ski and apprentice alpine guide, certified single pitch instructor, AIARE avalanche instructor, Pro 1 avalanche professional, Wilderness First Responder, mountain biker, and type-two fun seeker living in Truckee, CA.

Patrick started climbing on the steep sandstone of the South East. After a trip to the Sawtooths in Idaho, he was hooked. He left his job as a firefighter/medic and packed whatever fit into his Jeep to head west, finding his happy place in the Sierra Nevada. With a background as a technical rescue operator, big wall climbing came pretty naturally to Patrick. Now, hunting down classic alpine rock climbs and multipitching at Lovers Leap are where Patrick spends his summers. In winter, you’ll find him scoping out couloirs and alpine faces to carve up on his splitboard.

Patrick is an AMGA Apprentice Rock and Apprentice Ski Guide.

After Will’s first ever outdoor rock climb in Slovenia, he was hooked and knew he wanted to pursue a profession in the Mountains. In the subsequent years he worked on honing his craft on rock and enjoyed the places and adventures climbing brought him. Will has traveled to many mountains all around the world since his first taste of climbing, but always seems to call the Sierra his favorite place on earth… so far.

Will has seen the transformative power of the mountains first hand and works to provide experiences to his clients that will challenge their comfort zone and their perception of possibility. Whether this comfort zone is going for a long hike, or spending 5 nights on the side of a mountain, the power of stepping out is undeniable and in Will’s point of view essential for a well lived life.

Will spends his summers guiding on Mt. Shasta, Tahoe, and the Sierra and when winter comes around you can find Will on his splitboard practicing shinrin-yoku in the trees and alpine zones of Lake tahoe and Japan. Will also considers himself a nerd for snow science and will be happy to explain temperature gradients and avalanche problem types to those ready to learn.

Will is currently an AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide and an Apprentice Ski Guide.

Pete Fasoldt is an AMGA Rock Guide who is thrilled to call Donner Summit his “home crag”. Originally hailing from Maine, Pete has worked as a ski patroller, as the owner of a rock guiding outfit in Acadia National Park, and as a first mate on sail boats, traveling thousands of offshore miles, including a recent attempt at transiting the famed Northwest Passage. Pete has completed several ascents of El Capitan, including a one-day solo. He has established first ascents in several countries across the globe and has a particular love of hard to reach alpine granite objectives. In 2004 and 2006 Pete became certified as a Wilderness First Responder and an Outdoor Emergency Care technician, respectively. Pete has guided people of all different climbing abilities, all over the country, and brings patience, humor, and a deep love of the sport to each course he leads.

Dave’s love for outdoor challenge, adventure and fun began early in his life with Boy Scout backpacking and mountaineering trips in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1972 he started his lifelong pursuit and joy of rock climbing with his first climbs deep in the Sierra Nevada backcountry, which remains his favorite mountain range to share and enjoy.

In 1975, at age 17 he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail solo from Mexico to Canada and the following year hiked the Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico, sealing his passion for grand adventure and determination to accomplish what he sets out to do.

Dave’s underlying philosophy of living life fully and approaching the world of adventure travel and alpinism with “confident uncertainty” has led him to the mountain ranges of the world where his climbing accomplishments are just a part of what he values.  At the heart and soul of it all is the experience of interacting with, and learning from, the people, places and cultures along the way and sharing the challenge and beauty of wilderness with friends.

In addition to five decades of rock and alpine climbing which have included new routes and significant ascents throughout North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, Dave is an accomplished ski mountaineer who hangs up his climbing shoes each winter in favor of backcountry alpine ski touring and hut to hut ski tours in the European Alps.

Dave brings 15 years of technical Rope Access and Rescue Training experience to the team.  He has helped pioneer the use of Rope Access methods to complement traditional mountaineering based techniques to improve the safety and efficiency of ski lift, gondola, high angle and crevasse rescue procedures.  He has been a SPRAT certified Rope Access Level 3 Technician since 2002.

His blend of outdoor skills, professionalism and sense of humor make for memorable trips, not to mention epic slide show presentations which he loves to share with others. Dave is the founder of a free community slideshow series in the Tahoe area that has been ongoing since 1988 and continues to inform, entertain and inspire everyone to seek out and accomplish their dreams and goals. You can learn more about the Alpenglow Winter Film Series here.

Jarad is a Tahoe native. A love for wild places is instilled in his nature. He has worked as a Rock Climbing Guide on Donner Summit for 8 years. Recently, he has found a new home in Joshua Tree, California, teaching rock climbing during the winter months. Climbing in Yosemite Valley honed his craft and forged his bond with the Big Stone. Multiple accents of El Cap, Half Dome, The Leaning Tower, and Washington Column (in a day) have led the way to Jarad’s success in the mountains.

Jarad, his lovely wife Dana, and their adorable puppy, Ruca embody the California spirit by chasing long days in the sun and living comfortably in balance with nature.

Jarad is an AMGA Rock Guide and Single Pitch Instructor.

During a decade of professional guiding, Chris has learned that sharing an adventure in the mountains is where many of the best rewards lie. He loves seeing the thrill of someone’s first successful climb outdoors. And he enjoys sharing the excitement of fresh powder turns during someone’s first backcountry ski descent.

In addition to his passion for wild places, Chris is known for his clear communication and calm, reassuring demeanor. He looks forward to climbing or skiing with people new to the mountain environment as much as with those looking to add to their existing skill set.

When not climbing up something or skiing down it, Chris runs his own professional photography studio. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including Climbing, Backpacker, Outside, and the Adventure Journal.

Chris is an AMGA Rock Guide

Patrick grew up in the suburbs of Silicon Valley and began venturing into the mountains during his college years at UC Santa Cruz. Casual weekend backpacking trips laid the groundwork for what would become a full-fledged passion for mountain climbing. After earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, Patrick began his guiding career on Mt Shasta in Northern California. Here, surrounded by devoted climbers and skiers, he honed his skills for both recreating and guiding in the alpine environment and eventually moved on to work on larger, more glaciated peaks like Mt Rainier and Denali.

Over the last 10 years, Patrick has climbed and skied in a multitude of venues throughout the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, British Columbia, Patagonia, Alaska, and Himalaya. Patrick splits his year working as a professional ski patroller, mountain guide, ski guide, and wilderness medicine instructor; he plans on one day becoming a physician assistant specializing in emergency medicine. Patrick is currently working through earning his ski guide certification through the American Mountain Guides Association and is an AMGA Apprentice Ski Guide.

Tailer is a young aspiring mountain guide, with her focus on becoming one of the first few certified female splitboard guides. Tailer started as an intern with Alpenglow Expeditions during the 2017-18 winter and is on the path of AMGA education. She has “tailed” many groups with the Alpenglow team, and also helped out around various aspects of the business. During spring and early summer, she guides on Mount Shasta, teaching clients mountaineering skills, and she returns to Tahoe for the summer rock season. She loves sharing the outdoors with others through snow sports as well as rock climbing. Nothing charges up her spirit more than showing people how much fun you can have in the mountains; all while maintaining safety and incorporating leave no trace ethics.

Tailer is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.

Chris grew up in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains before moving to Oregon and becoming a guide in 2006, and has been climbing and skiing across the globe ever since. He is a fully certified IFMGA Mountain Guide, and can regularly be found at work from the French Alps to the Canadian Rockies and Norway’s Lofoten Islands. His achievements include everything from big walls to virgin summits, first ski descents and traverses, and his guiding career has taken him from the Matterhorn to Denali, and from Mt. Hood to Mont Blanc. An avid alpinist and expedition climber, Chris has received the prestigious Mugs Stump and Lyman Spitzer Cutting Edge Awards for his ascents of hard new routes on unclimbed peaks in the Nepali and Indian Himalayas, as well as the rest of the world, including the famed East Face of Alaska’s Mooses Tooth. He is easily excited by rocks, snow and ice, and by travel, coffee, beer and greasy food of any sort.

Braden was born in Yosemite Valley and raised by a community of “rock stars,” including his father the Chief Guide of the Yosemite Mountaineering School in the ’80’s. His first toys were carabiners and he began climbing rocks before he could walk.

He retired from competitive sport climbing at age 11 to pursue a skateboarding career. Quickly frustrated by a lack of smooth concrete in the valley, he returned to his roots in traditional climbing and summited most all of Yosemite’s large formations (including a handful of El Cap ascents) before his teenage years were over. Also developed a passion for rigging and walking slacklines between high peaks in the Sierra.

As an adult, Braden has put his rope skills to work as an entertainment rigger, spending the past 15 years installing complex systems to fly cameras and aerial performers/ stuntmen for movies, television and live performances.  Holds multiple Emmy awards for his contributions.

Between jobs he has traveled the world in search of unique experiences on and off the rock (mostly on.) He has built himself a house on a limestone island in Thailand. Spent many summers living in a camper-van traveling crag to crag in Europe, including Czech sandstone towers, big walls in the Dolomites, and the sea cliffs of Mallorca.

He has recently settled in the Truckee area with his Spanish wife and their two young children.

Braden’s true passions are: connecting with nature, moving over stone, and sharing these experiences with others.

Braden is an SPI and has completed his AMGA Rock Guide Course.

Nolan embodies the spirit, history, and progression of climbing, crimping and jamming his way through over a decade of experience on the rocks. Whether he’s scaling Sierra spires, wiggling up walls or cramming his crack-addicted (and never taped) hands into Tahoe splitters, Nolan’s enthusiasm and knowledge is contagious. Cutting his teeth on the rough granite monzonite of Joshua Tree and the polished proving grounds of Tahquitz, Nolan’s climbing developed amidst the proud ethics and traditions established by the Stonemasters. Ascents of the Rainbow Wall in Red Rock, Sierra gems such as Bastille Buttress, the Incredible Hulk, and Mt. Whitney as well as numerous Needles classics solidify Nolan’s traditional climbing resume and hint at his passion for big adventure. Nolan’s love for the mountains and appreciation for wild places cannot be contained solely by climbing; his backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering resume includes a descent from the third highest mountain in North America, Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba, as well as numerous corn-cruising missions on Mt. Shasta. Nolan is no stranger to those huge, soul-feeding days in the alpine and enjoys sharing outdoor experiences large and small with those around him. Nolan currently holds the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder certification, and is an AMGA apprentice rock guide. 

Ben comes to guiding after being a professional ski patroller for several years. Three of those seasons were spent working as part of the snow safety department at Mt. Hood Meadows.  Ben is now in his fourth winter season with Alpenglow Expeditions here in Squaw Valley.   He is a professional member of the AMGA, has his AIARE level 3 certification and is also an AIARE Course Leader. After successful completion of the Aspirant ski course/exam he is an AMGA Assistant ski guide and will be participating in the AMGA Alpine Guide Course later this spring.  Ben has spent three spring climbing seasons in Alaska volunteering with the National Park Service climbing rangers on Denali.   He is a Board Member of the Denali Rescue Volunteers organization and will be back on Denali this coming May.  He has skied in the Western US, Alaska, Canada, and two seasons in Chamonix & La Grave.   Ben has a Master’s Degree in Anesthesia and he works as a CRNA in the summer.  Ben lives here in the Tahoe area with his lovely wife Katie and their two dogs, Roscoe & Murdock.

Panuru Sherpa is one of Alpenglow’s Sirdars (head Sherpa). At age 47, Panuru has 27 years of experience resulting in 10 Everest summits, 12 on Cho Oyu, 3 on Shishapangma, 1 on Manaslu, and 3 on Ama Dablam. Along with his younger brother Mingma Chhring and friend Karma Rita, Panuru became the 1st Nepalese to summit Gurla Mandhata (7700m) in Tibet in 2007. Panuru has also been a volunteer climbing ranger on Mt. Denali, Alaska, summiting 3 times. Panuru lives in Phortse, runs Phortse Guesthouse with his wife, Pasang Dikkiand, and serves as chairman and instructor at the Khumbu Climbing Center. Together, they have 2 daughters (ages 23 & 19) and one son (age 21).

Dorji Sherpa is one of the most accomplished and well-respected Sherpa in Nepal and Alpenglow is proud to have him as our sirdar (head Sherpa). With twenty 8000 meter peak summits, including 16 on Everest, and at least 6 summits of Ama Dablam, Dorji has the experience and strength to help our teams to climb safely and successfully. He hails from the beautiful town of Phortse, where he has helped instruct at the Khumbu Climbing Center. Dorji is married with two children, whom many of our climbers and trekkers meet, while passing through Phortse on their way to Everest, Lhotse, and Ama.

Mountain Guide

Armando was born in 1968 and began climbing at the age of 16. From then on, nature, adventure, and wall climbing have been his passions. His conquests range from the Alps to the Andes and the big walls of North America and the Karakorum. He was part of the Spanish Expedition to K2 led by Araceli Segarra. He has made two attempts on Trango Tower in Pakistan and has climbed El Capitan five times. Armando has been guiding the Mexican volcanoes since 1992. He completed his professional thesis in alpine equipment, obtaining a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is the Rock Climbing Advisor of Federacion Mexicana de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada. With all that adventure, he still drives his car slower than his grandmother….

Cliff has been climbing for 13 years and guiding for 6 years. He currently lives in Bend, Oregon, where he guides year round in the Cascades, Smith Rock, and Mt. Hood. He fell in love with climbing in California where he learned to climb on rock and alpine routes and ultimately traveled all over the world. He says the combination of adventure and cultural exploration is what drives his passion for international expeditions. Some of his favorites places to climb are in Chile, Australia, Argentina and Canada. Cliff instructs Outdoor Leadership at Central Oregon Community College in Bend and writes gear reviews for national publications.

Cliff is an AMGA certified rock guide.

Logistics Manager, Peru

Alfredo is an essential component of all our Peru expeditions. A local of the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru, Alfredo is an incredible backcountry cook (have you ever had freshly caught native trout in a gourmet garlic sauce at 14,000’ before?). He also plays an essential role in organizing our in-country logistics. Alfredo somehow manages to make everything run smoothly and on time in a country famous for roadblocks, breakdowns, and power outages. This is probably due to the sheer power of Alfredo’s personality. His friendliness and caring encompasses everyone, including each of us.

Everest Base Camp Manager

Emily was our office manager from 2009-2015. She left her provenance of New York City in 1998 and has been working odd jobs in Squaw Valley, CA for about 8 years in order to maintain her schedule, which demands time for skiing, biking or climbing on a daily basis. Working on the Alpenglow team was her first exposure to the world of high altitude climbing and she is finding herself increasingly intrigued by this discipline. Although she has moved on from day to day operations, Emily has returned to manage the chaos that is Base Camp on our season Everest expedition.