The Owners and Directors of Yamnuska Mountain Adventures are David Begg and Maria Cashin.

David Begg and Maria Cashin

David has been a fully-certified Mountain Guide since 1983. His fascination and addiction to the mountains began at age 16 in his native New Zealand. In addition to hands-on management, David personally guides many of Yamnuska's backpacking trips, often in partnership with his wife Maria.

Maria hails originally from Newfoundland. She has resided in and near the Canadian Rockies since 1989 where she has also worked as a cave guide and guided interpretive hikes to the fossil beds in Yoho National Park. In addition to hiking Maria is passionate about backcountry skiing. Maria's educational background is in the earth sciences.

Sharon Best

Sharon has been guiding backpacking and hiking trips in the Canadian Rockies and Kootenays for many years and has been with Yamnuska since 2004. She has also been a successful masters triathlete and her background in sports training has been of considerable benefit to her hiking clients. She is passionate about the mountains and inspiring those who want to explore them. She is a native of Nelson, B.C. and lives on Kootenay Lake.

Kevin Blades

I have sometimes thought of going away, but I imagined that as a kind of holiday, a series of adventures like Bilbo's or better, ending in peace." - Frodo Baggins

"After last year's hiking and backpacking season I made the move to Kimberley, B.C., a small  town in the Purcell Mountains. For the winter I was forced to ski lot's of powder and fix broken body parts when I took the job of ski patrolling at the local hill (it was rough).  Since then I've been exploring the Purcells on ski, foot and bike waiting for the summer season to begin again."

Kevin has been working in the Outdoor Industry for more than 15 years and has guided trips in the Coast Mountains and the Rockies. Kevin is also a  Red Cross First Aid Instructor. 

He's also trekked the Tongariro Circuit in New Zealand, climbed Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, cycle toured S.E. Asia for a year and backpacked a number of never-before-done trips in the Canadian Rockies. He's trekked, cycled and climbed the world over  and wants to bring the fun, passion and beauty of our natural world to you.

 Alison Cardinal

Alison is originally from Northern Ireland, and after completing a degree in Geology from Glasgow University, she moved to Canada and has been involved in the guiding and ski industry ever since.

She now lives in Canmore with her husband. In the winter season she's a ski guide and instructor then switches to backpacking and hiking in the summer. A committed mountain person, she  enjoys rock climbing and mountaineering in her free time.

Tamara Dykshoorn

Tamara was fortunate to grow up in the western prairies of Canada and since 1994 called Alberta her home.  After completing Outdoor Pursuits education she has spent the last 11 years introducing and leading teens, adults and seniors in a broad variety of outdoor adventures.

In 2006 she first came to Yamnuska to teach ski programs and continues to work with them year round.  She is also an Emergency Medical Responder with the Alberta College of Paramedics. 

Her Interests in the off season and summer include single-track mountain biking, rock climbing and fly fishing in the alpine lakes and rivers.

In the winter season, backcountry skiing is her true passion.  Tamara lives near Canmore with her husband Nick and their German shorthaired pointer, Sage.

Derek Holtved

Derek has been guiding backpacking and walking in the Rockies for the last 10 years. Before moving to the Canadian Rockies he spent many years teaching in Japan and becoming fluent in Japanese. It is also where met his wife Rieko. After Derek completed a Yamnuska Mountain Skills Semester they settled in Canmore. In winter Derek is a heliskiing guide for Purcell Heliskiing. In addition to all the mountain sports Derek is a gifted woodworker and accomplished chef.

Vanessa Plimley

Vanessa has been guiding hiking trips in the Canadian Rockies for the last eight years. With a strong interpretive background, love for her environment, and an “effervescent character”, you are guaranteed an interesting day or week in the mountains. When not guiding summer and winter, she balances her work life with a career as a personal trainer specializing in post rehab exercise.  She is an avid rock and ice climber, but spends most of her vacation time seeking out new surf spots around the world.  A true renaissance person she also writes, sings, composes, acts and makes wicked cookies!

Kristen Stuart

Kristen loves nothing more than sharing the beauty of the Rockies with hiking and trekking clients from around the world. Growing up enjoying the outdoors in northern Alberta, she backpacked her way across several continents before eventually choosing the mountains as her home. She has been working as a hiking guide in the Canadian Rockies for the past 6 years guiding a variety of hiking and interpretive trips in both summer and winter. You are most likely to meet her leading the "Canadian Rockies Walking Tour" and "Glacier Views" walking programs.

Kris has a strong passion for yoga and has combined this with her love for the mountains through her business called "OM Mind-Body Fitness", working as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor. By facilitating workshops and retreats, she strives to help people reconnect with themselves and their environment through self-reflection, yoga practice, hiking and meditation. Kris invites you to join her this fall on a Yamnuska yoga and hiking retreat for a weekend of “Renewal In the Rockies”.

In her spare time you will find her pursuing her passions in the mountains for rock, ice and alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, practicing Ashtanga yoga or trekking and exploring mountain ranges around the world. She lives in Canmore with her mountain guide husband, Mike.

Director of Operations, Dave Stark

Dave is a fully-certified Mountain Guide and is responsible for guiding operations, guide training and supervision.  Dave began his mountaineering in the 1970's and brings his dry wit and attention to detail to many Yamnuska programs.

Office Manager, Sylvia Watson

Sylvia graduated from our Mountain Skills Semester in 2002 and then joined the Yamnuska team.  In 2005 Sylvia was promoted to the office manager. She is a keen rock climber and enjoys running & cycling.  Sylvia also competes in triathlons. 

Logistics Coordinator, Marc D'Astous

Marc was born in Moncton, NB and started rock climbing in 1994.  Marc put up a few first ascents on various cliffs in Atlantic Canada before starting to ice climb in 1998.  Marc served in the 3rd battalion of the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry and was honourably released in 2005 after serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  After moving to Canmore Marc joined the Yamnuska team.  Beside climbing, you can find Marc surfing, adventure racing, travelling, fly fishing, enjoying photography and fine ales.

Customer Service, Andrew Stevens

Andrew joined our team in 2006. Originally from Ontario, Andrew has a background in tropical ecology and guided and taught natural history programs and river trips in Central America. Drawn to our mountains and considerably more temperate climate, Andrew now calls Canmore home.

Food Service Manager, Patti Brannen

Patti also runs her own catering business, "Patti's Pantry" that allows her to be very creative and brings a balance to her career. You can contact her through Yamnuska.