Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures are leading guide companies in the Canadian Rockies. In addition to backpacking and hiking programs we are known for our climbing and ski guiding and instruction.
We have been in business since 1977 and operate year-round. In summer, hiking, mountaineering, and rock climbing are the mainstay. Come winter and the focus switches to ice climbing, avalanche training and ski mountaineering.
“Yamnuska” is the popular name for the mountain guarding the Bow River’s exit from the Rockies. This Stoney Indian word means ‘flat-faced mountain’ and it is that ‘flat face’ looming above the Bow Valley that is famous for its many fine climbing routes.
Amanda Barry
Apprentice Hiking Guide
Amanda is originally from Ontario, but fell in love with snowboarding at a young age which brought her out to the mountains. Amanda graduated from Algonquin College as a registered veterinary technologist and continues to work in her field as well as being an ACMG apprentice hiking guide with us here at yamnuska. She enjoys kayaking, splitboarding, hiking, biking and anything outside really. Amanda lives in Canmore with her partner Drew, 2 dogs and 3 cats and has been a Bow Valley resident now for almost 20 years.
Learn MoreAriane Brouillette
Reservations Coordinator
The outdoors has always been an important part of my life, with cross-country skiing as my introduction to all that the outdoors can offer. As a young adult I switched my focus from competition to exploration in various disciplines. I went on to live in Bolivia, bike across the United States and paddle white water. I then travelled to Alaska and its glaciers and roamed the continent to climb and ski full-time in my van for a year. Living in Canmore is the perfect place to continue pursuing my love for the mountains. Here, I can embrace the whole array of climbing, from alpinism to hard sport routes and everything in between. As a professional, I want to help others experience the great outdoors. Working with Yamnuska Mountain Adventure helps me achieve just that.
Learn MoreLenora Carbonetto
Hiking Guide
Lenny grew up in Eastern Canada, living in Montreal and Kingston, where she was first exposed to the mountains on family hiking trips to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and skiing in the Laurentians. Her first exposure to the Canadian Rockies was a wide-eyed summer spent working as a housekeeper at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on the Icefields Parkway, where she spent all of her free time poking around the peaks near Bow Lake. It was a job transfer with a bank four years later that brought her back to the Rockies, this time for good. Lenny has now been a member of the ACMG since 2015. For her, the Rockies continue to be a place of wonder, love, respect and exploration, as well as a place where she finds inspiration and her most genuine connections with others. Lenny is also currently working on her second undergraduate degree in Psychology in pursuit of a Masters in Social Work.
Learn MoreMarc Cossette
Hiking Guide
Marc grew up in Québec and discovered a passion for the outdoors while traveling the world. In 2015, he hiked the Appalachian Trail and decided to move to the Rockies to pursue his guiding certifications. He joined the Yamnuska team in 2017 and has been adventuring in the mountains and guiding backpacking trips ever since. When Marc isn't working, he enjoys planning his next adventure. Be it on foot, skis, snowshoes, rock or ice, Marc loves exploring the mountains. He also spends a bunch of time on self-supported bicycle tours across North America. He lives in Banff, AB with his wife Sarah. Marc is an ACMG Hiking guide and holds a Level 1 certification with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Learn MoreIan Curran
Ski Guide/Hiking Guide/TRCI
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Nathan Dahl
Hiking Guide
Nathan grew up in Alberta, and so he has had the pleasure of being near and in the Rocky Mountains his whole life. He enjoys all aspects of walking through the mountains - whether taking the path less traveled on remote overnight trips, or taking in the familiar sites visited by tourists time and again. Nathan has been guiding for nearly a decade, so you're sure to hear some interesting stories and learn a thing or two about the spectacular mountain environment that we call home.
Learn MoreWilliam Hobart
Apprentice Hiking Guide
William grew up in a small prairie/farm town called Brooks, Alberta. He would often camp in the rockies with his father, and decided he liked the mountains at a young age. In order to learn how to adventure safely, Will took the Mountain Skills Semester in spring of 2021. Since then he has been hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, and spending every spare moment outdoors. He enjoys showing others how to enjoy nature in a respectful manner with safety as a top priority..
Learn MoreSarah Hu
Apprentice Hiking Guide/Top Rope Climbing Instructor
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Drew Krop
Gear and Logistics Coordinator
Kathy Michiels
Bookkeeper/Accounting department
Originally from Manitoba, Kathy relocated to Alberta in 2010 and moved to Canmore in 2015. Kathy spends her summers paddle boarding and fishing (when the fish are biting) and enjoys rock climbing, hiking and biking. When the weather turns cold, Kathy can be found using her artistic talents at ArtsPlace, creating pottery masterpieces.
Learn MoreJesse de Montigny
Managing Director/Mountain Guide
Jesse moved to the Bow Valley in 1998 to take part in Yamnuska’s three- month Mountain Skills Semester program. Using this as a springboard for his skills development, he has traveled all over the world to climb and ski and has pursued his passion. He now also acts as an examiner with the ACMG’s Training and Assessment program to help others obtain their certification. Jesse is the Managing Director for Yamnuska and uses his skills both in the field and in the office to provide you with the best mountain experience possible. Some of Jesse’s personal mountain achievements have included: a 175km ski tour through the spine of the Canadian Rockies from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields, climbing the north face of Mt Temple, and climbing 5.12+ routes around the world. Some of Jesse’s favorite personal trips include: rock climbing in Thailand, Greece and Mexico, lodge-based ski touring in the Selkirk Mountains and ice climbing in the best ice climbing area on the planet… the Canadian Rockies! Jesse lives in Canmore with his wife Christine and 3 children. Jesse is an ACMG/IFMGA internationally certified Mountain Guide and holds Level 3 certification with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Learn MoreBen Nearingburg
Hiking Guide
Growing up in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Ben has never been far away from the mountains. After finishing university, Ben took to the hills full time and is currently an ACMG Hiking Guide living in the mountain community of Jasper. During the winter months Ben works as a Ski Patroller and Avalanche Technician and is currently an Active Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Ben is also an author of a scrambling and mountaineering guidebook for the more northerly reaches of the Rockies, "A Peakbaggers Guide to the Canadian Rockies: North" published by Rocky Mountain Books. Ben hopes to share his passion for the mountains to guests and friends alike for many years to come.
Learn MoreTim Ricci
Director of Operations/Mountain Guide
Tim moved to the mountain over 20 years ago and has not looked back since. With a deep passion for skiing and climbing you can find him out in the hills most days. Tim spent 14 seasons working as a ski patroller and avalanche forecaster at several Rockies ski resorts and works as an ITP instructor for the Canadian Avalanche Association. Tim has worked in multiple sectors including recreational guiding, industrial avalanche work and as a rope access technician taking him to several exciting work locations all over the world. Tim joined us full-time in September of 2018 as one of Yamnuska’s Program Directors. He currently lives in Canmore with his wife Wanessa and two kids Ella and Miles. Tim is a fully certified Mountain Guide, and holds CAA Level 3 and SPRAT Level 3 Rope Access Technician certifications.
Learn MoreSpencer Sawell
Hiking Guide/Assistant Director of Operations
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Corinna Strauss
Apprentice Hiking Guide
Corinna Strauss has lived in the Rocky and Columbia Mountains for 15 years. She loves sharing her knowledge of natural landscapes and her passion for adventure with people. Corinna has a background in ecology and alongside guiding she works on five-needle pine conservation. Corinna enjoys many types of outdoor adventures which includes hiking, trail running, mountain, rock and ice climbing, and skiing.
Learn MoreJean Van Den Berghe
Apprentice Hiking Guide
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Sylvia Watson
Marketing Manager
Sylvia graduated from our Mountain Skills Semester in 2002 and then, deciding to relocate to Canmore from Ontario, she joined the Yamnuska team. In 2005 Sylvia was promoted to the Office Manager, overseeing the accounting and finance and assisting with logistics and marketing projects. She is a keen rock climber and skier and competes in many running & cycling events. Sylvia is a certified nordic ski instructor with the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors. She now focuses primarily on marketing. Sylvia lives in Canmore with her husband Kevin and her twins Keira and Caden.
Learn MoreGuide Certifications, Training and Permits
Our backpacking and hiking guides are certified professionals. They are certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and the Interpretative Guides Association in addition to holding wilderness first aid certification.
The very exacting standards to which Yamnuska’s guides are held should not obscure the fact that the guides are the heart and soul of the company. In addition to being great leaders, they are also great mountain companions.
Yamnuska Mountain Adventures holds guiding permits for Banff, Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks (403 762 1530 for verification). For Assiniboine and Bugaboo Provincial Parks in British Columbia (250 489 8540) and for Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks in Alberta and also Kananaskis country also in Alberta (403 678 5508 for Alberta).
