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.
David Begg
Past owner of Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, David grew up in New Zealand where he began a life-long commitment to mountaineering when he was 16. New Zealand’s Southern Alps were a perfect place to develop as a serious mountaineer. Upon graduation from University in 1975 he abandoned academia in favor of a mountain lifestyle. Between forays to climb in Europe and Alaska he also began working as a guide in New Zealand’s premier mountain region, Mt. Cook. After qualifying as an internationally certified mountain guide in 1983 David emigrated to Canada where a few short years later he found himself at the helm of Yamnuska which he then directed for 21 years.
David continues his connection with Yamnuska and particularly enjoys guiding ski mountaineering and introducing beginners to backpacking and mountaineering in the summer. He especially appreciates seeing his clients discovering the mountains the way he did 30 years ago in New Zealand. He lives in Canmore with his wife Maria, also a guide.
Adam Burrell
Adam grew up in Thunder Bay, spending most winter weekends at the amazing 225 metre local ski hill and in the summer trying to rock climb in running shoes at the local bluffs. He started his lifelong guiding career in Ontario as a sea kayak, whitewater canoe and rock climbing guide, and has expanded his repertoire to include hiking, backpacking, ski touring, heli-skiing, via ferrata and mountain rescue. Adam has followed his passions around the world, bicycle touring in New Zealand, paddling the Northwest Territory’s South Nahanni River, thru-hiking the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, sea kayaking in Belize, surfing and climbing volcanoes in Mexico, mountaineering in Alaska and climbing all over Canada and the US.
Adam has spent 6 years guiding and instructing ski touring, avalanche courses, rock climbing, hiking and backpacking for Yamnuska. He is an ACMG Ski, Hiking and Apprentice Rock Guide and lives in Canmore with his wife Joanna and their 2 children.
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 and 2 sons. In the winter season Alison is 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.
Maria Cashin
Maria is a past owner of Yamnuska and she continues to work with Yamnuska overseeing and guiding on the hiking programs and working as a ski instructor. She originally hails from Newfoundland, but has resided in and near the Canadian Rockies since 1989 developing a strong love of the mountains and mountain activities. She has also worked as a geologist, cave guide, and interpretive guide for the Burgess Shale fossil beds in Yoho National Park.
Maria’s passion for outdoor pursuits has taken her all over the world. In addition to hiking and backpacking these include cave exploration, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, climbing and geology. Maria’s extensive travels have reinforced that the Canadian Rockies are a wonderful backyard with world class hiking and backpacking. She truly enjoys spending time on the local hiking trails and sharing her extensive knowledge of the natural history and love of the mountains with her guests. Maria resides in Canmore with her husband David.
Ian Curran
Nathan Dahl
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 years since 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 us year round leading backpacking trips in the summer and teaching ski programs in the winter.
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.
Randy Fagan
Michelle Katchur-Roberts
Olivier Lardin
Sarah Murphy
Jenna Nodding
Lisa Porter
While completing her Master’s of Science Degree at the University of Alberta, Lisa began Ski Patrolling and working as an Avalanche Forecaster at Mt. Norquay in Banff, AB. She then moved on to work with BC’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as an Avalanche Technician in the North Cascades, where she currently works in the winters. Over the last few years, Lisa has also worked her way through the Thompson Rivers University courses to become an ACMG certified Hiking and Apprentice Ski Guide. She currently Chairs the ACMG’s Communication Committee. Lisa is a Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and is a member of the CAA’s Complaint and Investigation Committee. Lisa lives in Canmore, AB where you can find her skiing, biking, climbing, hiking, you name it, she’s out there doing it! Her passion for the mountains is infectious, and she makes it her goal to share the joy the mountains bring with everyone.
Kevin Rohn
Nathalie Roulin
Graham Suffield
Jane Whitney
Jane Whitney is one of our top hiking guides, and nobody knows the Canadian Rockies like Jane does. A seasoned wilderness leader, Jane has spent nearly two decades hiking the Rockies. Experienced in expedition travel, she has led several expeditions in the High Arctic, Patagonia and west coast Canada. She is also really fun to be with and has been lauded by many as a superb naturalist.
Yamnuska Staff
Yamnuska Guides are supported by a skilled administration and logistics support staff who plan and book trips as well as organize meals, accommodation, transportation and equipment.
Director of Operations, Dave Stark
Dave Stark has been instructing and guiding in the mountains of Western Canada since 1981. His climbing resume spans the globe with climbing and mountaineering experience on five continents. He has guided groups on high alpine peaks in Asia, South America, Antarctica and North America.
As the Director of Operations at Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, Dave is in charge of the guides and all aspects of the field programming. In addition to his supervisory and training duties he still actively guides and stays current with all technical facets of Mountain Guiding. He has written curriculum and evolved programs from ideas into full scale operations. He directed the Mountain Skills Semester at Yamnuska for over ten years. He has coordinated mountain safety crews and rigging staff on many film projects. He helped develop the curriculum for CAC Avalanche Skills Training Courses and has been teaching avalanche awareness courses for the past thirty years.
Dave’s primary focus with Yamnuska, involves education, technical training, safety systems and assessment of risk. His specialty is providing maximum benefit in programming and skills learning.
Managing Director, Jesse de Montigny
Jesse moved to the Bow Valley in 1998 to take part in Yamnuska’s three month Mountain Skills and Outdoor Leadership Semester program. Using this as a springboard for his skills development, he has travelled all over the world to climb and ski and has pursued his passion to become a guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Jesse began working for Yamnuska as an Assistant Rock Guide, and in 2010 completed the full certification program to become a full ACMG Mountain Guide. He is also now the Assistant Director of Operations 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 Bow Valley in the heart of the Canadian Rockies! Jesse lives in Canmore with his wife Christine and their three children.
Program Director, Paul Chiddle
Paul is Yamnuska’s Program Director and a fully certified international mountain guide originally from the UK. He has been active in the outdoors for over 20 years, during which he has climbed and skied extensively in all corners of the Alps, as well as the Himalayas, Norway, North America, Canada and Alaska. For more than a decade Paul delivered and managed all aspects of climbing, mountaineering and back country ski courses for the British Armed Forces, which ranged from a variety of introductory programs to training and assessment courses at all levels. More recently Paul was the Director of Operations for the Tri Services Alpine Training Centre, but after living in the Alps for 5 years he decided to move to Canada. He instantly decided he wasn’t going back, although he has said he must return at some point to climb 2 more routes in order to complete the 6 classic north faces of the Alps.
Marketing Manager, Sylvia Watson
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, having recently taken up duathlons and triathlons. 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.
Client Relationship Manager, Darcy Harris
Darcy got her first taste of the mountains hiking in China and in the Indian Himalayas. She has since hiked and backpacked extensively in the Canadian Rockies, as well as other parts of the world. With experience in customer experience, communications and marketing in the areas of health and fitness and amateur sports, Darcy is pumped to now be a part of the amazing Yamnuska Mountain Adventures team! Her next adventure? Learning to ice climb!!
Office Manager, Sasha Ruttan
Sasha moved to the Bow Valley from Vancouver Island, BC in 1997. She has been hiking, climbing, skiing, and mountain biking in the Canadian Rockies ever since. She is also an avid downhill mountain biker.
Sasha recently returned to Canmore after spending 16 months in British Columbia. During this time she added new adventures to her list including racing in the Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race, and competing in the West Coast Reining Horse show. After 11 years as a Client Services Supervisor in the fitness and recreation industry, Sasha has joined our team as our new Office Manager. Sasha resides here in Canmore with her husband, Geoff, who is a mountain guide.
Program Logistics & Reservations, Alix Turk
Alix grew up in Toronto and moved to the Bow Valley after graduating from Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Studies Program in British Columbia.
Alix is an avid climber, skier and field artist. She also successfully completed her Top Rope Climbing Instructor certification with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides in 2016.
Reservations Coordinator, Maddy Smart
Maddy grew up climbing in Ontario and moved out west in 2014.
She enjoys fly fishing, skiing, rock climbing and is currently working towards her pilot licence.
Guide 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).
