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.
Adam Burrell
Ski Guide/Apprentice Alpine Guide/Hiking Guide
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, white-water 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 worked with Yamnuska since 2006, guiding and instructing ski touring, avalanche courses, rock climbing, hiking and backpacking for Yamnuska. He lives in Canmore with his wife Joanna and their two kids. Adam is an ACMG Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine and Hiking Guide and holds his level 2 CAA certification.
Learn MoreAlison Cardinal
Apprentice Ski Guide/Hiking Guide
Alison grew up in Northern Ireland, and after completing a geology degree, she spent every weekend climbing in the Scottish Highlands and in Europe. She then moved to Canada for our climbing and skiing and never went home. She has focused her professional career around guiding backpacking and skiing trips.
Learn MoreDarcy Chilton
Ski Guide/Hiking Guide
After realizing that post-secondary education might not be his cup of tea, Darcy opted for a job at Nelson’s White Water Ski Resort. It was here that he realized he wanted a career surrounded by the elements and the beauty of the mountains. Darcy quickly registered in Yamnuska’s three-month semester program in 1994 to speed up the process of becoming guide, and hasn’t looked back. He has been an ACMG ski guide since 2000 and feels fortunate to have guided throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Europe, and Japan meeting wonderful people and skiing great snow. Darcy works all the ski and avalanche programs through the winter and in the summer, is Yamnuska’s Program Director at the Rocky Mountain Cadet Summer Training Centre. Darcy is an ACMG Ski Guide and Hiking Guide and holds Level 2 certification with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Learn MoreMarc Cossette
Hiking Guide
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Ian 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 MoreRandy Fagan
Apprentice Hiking Guide
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Drew Krop
Gear and Logistics Coordinator
Olivier Lardin
Apprentice Rock Guide/Apprentice Hiking Guide
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James Lewis
Reservations Coordinator/TRCI
After more than a decade of high end international hospitality experience, James returned to Canada and joined the Yamnuska team in 2017. Originally on board to assist with the food services and pack out meal plans for scheduled trips, his drive to pursue the ACMG guiding certificates has allowed him to move into a myriad of roles from porter/cook duties on ski traverses to shuttling guests back and forth from trail heads. James cut his teeth in Alpine climbing/skiing in the hills of Southern New Zealand, has climbed in Malta, Australia, USA, and many parts of Canada. He's lived in the UK, Canada (3 provinces), Australia, New Zealand and Denmark. He will be focusing on the Mountain Stream with the ACMG, gaining valuable mentoring through work en route to Full Mountain Guide Certificates. He lives in Canmore, with his girlfriend Serena and two cats.
Learn MoreRod McPherson
Food Services Manager
Rod is a Red Seal certified Journeyman Professional Cook and has been the Food Services Manager for the Yamnuska Backcountry Kitchen since March 2017. Born and raised in Alberta, the mountains have always been special to him since learning to camp growing up in Edmonton. Camping and great food continued to be a big part of Rod’s recreational life with Margo, his wife, while raising their four children in Calgary. In 2005, after 25 years in Information Technology, Rod followed his passion for being part of people experiencing great food and pursued the education and training required to become a professional cook, graduating with honours at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. Rod joined the Yamnuska team after spending 10 years at one of Western Canada’s top private clubs.
Learn MoreKathy Michiels
Bookkeeper/Accounting department
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Jesse 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 MoreLisa Porter
Ski Guide/Hiking Guide
Lisa works for Yamnuska both in the summer and winter on everything from avalanche courses, ski mountaineering weeks, to backpacking trips! 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. Over the last few years, Lisa has also worked her way through the Thompson Rivers University courses to become an ACMG certified Hiking and Ski Guide. Lisa also spends several weeks of the winter in the Cariboos working as a heli-ski guide. Lisa is a Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and a member of the CAA’s Complaint and Investigation Committee, and also chairs the ACMG’s Communication Committee. Lisa lives in Canmore, AB where you can find her skiing, biking, climbing, hiking. Her passion for the mountains is infectious, and she makes it her goal to share the joy the mountains bring with everyone. Lisa Is an ACMG Ski Guide, ACMG Hiking Guide and holds Level 2 certification with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Learn MoreTim Ricci
Assistant 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 MoreMaddy Smart
Reservations Coordinator
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.
Learn MoreDave Stark
Director of Operations/Mountain Guide
Dave Stark has been instructing and guiding with Yamnuska since 1986. 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 oversees the guides and all aspects of the 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 initially 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. Dave is an IFMGA certified international Mountain Guide and holds Level 3 certification with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Learn MoreAlix Turk
Operations & Scheduling/TRCI
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.
Learn MoreSylvia 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 MoreLen Youden
General Manager
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Connor Young
Reservations & Logisitics/TRCI
Connor grew up in Okotoks, Alberta, but his real upbringing took place in Kananaskis Country where he spent many weekends hiking and camping with his family. Ironically, he discovered climbing after moving to Ontario for university, and really found his passion for the sport after returning to Alberta. Ice climbing, alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing all came as natural progressions as the seasons changed. After a short 6-month stint of mountaineering in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, he returned to Canada and began working at Yamnuska in early 2017. While mostly working behind the scenes, Connor has also received his Top Rope Climbing Instructor certification in 2018. Connor is always striving to be a better climber and thoroughly enjoys everyday that is spent in the hills.
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).
