Tim Keating
CEO/ Co-Director and Founder of Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc. / Alpine Guide, Ski Mountaineering and International Guide

AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager

Tim has been guiding and operating Sierra Wilderness Seminars for over 28 years now. He has over 70 summits on Mt. Shasta and over 50 on Mt. Whitney. As an avid backcountry skier, he has logged countless ski ascents on Mt. Lassen. Various climbing and skiing routes in the High Sierras. Tim's high altitude experience includes ascents and international expeditions in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, and Russia. Tim is a graduate of a 10-day AMGA Alpine guides courses, AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager, holds a Wilderness First Responder, a Level III avalanche training certification, Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association, has graduated from the National Avalanche School. Tim has BA from Humboldt St. University in Geography, speaks Spanish, . is married to Emily and they have a 7 year old son, Joshua

Dave Althaus Cressman
President/ Co-Director/ Shasta and Sierra Nevada/ Alpine Climbing/ International Guide

AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager

Dave is a veteran SWS guide, having over 70 summits on Mt. Shasta to his name. Dave has high altitude experience and International expeditions in Ecuador, Bolivia, Russia and Argentina. Dave's true passion, however, is climbing in the Palisades on mixed routes. A little known fact about Dave, is that he is a fantastic backcountry chef, and can cook a mean couscous burrito.Dave is a graduate of the 10-day AMGA guide courses in alpine climbing, AMGA Top Rope Site Manager, holds a Wilderness First Responder and he is a graduate of the National Avalanche School as well as Avalanche Level I & Level II. He graduated from Humboldt University with degrees in Biology, Zoology, and Oceanography. Dave lives in Mt. Shasta with his wife Allania who is fluent in Spanish and conducts our Machu Picchu treks and rainforest adventures in Peru. They have three children.

James A. Brown "JB"
Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta

2007 REI Adventures "Guide of the Year"

Originally from Houston Texas, James is now a resident of Jackson Wyoming. He has backpacked and/or climbed in almost every major range in the western United States. Notable accents include the Grand Teton, Mt Rainier, and Mt Superior (Solo with ski decent). His guiding experience includes both rock and ice and in the winters he is a ski instructor for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where he ski mountaineers on his days off. JB made his first trip to Nepal in 2002 and fell in love with the mountains and people. Come join JB in a climb of Island or Mera peaks!
To link to his Nepal Company -http://mayadevitrekking.com/

Tim Peterson
Lead Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta / Ski Guide

Tim Peterson currently resides in Bend, Oregon. During the school year, he teaches at Oregon State University in Outdoor Leadership, and also coordinates the outings program. A native of the Northeast, Tim migrated west 10 years ago, losing his way home when the road map he used blew out the window of his car north of Reno. Since then, he has worked in outdoor retail shops, private boarding schools, Sheriff Search and Rescue teams and outdoor/adventure programs. Tim works for SWS in the summers, where he enjoys teaching all levels of mountaineers various skills. Tim has a Masters in Adventure Education, current WFR, with Avalanche I & II training along with completing the American Avalanche Associations Professional Avalanche Workers School (PAWS) in 2007. He also has vertical and swift water rescue training certifications.

Mike Imperiale
Lead Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta / Eastern Sierra Nevada

Barry Durbin
Lead Guide / Alpine Guide Mt. Shasta

Neil Woodruff
Alpine Guide - Mt. Shasta / Survival Guide / Snowboarding guide & instructor

I was raised in North Carolina's blue ridge.  As a boy I learned woodsmanship from my father and grandfather, a naturalist and sportsman.  Latter I became an avid hiker, trail runner, and climber.  My current outdoor interests are centered on mountaineering with snowboard descents.  I am a certified snowboard and adaptive snowboard instructor working for Heavenly part of the year.  I also possess WFR, and Avalanche II certifications

Robin Kohn
Assistant Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta / Backpacking Guide

For many years Robin has been active in the Mt. Shasta area and Eastern Sierras exploring and enjoying outdoor recreation activities. She has a B.A. degree in Recreation Administration from Chico,Ca.in 1990. She is a certified guide through W.E.A.(Wilderness Education Association) and certified in Avalanche 1 and Avalanche 2, and is a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Robin has over 20 years ski and mountaineering experience and has taught many outdoor courses throughout the western states. Mt. Shasta has been my home for over 16 years and has given me the opportunity to practice and perfect the backcountry skills needed as a outdoor professional and wilderness guide. I look forward to sharing my knowledge, instruction and experience for fun and safe travel in the wonderful world of backcountry travel.

Jesse Samuel
Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta

Raised in Northern California, his mountaineering career began in the Eastern Sierra summiting numerous peaks in Yosemite as well as a few ascents of Mount Whitney.  After receiving his BA from CSU, Chico Jesse continued his climbing career, summiting Mount Rainier, and peaks in Peru. Jesse has numerous ascents of Mount Shasta and has been guiding with SWS for the past two years.

Chris Nance
Lead Guide / Mt. Shasta/ Alpine Mountaineering

Chris started climbing in College after graduating from Texas Christian University with a degree in Sculpture. Chris spend a semester in the Rockies with NOLS and shortly thereafter to Alaska. He began guiding rock and ice in New England before guiding for 2 seasons in Ecuador. Working with outdoor manufacturers Chris spend time in Boliva, Chile, Argentina and Chile putting up various new rock, ice and mountaineering routes. Chris guides ice in Colorado in the winter, while guiding on Denali during the early summer and SWS during the balance of the summer season. He has WFR certification along with Avalanche Level I certification. Chris speaks spanish.

Josh Spoelstra
Assitant Alpine Guide/ Snowboarding Instructor/ Mt. Shasta

Ken Goodreau
Lead Guide /Alpine Guide Mt. Shasta/ Eastern Sierra

Originally a flat-lander from Wisconsin, Ken moved out west to climb and fight wildland fires. After his truck broke down in Northern Idaho, he stayed there for 4 years and started climbing the North Cascades. Since then he's climbed for another 10 years in the western states and Europe. Currently residing in Reno, Nevada and going to school in pursuit of a Nursing degree. He as guided for Sierra Wilderness Seminars for the past 5 seasons.