Tim Keating
CEO/ Co-Director and Founder of SWS Mountain Guides aka (Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.) / Lead Alpine Guide, Ski Mountaineering / Rock Instructor / Mt. Shasta / Sierra Nevada/ International Guide

Tim has been guiding and operating SWS Mountain Guides aka (Sierra Wilderness Seminars) for over 29 years now. He has over 100 summits on Mt. Shasta and over 100 on Mt. Whitney. As an avid backcountry skier, he has logged countless ski ascents on Mt. Shasta, Mt Lassen and several Sierrian Peaks. 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 Course, AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager, Professional Climbing Guides Institute Certified Top Rope Guide , Wilderness First Responder, Certified Avalanche Instructor & Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association, a Level III Avalanche Training Certification, Graduate from the National Avalanche School, Leave Not Trace Trainer, Membership in the American Alpine Club since 1997, Access Fund Member. Tim has BA in Geography from Humboldt St. University, speaks Spanish, is married to Emily and they have a 9 year old son, Joshua

Certified Avalanche Instructor Professional Member since 2000

Wilderness First Responder

David Althaus Cressman
President/ Co-Director/ Lead Alpine Guide/ Ski Mountaineering/ Rock Instructor / Mt. Shasta / Sierra Nevada / International Guide

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 (WFR), and he is a graduate of the National Avalanche School as well as Avalanche Level I & Level II. He graduated from Humboldt University with B.S. 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, Jarrod, Mariah, and Jesse and his dog Bailey.

Wilderness First Responder	Leave No Trace Certified Trainer	AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager

James A. Brown "JB"
Senior Lead Alpine Guide/Ski Instructor & Guide / Rock Instructor/Mt. Shasta/Sierra Nevada /International Guide

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 has a BS in Political Science and is alicensed Paramedic. JB has attained Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) Alpine Instructor level II as well as Certified Backcountry Instructor, Avalanche Level I & Level II, and Level III , Leave No Trace Certifications, Graduate of the AMGA Rock Climbing Instructors Course.

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. He speaks some spanish and nepali.

To link to his Nepal Company www.mayadevitrekking.com

Licensed Paramedic

PSIA Level II Alpine Instructor PSIA Backcountry Instructor

Tim Peterson
Senior Lead Alpine Guide / Ski Instructor & Guide/ Mt. Shasta & Sierra Nevada

Tim Peterson resides in Bend, Oregon. During the school year, Tim Teaches and Manages the Outdoor Leadership Programs at Oregon State University in Outdoor Leadership, and also coordinates the University 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 Degree in Adventure Education, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), with Avalanche I & II training along with completing the American Avalanche Associations Professional Avalanche Workers School (Av Pro) in 2007. He also has Vertical Rescue, Swift Training and Leave No Trace Certifications.

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Barry Durbin
Senior Lead Alpine Guide / Rock & Ice Guide/Mt. Shasta/ Sierra Nevada

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Neil Woodruff
Senior Lead Alpine Guide - Mt. Shasta / Survival Guide / Snowboarding Guide & Instructor

Neil Woodruff began his outdoor career as a child learning North American plants and animals from his family members whose background included biology, botany, farmers, hunters, and gun makers.  Since then he has expanded his North American knowledge as well as studying African and South American ecosystems.
Neil divides his year between SWS Mountain Guides where he guides; trekking and backpacking, alpine climbs, rock, survival courses, ski/snowboard mountaineering, and winter climbs.  He currently winters in Jackson WY where he teaches snowboarding and skiing for Jackson Hole Ski Area.  Neil has also works for various California and East coast Ski Resorts as well as internationally Portero Chile as both a resort and an Helicopter Snowboard Guide. For the past several years he has served as a clinician for PSIA-w specializing in adaptive sports.
Neil certifications include: (PSIA)Level I Alpine Ski Instructor, Level III Certified Snowboard instructor, PSIA adaptive Snowboard Instructor and Children's Specialist.  Neil also possess Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Leave No Trace, and AAA Avalanche II certifications.

	Wilderness First Responder		PSIA Level III Snowboard Instructor PSIA Snowboard Examiner

Jesse Samuels
Senior Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta/ International Guide

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 in Communication Design from Chico State University. Jesse continued his climbing career, summiting Mount Rainier, Pico del Orizaba in Mexico and several high altitude peaks in Peru. Jesse has numerous ascents of Mount Shasta and has been guiding with SWS for the past 4 years. Jesse has attained his Avalanche Level I and Leave No Trace Instructor Certifications, and is a Wilderness First Responder. Jessie currently lives in Chico, Ca.

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Jory Horner
Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta

Jory grew up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and began his obsession for the outdoors after high school when he moved to Yellowstone to be a housekeeper and promptly quit to spend his summer backpacking in Yellowstone, Glacier and Banff instead. Since then he has hiked and climbed all over the western U.S. and received his Bachelor's degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Experiential Education. He likes to spend his free time waiting for the rain to hunt for edible mushrooms, waiting for the snow to head into the mountains and cursing both the rain and the snow when he wants to go rock climbing. He currently lives with his artistic wife Nikki and his balding dog Stella wherever the wind blows them and carefully saves all his pennies only to carelessly blow them on plane tickets around the globe. He is a Wilderness First Responder, certified Leave No Trace Instructor and has taken the American Avalanche Association's Avalanche Level I and II training.

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Brady Hoffman
Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta

Brady is a fun energetic Mountain Man who has spent the better part of his education studying wilderness medicine and outdoor education. A graduate from University of Uath with a BS degree in Health Education. A NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) OEC Semester Course graduate as well. Brady spends his free time, climbing, skiing, and hiking generally enjoying the majesty of the mountains. When Brady is no guiding he works in the Health Field as a EMT and Red Cross First Aid /CPR instructor in Salt Lake City. Brady's Guiding Philosphy: "The dream is the summit, the goal is to come back"
Brady is a EMT-1, Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, RedCross Instructor, Avalanche Level II, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.

AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor

Leave No Trace Master

Wilderness EMT-I

Scott Becker
Lead Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta / Eastern Sierra Nevada

Scott grew up rafting, skiing and climbing in Oregon and is now in his fifth year of guiding for SWS. Since his first climbing experience on Mt. Hood he continues to climb peaks of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, big walls in Yosemite Valley and other major climbing areas and mountain ranges of the west. Scott studied Journalism at Southern Oregon University and also holds certifications for WFR, Avalanche Level II and Leave No Trace instructor. He lives with his wife in Medford, Ore.

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

John Bisignano
Lead Alpine Guide/Sierra Nevada/ Mt. Shasta

John fell in love with the mountains of CA immediately after moving
to Big Sur.  Countless backpacking trips into the Ventana Wilderness
led to bigger mountains with ascents of Mt. Rainier, Kilimanjaro,
The Grand Teton, and Aconcagua.  John spends much of his time now in
Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra alpine climbing.  John is a Certified
EMT-b and has certifications in Avalanche 1 and as a Leave No Trace
Instructor.  He has his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Software.

Certified EMT-B

Leave No Trace Instructor

John Rodriguez
Lead Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta/Sierra Nevada

John live in Ashland Oregon with his wife and two daughters. Their home is above the hills of Ashland and is 100% off the grid. John has climbed and skied throughout Alaska, The Pacific Northwest, Canadian Rockies, and the American Southwest. John is a Professional Ski Patroller and has several avalanche and explosives certifications. He is currently working on his nursing degree at Oregon State Health and Sciences University. His passion is to spend tme in the wild places of the earth with his family and friends. John is a seasoned SWS Mountain Guide returning to SWS after a 5 year haitius. John enjoys instructing fellow climbers on how to travel safely in the mountains while challenging themselves on various routes.
Certifications: AAA Avalanche Level I and Level II, Leave No Trace Instructor, CPR-AEA Outdoor Emergency Technician, ACLS

Robin Kohn
Lead Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta / Backpacking Guide/Author

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), Leave No Trace Certification, Certified in Avalanche Level I & Level II, and a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Robin has over 22 years ski and mountaineering experience and has taught many outdoor courses throughout the western states. Mt. Shasta has been my home for over 17 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. Robyn is the author of "The Mt. Shasta Fun Guide" check out her book and her website at:

www.mtshastafunguide.com

Certified EMT

Leave No Trace Instructor

Aaron Beverly
Lead Alpine Guide/Ski Instructor & Guide / Mt. Shasta

Aaron has been guiding for SWS for over 7 years. His passion for the backcountry life began upon moving to California nine years ago from the Midwest. He has numerous ascents of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Whitney and Mt. Rainier. While not climbing or guiding for SWS, Aaron instructs in primitive survival skills for Headwater Outdoor School and Whitewater River Guide for the Northern California Rivers. In the winter Aaron works as a Ski Patroller at the Mt. Shasta ski park and is the Program Coordinator and Co-founder of Shasta Disabled Sports. He has Avalanche Level I & II certification, Leave No Trace Certification, as well as being EMT-B. He holds a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Certified EMT

Leave No Trace Instructor

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

Mike Imperiale has been climbing for the past 10 years. Coming to us from New Jersey, Mike began his climbing career in the Gunks in southern NY, then moved to Utah, where he currently resides at the base of the Wasatch mountains. Mike's two favorite places are opposites, he spends a lot of his time in the desert, and in the cascades of the north west. Mike has been instructing climbing for the past 8 years He has obtained BA in Experiential Outdoor Education from the University of Utah. He is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), as well as certifications in Leave No Trace Instructor and Avalanche Level I.

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Mckenzie Wright
Lead Alpine Guide /Mt. Shasta

Bio - Coming

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Arean Ellis
Assitant Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta

Bio -- Coming!

Rick Gaukel
Assitant Alpine Guide/ Mt. Shasta / Sierra Nevada

Rick grew up inthe beautiful beach town of Santa Cruz, California spent most of his time surfing and skateboarding. Amazingly enough Rick moved away from this beach lifestyle to Asheville, North Carolina to pursue a BA in Outdoor Leadership and hone his skills in the disciplines of rock climbing, backpacking and mountain biking. After graduating, he moved up to New Hampshire to work in a small alternative high school as the Director of Adventure. The cold New England winter provided Rick with a fantastic opportunity to learn the craft of Ice Climbing and Winter climbing on the many peaks of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For the past five years Rick has enjoyed the "New" California and has climbed in Yosemite, Toulumne, Eastern Sierra, Lover's Leap and Joshua Tree. Rick has a BA in Outdoor Leadership from Warren Wilson College in Ashville, North Carolina, with certificates in: AMGA Top-Rope Site management, Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Level I Avalanche and Leave No Trace Trainer.

Wilderness First Responder	Leave No Trace Certified Trainer	AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager

Brent Glidden
Assitant Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta / Eastern Sierra Nevada

A native californian,Brent has been drawn to the mountains and the mountain lifestyle from an early age. He has numerous ascents of peak throughout the Cacades and Sierra Nevada including; Mt. Whitney, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Shasta. Brent is an avid rock climber with a number of big wall ascents in Yosemite Valley, including El Capitian,over the last 3 seasons. When Brent is not climbing, guiding, backpacking (he completed the Pacific Crest Trail 2007) or mountaineering, he enjoys long distance cycling. He has ridden through 9 European countries as well as thousands of miles across the western states. Other interests include; playing the ukulele, hand crafting custom flutes and eating pancakes! Brent is a Certified Wilderness First Responder and currently resides in Mt. Shasta, CA.

Clifford Agocs
Assitant Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta / Eastern Sierra Nevada

Bio -- Coming!

Crit Conrad
Summer Intern / Assitant Alpine Guide / Mt. Shasta

Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Crit fell in love with the mountains of Colorado when he was in high school. Since that time Crit has climbed, backpacked and mountain biked the various ranges in the western states. He holds WFR and Leave No Trace Trainer Certifications

Wilderness First Responder

Leave No Trace Instructor

Emily Sagalyn MD
SWS Mountain Guides Consulting Physican

Dr. Emily Sagalyn MD is currently a Resident in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. She graduated with her Medical Degree from the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, MA., She also holds a B.A. from Columbia University in New York, NY. She has Wilderness Medicial Experience in the Kunde Hospital in Kunde, Nepal, Medical Clinics in Big Sky, Montana, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, various locations throughout Uath. Certifications: Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trama Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Patient Oriented Research Certification

Emily is conversant in Spanish, and is an avid skier, hiker, mountaineer and climber. She also enjoy cycling and triathalons.