JACKSON HEADLINES
Alpine Guide Biographies

The Guides: Tom Bennett, Pat Davidsaver, Jim Kandolin, Kent McBride, Dave Miller, Sammy Samuels, Laurie Shepard, Tom Turiano, Jamie Weeks, Eric Henderson, Rob Hess, Jim Collins, Theo Meiners, Bruce Keller, AJ Sanders, Mikey Franco, Mike Janssen

Head Guide: Eric Henderson

Eric Henderson has lived and skied in the Tetons for the past 11 years. Eric is a level III certified PSIA telemark instructor, a heli ski guide at Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, and a Head backcountry guide for Jackson Hole Backcoutry Guides. Eric is the only freeheel guide in Jackson Hole and Valdez. Notable descents include the Otter Body snowfield on the East Face of the Grand Teton, first descents in the Altai mountains of northern China, Chenzen Peak (7,000 meters) in the Everest region of Tibet, and multiple freeheel descents in the Chugach range Alaska.
   
 

Tom Bennett

Tom has been a ski guide and a fully-certified instructor in Jackson Hole for the last 20 years. He has guided ski and mountaineering trips in the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Alaska Range, the Wrangell mountains and the Alps. On his own, he has skied most of the major Teton peaks, including the Ford Couloir on the Grand Teton, and gone on a dozen expeditions to the high peaks of Alaska, Nepal and South America. He has extensive backcountry ski experience all over the United States, Canada, the Alps, as well as Alaska. Tom works year-round as a ski and climbing guide. As well as guiding in the Chugach, he guides Mt McKinley in June, and you can find him in the summer working for Exum Mountain Guides.
   
  Mikey Franco

Mikey has riden for 22 years, instructed for 18 years, and backcountry- and heli-boarded for 16 years, Mikey has been blazing trails for others to follow for a long time. He is a member of the elite National Demo Team of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors for 2000-2004 and 2004-2008.
Mikey has created and coached snowboard camps for advanced riders in steep terrain in both Jackson Hole and Valdez, AK. As co-founder and lead guide of Worldwide Tribes, he has traveled the world to ride in locations such as Sweden, France, New Zealand, Japan, Alaska, Canada, as well as the Sierras, Beartooths and Tetons closer to home.

He has attained the following certifications:
-Level 3 Avalanche for Guides through the American Avalanche Institute since 2000
-Outdoor Emergency care through the National Ski Patrol, since 1999
-CPR for the Professional Rescuer through the American Red Cross, since 1999
-Level 3/DECL with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors
   
Rob Hess (Assistant Head Guide)

Is one of only several guides nationwide who is certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA), the foremost guide certification organization world-wide. IFMGA only certifies individuals who demonstrate the highest level of knowledge and ability in the areas of rock and alpine climbing and ski-mountaineering, including leadership, judgment, client care, technical expertise, rescue skill, and environmental consciousness. Rob is also on the Board of the American Mountain Guides Association, including serving as its Technical Director.
   
  Kent McBride

Kent has guided for 9 years. Skiing and climbing in Tetons and western U.S., including four routes on El Capitan. First ski descent CMC Route on Mount Moran. Climbing and skiing in Alaska, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Patagonia. Three winters skiing and climbing in Chamonix and La Grave, France. Expedition to Kun Lun Range, Tibet. Lead guide, Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, Valdez, Alaska. Ski guide with Jackson Hole Alpine Guides at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. UIAGM certified mountain guide.
   
  Theo Meiners

Theo has been a successful ski instructor for 29 years. He has worked with PSIA as a professional examiner for 20 years and has 14 years of experience teaching Steep skiing camps and years of experience coaching with children and adults in ski racing in Aspen, Jackson Hole, Chile, and Alaska. He has worked as a ski patrol trainer in Chile at Centro de Ski, El Colorado, as well as Snow King Mountain in Jackson, Wyoming. Theo has recently been appointed as the National Ski Patrol regional avalanche advisor for the Northern intermountain division.
   
  AJ Sanders

Aaron Sanders, an Iowa farm boy at heart, is a fully certified PSIA ski instructor and a Division Examiner and Clinic leader for the Intermountain division PSIA, as well as a trainer and backcountry guide for the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard School. He is a coach for Jackson's Steep and Deep Ski Camps, as well as an instructor for Backcountry Ski Camps. He is fully certified by the American Avalanche Institute as well as OEC by the National Ski Patrol. AJ's quest to experience the mountain environment led him from the midwest to Jackson, Wyoming seven years ago, but his passion for snow and skiing culminate in Alaska.

AJ acquired his remarkable work ethic on the farm: he returns every spring and fall to help plant corn and beans. His summers are spent in Jackson as a fly fishing guide and white water kayak instructor on the Snake River. AJ is an ever-patient student and teacher; he has a keen eye and gives great attention to detail.
   
Tom Turiano

Tom has guided for 18 years. Climbed throughout North America. Teton first ascents. Major ski descents of Teton peaks. Ascents of over 400 different mountains in Greater Yellowstone region. Backcountry ski guide and instructor. Exum web site author. Author of of two definitive books on ski mountaineering and mountaineering: Teton Skiing: A History and Guide and award-winning Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone: A Mountaineering History and Guide.







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