Forrest has been a professional mountain guide for over 10 years. He has guided, skied, and climbed in the Canadian Rockies and throughout Alaska, including the Alaska Range, Chugach Mountains and Kuriak Mountains. International expeditions include ventures to the volcanoes of Ecuador, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, desert rock in the Australian Outback, the Annapurna and Khumbu regions of Nepal, and the Ice Caps of Greenland and Antarctica. Forrest has extensive polar experience -- having developed and led an outdoor education program for Inuit in the Arctic and through training and guiding scientists in Antarctica. He possesses a strong background in search and rescue having spent three season on the United States Antarctica Search and Rescue Team along with volunteering as a climbing ranger on Denali. Forrest has been guiding on Denali for three years. When not climbing mountains, Forrest calls the Tetons of Wyoming home and you can find him kayaking or diving in warmer places.

Eric is an integral part of the Alpine Ascents North Cascades Mountaineering School staff. With a degree in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College in Arizona, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge to the finer points of mountaineering instruction. He has climbed extensively in the ranges of the American West as well as Alaska with an ascent of Denali's West Buttress. Eric has also led trips to the Himalayas with ascents of Island and Mera Peaks along with several visits to Everest Base Camp. He is also an avid backcountry skier, and possesses strong leadership skills.

A long-time Northwest mountaineer, Dave has climbed extensively throughout the Cascades, Coast Mountains and the Alaska Range. He is an accomplished backcountry telemark and alpine skier. A natural leader, Dave guides for Alpine Ascents in Alaska, the Cascades and South America. For the past two years, Dave has guided on Denali and has done a number of personal, highly technical climbs in the Alaska Range. With over a dozen ascents of Rainier, Dave's experience also includes climbs in Nepal, Bolivia, Central America and a successful ascent of the coveted South Face of Aconcagua. Fluent in Spanish, Dave also leads Alpine Ascents Mexico expeditions, and instructs in the mountaineering school both in Alaska and the North Cascades. Most recently, Dave guided on Aconcagua, Cho Oyu, Denali and on the Alpine Ascents Bolivia Expedition. Dave recently received the coveted AAC Mountain Adventure Award.

Conan balances his love for climbing with a strong commitment to education. A Master's Degree in Environmental policy gives him a unique perspective for understanding and teaching sound resource management practices. In addition to extensive climbing in the Northwest, Conan has climbed in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Alaska with numerous ski descents, including Rainier, Denali, and Wyoming's Grand Teton. When not in the mountains, Conan can be found remodeling his home in Seattle. Conan leads courses and climbs for Alpine Ascents in the North Cascades Mountaineering School and climbs on Aconcagua.

John started the Northwest Mountain School in 1994 after returning from an expedition to the North Ridge of Mt. Everest in Tibet. In addition to guiding 12 seasons on Mt. Rainier, NMS director, John Race, has participated in and led over 20 international climbing expeditions to the highest ranges in the world. He has climbed on three 8000 meter peaks, including Everest, and has been to Denali seven times.

Terry has been guiding for Northwest Mountain School, a wilderness education program, for the past two years. He has led trips in the Cascades of Washington and the Chugach of Alaska. In addition to his extensive mountaineering in the Northwest, Terry is an avid rock climber. His professionalism, leadership and work ethic make Terry one of the most promising guiding talents in the industry.

Matt's experience is diverse and impressive. He has been climbing and guiding for 10 years and teaching for over five years. For the past two seasons he was a member of two of Alpine Ascents' Aconcagua and Denali teams, and their Alaska and North Cascades Mountaineering School staff. He is an excellent teacher, well versed in rock, ice and alpine climbing. In addition to first ascents and ski descents in New England, Alaska and New Zealand, Matt has led trips to Island Peak, three successful expeditions to Aconcagua, and six Denali expeditions. He was a volunteer Ranger for Denali National Park in 1998 and writes for Climbing Magazine. Matt is active in fundraising for the non-profit Himalayan Light Foundation and is a qualified yoga instructor. Recently Matt completed a successful all-free ascent of Ama Dablam with Matt Walker.

Addicted to the snow and cold of glaciers, Erik came to Alpine Ascents with a wealth of experience in the extreme environment of Antarctica where he worked for three seasons on the Joint Antarctica Search and Rescue team, and as a Field Safety Instructor in Antarctica for the USAP. Erik has climbed in The Cascades for the past five years, and has climbed extensively in the Northeast, The Tetons, across the US, England, New Zealand, Antarctica and Nepal. Erik lives on a trimaran sailboat and has a BS degree in Environmental Studies and Psychology. When not climbing and exploring, Erik is an avid sailor, kayaker, and diver and is a sea kayak guide. Erik leads Alpine Ascents' mountaineering school courses and climbs in the Cascades.