Ryan Berube, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT-B, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Level 1 Avalanche

A recent WEMT student turned employee, Ryan builds Aerie's First Aid Kits, helps with advertising by postering University campus and greater Missoula, and is an office assistant. A Pre-Med student here at the University, he's proud to call Montana home and looks forward to further delving into the medical community. Growing up exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire and beyond, the West has become his gateway to further adventures and practice of his favorite hobbies, being rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, and fishing.

Joe Blattner, Instructor, Manager
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT; NREMT-B; Lead Instructor State of MT; Level I Avalanche; Swiftwater Rescue Technician

I am originally from Illinois and now call Montana my home.  I have been a part of the Aerie family since 2006 and have held many different jobs at Aerie, the most important being an instructor.  I am currently part of the management team and teach at the Wilderness EMT level.  My other current jobs include teaching for the University of Montana’s Health and Human Performance department, guiding riverboard trips for Montana River Guides, and responding with Missoula County Search and Rescue.  My mountain climbing interest has brought me to peaks in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Russia and Tanzania.  I also have enjoyed beautiful rivers in Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Arizona.

John Bleicher, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: RN, Paramedic.

(On the left in the photo) John is a co-founder of Aerie, an ER and ambulance RN and former paramedic.  He currently serves as Trauma Education and Injury Prevention Coordinator at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. In that role, John organizes and offers programs, courses and conferences designed to research and reduce preventable trauma mortality in Montana. John is the former Education Coordinator for Missoula Emergency Services and developed their paramedic education program. He has extensive winter expedition experience: everything from month long ski-trekking in the Arctic to telemark skiing in Yellowstone.

Darcy Chenoweth, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  BSN; R.N; WEMT-B

Darcy teaches all levels of Aerie courses but predominately the Semester in Wilderness Medicine and the WEMT courses.  She is a practicing nurse and also teaches avalanche awareness classes for The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation. Her other past experience includes being a professional Ski Patroller and a volunteer on the Denali National Park Rescue Ranger Patrol. Darcy finds refuge playing on rocks and in her off-the-grid straw bale home nestled at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains.

Pat Clay, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  EMT-Basic

Patrick found his passion for emergency medicine while working as an EMT for Missoula Emergency Services ambulance. He has worked in many wilderness settings, including commercial fishing, raft guiding and wildland firefighting. He is currently taking classes towards a Physicians Assistant program while working professional ski patrol at Montana Snowbowl.  

Adrienne Corti, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  MS, University of Montana; WEMT-B.

Adrienne teaches WFA and WFR courses and continues our strong ties at the University of Montana. She is a Pro Patroller at Montana Snowbowl.  Adrienne is also a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) certified Level III Telemark Instructor and Accredited Children's Educator. Her interests include alpine and telemark skiing, riding her horses, and mountain biking . She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Dan and supports her son's freestyle ski team competition season by attending his meets in the Northwest (and looking for the best powder).

Jeremy Cowie, Instructor
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WEMT-B

Jeremy works as a professional Wildland Firefighter for the McCall Smokejumpers. He has fought fire for the Lolo and Smokey Bear Hotshot crews, served in the military and traveled extensively. In his free time Jeremy enjoys coffee, backcountry skiing, running his raft, hunting, fishing and riding his bike down steep hills.

Eagle Cruz, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  WEMT; Level 2 Avalanche; OEC, practitioner of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration, Upledger Institute of Osteopathy

I live in Frenchtown, MT with my wife Victoria and my two teenage children, our daughter Sophie and son Hunter.  We also have an extended animal family with 4 horse, 2 dogs, 2 cats.  I am a graduate of Aerie’s first WEMT class in 1999.  I was a volunteer on the Frenchtown Rural Fire District Ambulance Service for ten years and have been a ski patroller at Montana Snowbowl for twelve years and am the assistant director of Snowbowl’s Pro Patrol.  Between ski patrol and ambulance service I have been active in the EMS system for 12 years. I’ve studied martial arts for 30 years and teach kids and adults karate at Viking Martial Arts in Frenchtown. In my free time I enjoy skiing, fly fishing and hunting with my family.

I never imagined myself actually teaching emergency medicine, but the more I teach, the more I realize how much I enjoy sharing what I really love to do.

Jaime Dibrowa, Instructor
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Certifications / Education:  BSN, RN, Rush University, WEMT-B, BS Recreation Management and Spanish, University of Montana

Jaime teaches all levels of courses. She lives in Boulder, Colorado and works as an RN in the ER in Denver. She loves everything outdoors, but particularly climbing (rock and ice), cross-country skiing, snowboarding, triathlons, wilderness tracking and survival. She has rock climbing and white water rafting guide experience, and has taught for Aerie since 2001. Currently she is working on a Master's degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She also teaches nursing students at the University of Colorado.

Justin Elliott, Instructor

Certifications / Education: BS, BSN, RN, CCRN, WEMT-B

Justin teaches WFR and WFA courses.  He is a critical care RN currently employed in the ER at Bozeman Deaconess.  He spends is free time skiing, ice and rock climbing or trail running.

Megan Fisher, Instructor
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Certifications / Education: BS Health & Human Performance, emphasis in Athletic Training, Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainer & WEMT-B

Meg is proud of her Canadian roots and is thrilled to call Montana home.  Like many Missoulians, Meg has a diverse background that lends itself well to teaching a variety of subjects.  Meg has been a Certified Athletic Trainer since 2006, and currently works for Alpine Physical Therapy where she evaluates, treats, and rehabilitates athletic injuries.  She works at the University of Montana as an adjunct instructor for the HHP Department.  Meg also trains and races with the US Paralympic Cycling and Triathlon Teams.  In her free time, she loves to get outside and adventure with her dogs mountain biking, hiking, and cross country skiing.

Laura Gardner, Instructor, Aerie Emergency Medicine
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Paramedic

Laura teaches for Aerie Emergency Medicine, which is the urban-medicine branch of Aerie.  In this role, Laura and teaches EMT-B Refresher, PHTLS, ACLS, PALS and Basic Endorsements. Laura has coordinated the Paramedic course at Missoula Emergency Survives and attended the University of Montana and Willamette College for sports medicine.

Heidi Gaskill, Instructor
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Certifications / Education: BS Exercise Science from the University of Montana, WEMT, Avalanche Level I

Heidi, a recent graduate from the University of Montana in Exercise Science, currently resides in Missoula, MT.  Heidi is a licensed EMT-Basic and trained as a Wilderness EMT.  She also holds an Avalanche Level I certificate.  In addition to her work with Aerie, Heidi works as a tissue technician at Lifecenter Northwest.  When not working, Heidi finds herself recreating outside, with particular interest in alpine and XC skiing, mountain biking, and trail running.

Fernando Giaccaglia, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  WEMT; Swiftwater Rescue Technician

My passion for the outdoors began in my home town of Mar del Plata in Argentina where close proximity to the ocean led me to become a competitive swimmer and latterly a triathlete.  Competing throughout Central and South America introduced me to Costa Rica and a career as an adventure guide with Coast to Coast Adventures.  Mountain biking, hiking and rafting in some of the most remote and spectacular locations has kept me busy but since training with Aerie I discovered the world of wilderness medicine. I now instruct classes in Spanish and English. 

Chris Gibisch, Instructor
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WEMT-B, Respiratory Therapist, B.S.

Chris works as a respiratory therapist and teaches all levels of Aerie's courses. He is an incredible mountaineer and rock climber. When not working, Chris spends just about every moment outside, primarily climbing or biking.

Skeet Glatterer, Instructor
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Certifications / Education: MD

Skeet Glatterer is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon living in Golden, Colorado.  He is the Medical Director and Chairman of the Medical Committee for the Mountain Rescue Association.  He has a strong interest in the outdoor application of medicine and has been active in the Wilderness Medical Society for over 10 years.  Skeet has taught multiple course at the Colorado Mountain Club where he founded the Mountain Medicine Section.  He is an expedition physician for guided mountain trips from Alaska to Russia, Africa, and Nepal.  Skeet is an OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) Instructor Trainer, ski patrols at Cooper Mountain Resort in Colorado, and is a member of the Alpine Rescue team in Evergreen, Colorado.  His most recent adventure was as a volunteer Climbing Ranger and member of the Denali Rescue Team in Alaska.

Steve Glow
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Certifications/ Education:  Nurse Practitioner, RN, Paramedic

Steve assists with all levels of Aerie courses. He is an ER and flight nurse and a nursing professor at Montana State University.  Steve is the assistant Chief of the Dixon Volunteer Fire department and a ski patroller at Blacktail Mountain and Snowbowl. Steve is a Swiftwater Rescue Technician who has been running western rivers for the last 30 years and is a member of Grand Canyon River Guides association and River Runners for Wilderness.

Trenton Harper, Instructor
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Trenton is a Paramedic and Backcountry Response Team member with Missoula Emergency Services, as well as a volunteer with Missoula County Sheriff's Search and Rescue. Trenton is a proud native of central Appalachia where he developed an early interest in traditional survival skills. He has shared his skills for over 10 years as an outdoor educator, mentor, and careprovider for social and environmental justice campaigns.

Cody Harris, Instructor
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EMT-B, Rescue III International Swiftwater Rescue Instructor

Cody is a past member of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Development Team. Cody teaches WFR and WFA courses and the swiftwater component of our WEMT classes. He has spent the better portion of his life exploring the rivers of North and South America. Cody has been a kayak slalom coach and an American Canoe Association whitewater instructor since 1994. Currently, he is pursuing a seasonal lifestyle as a ski patroller at Montana Snowbowl and river guide at Montana River Guides . Cody is an avid follower of water--either frozen or flowing.

Haven Holsapple, Chief Financial Officer
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WFR

As our CFO, Haven oversees our finances. With over thirty-five years of business management experience, Haven brings amazing financial acumen to Aerie.   In 1990, he founded Holsapple Financial Strategies, Inc. Haven is a senior instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School, having taught for years with Paul Petzl, and a member of the Lost Trail Ski Patrol.

Wendy Holsapple, Financial Manager
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WFR. Lost Trail Snowboard Patroller

Wendy manages Aerie's finances and advises on program development. She is a NOLS Instructor and has also worked for Outward Bound and DARE Youth-at-Risk Backcountry Programs. She is Avalanche Level 2 Certified and a former member of the Fremont County Search and Rescue Group in Western WY. Wendy has taught High Angle Rescue Seminars to rescue groups from around the country. She has also been a bow hunting guide and was the NOLS Ranch Operations Supervisor, coordinating their re-rations and evacs. Currently Wendy is focusing on LNT horse packing, volunteering at the Bitterroot Humane Association and spending time hiking in the mountains with her dogs.

Mike Johnston, Adjunct Instructor
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Certifications / Education: EMT-B; Swiftwater Rescue Instructor for Rescue 3 International

Mike has been teaching River Rescue since 1995. Mike is an incredibly skilled instructor and one of the funnier people you will ever meet. He is a former ski patroller & backcountry ranger in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. In 1994 he founded Montana River Guides, a whitewater rafting company that guides raft, canoe, kayak and riverboard trips on the Alberton Gorge, Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers. Mike teaches the swiftwater rescue component of Aerie's Wilderness EMT and combination courses.

Alex Kosseff, Instructor
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WFR, B.A. Macalester College, Environmental Studies & Political Science

Author of the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership, over the past sixteen years Alex has led outdoor adventures in thirty-four U.S. states and foreign countries. As a partner in Adventure Safety International LLC he provides risk management consulting and leadership training for the outdoor industry; he also serves as a senior instructor for Outward Bound and a professional climbing and skiing instructor for the Montana Mountaineering Association. Alex is the former Leadership Director for the Appalachian Mountain Club where he handled risk management and leader training for nine thousand annual outdoor programs.

Michael Kremkau

Certifications/ Education:  MD, FACEP, FAWM

Mike Kremkau first got his EMT in 1995 in Colorado and taught mountaineering for Art of Adventure.  He went on to work on a transport ambulance in Portland Oregon and was a resident firefighter/EMT for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. Dr Kremkau trained in Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health and Sciences University.  He has worked overseas in Honduras and in Kosovo on disaster relief missions and is a veteran of the National Disaster Medical Service.  He now lives and works in Missoula Montana as an Emergency Physician at Saint Patrick Hospital (Level II Trauma) and is a reserve Deputy for Missoula County Sheriff Department.  He is a member of and medical director for Missoula County Search and Rescue and Missoula County Sheriff Department Special Response Team.  Dr Kremkau recently helped author the curriculum for S.T.O.R.M. (Specialized Tactics for Operational Rescue and Medicine) and will be teaching this through the Medical College of Georgia.

Andy Lichtenheld, Instructor
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Certifications / Education: WEMT-B, B.S. Biology Northland College

Andy lives in Portland, OR where he works as an EMT-Basic for American Medical Response.  Andy also holds Avalanche I and Swiftwater Rescue certifications.  He has worked as a safety kayaker in Costa Rica, wilderness guide, River Rescue Tech, Ski Patroller, and as a tech in the St. Patrick Hospital ED.  In addition to backcountry medicine, Andy enjoys ‘The Dog Whisperer.’

Amy Mazzarisi, Instructor
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Critical Care Paramedic, MSW-University of Michigan

Amy is an ambulance paramedic in Bozeman and the EMS Training Coordinator for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park. She previously worked as a Park Ranger/Crew Leader for the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps, and volunteered for the Lake County Search and Rescue. She worked as a paramedic for Marcus Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Montana, and for the Lost Trail Ski Patrol. Every summer she patiently waits for the snow to fly once again. While she is waiting for the snow, you can usually find Amy hiking and backpacking in the Montana wilderness.

David McEvoy, Director
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Certifications/ Education: Critical Care Paramedic; AWLS (instructor); ACLS (instructor); PALS (instructor); Swiftwater Rescue Technician; BA, Bates College; MS, Biology, University of Montana. 

David is a co-founder of Aerie, working professionally as an EMT/ paramedic since 1990. He is a Faculty Adjunct for UM's department of Health and Human Performance.  He has lead backcountry crews and outdoor trips around the United States for the last twenty years, primarily with the Student Conservation Association. David is a frequent presenter at the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, the US Forest Service Incident Medical Specialist program, and numerous other risk management and wilderness medicine conferences. David is a former member of Missoula County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, a fisheries biologist and the former training officer and paramedic education director for Missoula Emergency Services. David has lived in Tibet, Israel and Central America and taught anatomy and physiology at the University of Montana cadaver lab.  

Greg Moore, Medical Director
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Certifications/ Education: MD; FACEP; FAWM

Greg Moore is a leader in Montana's Emergency Medical field. Greg grew up in Tennessee exploring the flora and fauna of the Great Smokey Mountains. He completed Medical School at Ohio State University and did a dual residency in Emergency Medicine and Family Practice He has practiced as a Board Certified Emergency Room Physician for over 30 years. He now serves as Barrett Hospital's Chief of Staff and Director of their Emergency Department in addition to Medical Director for Saint Patrick Hospital Rural Outreach. He is Fellowship trained in Emergency Medicine and also was among the first Fellows in Wilderness Medicine. Greg is very active in EMS serving as Medical Director for Missoula Emergency Services Ambulance, Missoula Rural Fire Department, Missoula County Airport Authority, Powell County QRU, Beaverhead EMS, Beaverhead Search and Rescue and Wisdom Ambulance. Greg is actively involved in teaching and instructing all levels of medical professionals and is passionate about Wilderness Medicine and instructs Advanced Wilderness Life Support.  Greg is an avid outdoorsman who loves to hike, hunt, ski, snow machine, raft, fish, dive and travel.

Ted Morrison, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: EMT-B; Level I Avalanche; BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana

Along with working for Aerie, Ted is a lead alpine mountaineering instructor for Outward Bound Wilderness in Colorado. He  was a former member of the Western Montana Mountain Rescue team. He has also led crews for youth conservation corps in Vermont and worked as a field biologist. Ted has been a world traveler from birth and enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and exploring.

Josh Olsen, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT-B; Level II Avalanche;  Swiftwater Rescue Technician; BA, St. Olaf College, M.Ed student, University of Montana

Josh is a native Montanan who has been an educator in many capacities from instructing kayaking and climbing to teaching English in Tanzania, Africa. During the winter season, Josh is a Pro Patroller in Southwestern Montana. He is a former wilderness instructor for an “at- risk” youth program and worked as a professional sea kayak/climbing guide.  Josh has worked as an ER tech and as an EMT for two rural ambulance companies servicing wilderness areas. When not teaching for Aerie, Josh is working exceptionally hard trying to convince his dog Numa that ski boots are not appropriate chew toys. In his spare time, he enjoys backcountry skiing and bocce ball.

Eddie Olwell, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:WEMT; B.S., Economics, LeMoyne College; Level I Avalanche; Swiftwater First Responder

Eddie is on the National Ski Patrol with Lost Trail Powder Mountain. He is a Montana licensed Outfitter and owner of Fishs Eddy O Flyfishing Outfitter and Guide Service . He is the V.P. of the Bitterroot chapter of Trout Unlimited. Eddie is an avid skier and fly fisherman and when not on the slopes he can usually be found stalking risers on one of Montana's great trout rivers.

Dan Otter, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: Wilderness EMT; Avalanche II; B.A. in German Studies and Political Science from Lewis and Clark College

Dan moved to the Pacific Northwest from Vermont to attend college at Lewis and Clark University, where he received his BA in German Studies and Political Science. He has put his degree to good use ski patrolling at Crystal Mountain and mountain guiding on Mt. Rainier and throughout the Cascades. He is currently taking pre-requisites for nursing school and pursuing his AMGA ski guide certification.

Peggy Orr, Thorn Creek Sewing

Peggy is the owner of Thorn Creek Sewing in St. Ignatius, MT, where she designs and constructs Aerie's first aid kits, oxygen bags and travel duffels.  She has been doing industrial sewing in the Mission Valley for 9 years.  Committed to operating a locally-run business, Peggy has up to three employees working with her, producing a wide range of products including Rescue Wraps (medical rescue bedding for Dr. Down), horse tack and sports equipment bags. Peggy enjoys the creativity and the diversity of products and the people she's sewn for.

Jamie Porter, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  Wilderness EMT

Jamie is a professional firefighter for Missoula City Fire Department. She worked as an EMT for Marcus Daly Hospital and ambulance service in Hamilton, Montana, and for years with the US Forest Service, working mostly with wildlands fire.

Damien Powledge, Instructor

Certifications / Education: Wilderness EMT

Damien grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southern Virginia but has called Montana home since 2002. He spent several years working as a Senior Wilderness Instructor for at-risk youth year round in the backcountry of Montana, as well as providing care in the Emergency Department in Missoula.  He is currently applying to Nursing school and enjoying the teaching end of wilderness medicine.  He spends his free time trail running, volunteering medical services for trail races, ice and rock climbing, and enjoying strong cups of black tea.

James Pyke, Instructor
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Certifications/Education: EMT-B, Avalanche Level 1 & 2

I am originally from New Hampshire, where I was an avid moutain-biker and skier.  In search of bigger mountains, I made the move to Missoula in 2004.  I am constantly inspired by the vast wilderness areas that surround the Missoula valley. I took the Aerie WEMT class in Glacier in 2010.  In the winter, I work as a ski patroller at Montana Snowbowl.  I also work as a ski guide and avalanche instructor at Altoona Ridge Lodge near Phillipsburg, Montana.  When I am not working, I enjoy backcountry skiing in the many ranges around Missoula.  When teh snow melts, I like to visit the same ranges, substituting running shoes for skis.

Katie Reimer, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT-B, Swiftwater First Responder, Level I Avalanche, RN

Katie grew up in Whitefish, MT, was a lifeguard and water safety instructor, and now works as an RN. She used "studying" abroad as an excuse to backpack around and explore Europe and China and also formerly worked in South Africa on a healthcare team. Katie is currently pursuing a career working with international disaster relief and third world healthcare as a nursing student.

Valerie Rich, Instructor
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Certifications:  PhD, ATC, LAT, CSCS, WEMT-B

Valerie teaches at the University of Montana in the Department of Health and Human Performance. She has been a certified athletic trainer for 11 years and is also certified as a strength and conditioning specialist. She has worked in a variety of settings including an orthopedic physician’s clinic, physical therapy clinic, hospital, high school, and college. Valerie enjoys most outdoor activities, especially snowboarding, running, hiking/climbing, and fishing.

Shawn Robertson, Instructor

Certifications / Education: EMT-B, B.S. in Recreation Management, Outdoor Emergency Care, Avalanche Level 2, Swiftwater Rescue Technician

Shawn is a native Montanan who currently bounces between summers in Missoula instructing for Tarkio Kayak Adventures, and winters in Big Sky as a Moonlight Basin ski patroller. He has over a decade of backcountry recreation and guiding experience in a variety of capacities with a strong focus on safety in river and mountain environments. His passion for adventure has taken him to remote regions of Alaska, Chile, Ecuador, British Columbia, Nepal, India, and of course the best place of all; Montana. Now a days Shawn spends his time off learning new ways to enjoy the outdoors like stand-up surfing on Brennan's Wave and Search & Rescue training with his new pup Sati.

Roman Sanchez, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT-B; Swiftwater First Responder; Level 1 Avalanche

Roman works for the Indian Peaks rural fire district as a firefighter and EMT/SAR member.  He is also an active ski-patroller.  Roman is an outstanding educator, with teaching experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, a Master's in Teaching English as a 2nd Language, and years teaching in a bilingual elementary education program. Roman volunteers with the Buffalo Field Campaign in the Yellowstone area. His hobbies include camping, x-country skiing and snowboarding. Roman lives with his wife Justine and son Japhy at 9200ft in an off-grid strawbale home in the mountains of Colorado.

Steve Shepro, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  WEMT- B; Swiftwater First Responder; Level 1 Avalanche

Steve is a former guide with Mt. Rainier Alpine Guides, a former President and Training Coordinator of the Western Montana Mountain Rescue Team, EMT-B with Missoula Emergency Services, National Ski Patrol, a former member of Missoula County SAR, and an Eagle Scout. Steve is an avid backcountry telemark skier, rock and ice climber.

Kurt Schallock, Instructor
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Certifications:  WEMT-B, Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Kurt is the CEO and co-owner of Pure Medical Inc. distributing medical products throughout the Northwest.  His mind is always on whitewater as Kurt was a riverboard/raft guide for Flathead Raft Company in Polson, MT for 8 years. He worked as as an EMT for Missoula Emergency Services and was a member of the Backcountry Emergency Response Team here in Missoula, MT. He also has held positions with federal, state, and private organizations. Those positions were in timber, fire and rangeland management. He enjoys the outdoors..... spending his free time with his wife(Fonya) and dog (Maya) rafting, riverboarding, camping, biking, snowboarding, bird hunting and fly fishing.

Joan Scheffer, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:R.N. WEMT- B

Joan is a 4th generation Montanan who loves the outdoors and has a particular interest in all horse related activity. She has competed in endurance riding and competitive trail riding. She is a certified registered nurse first assistant (CRNFA) who specializes in orthopedic surgical procedures and care at Missoula Bone and Joint Surgery Center . Joan also likes to mountain bike, hike, and cross country ski whenever she isn't out riding. Joan volunteers a great deal of her time with children at a therapeutic riding program.

Michael Schmitt, Instructor
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WEMT- B, Medical-School Student

Michael worked for a year as an intern for Aerie Backcountry Medicine while attending college for pre-medicine. This role included teaching and assisting courses, office aid, helping with gear tasks, etc. He works in the Emergency Room at Community Medical Center in Missoula.  In his spare time, he enjoys camping, fishing, and mountain biking in Montana’s backcountry.

Josh Tapp, Instructor
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Certifications / Education: EMT-Basic, Outdoor Emergency Care, Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche 1 & 2.

Josh Tapp grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians in South Carolina.  He made his way west in 2006 after graduating with a degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina.  He lives in WA where he ski patrols in the winter at Crystal Mountain, and is a mountain guide for International Mountain Guides during the summer.  In his free time you can find him Backcountry skiing, ice climbing, or fly fishing.  He is currently pursuing his American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) ski mountaineering certification.

Ellie Thompson, Instructor

Certifications / Education: EMT-B, WFR

I always wanted Montana to be home.  Montana had the mountains, all four seasons, great people, and amazing opportunity.  I moved to Montana after I finished my undergrad at Hamilton College, outside Syracuse, NY.  I decided to move out to Montana 10 years ago to maximize mountain exploring, and basically be a ski ‘bum’.  In the summers I wandered around the wind river mountains in Wyoming for the National Outdoor Leadership School for 5 years.  After awhile, I decided to settle down a bit, and I started to apply my psychology degree as a field instructor with Three Rivers Wilderness Therapy in Belgrade, MT.  The winters continued to draw me to the ski hill, and the backcountry wilderness, and I thought it would be a good time to educate myself on backcountry decision-making and what I could do in case of a wilderness emergency.  I decided to take a wilderness first responder when I was about 15, long time ago now, and while I was in Montana I took the next step and became an EMT so I could work on the ski hill, throw explosives for avalanche control, and help folks who had medical/traumatic emergencies on the mountain.  For the past 7 years I’ve ski patrolled at Moonlight Basin in Southwest Montana, and spent a season ski patrolling on the south island of New Zealand at Lake Ohau.  Avalanche rescue became a passion as well, and I trained my dog, Chica, to work on the ski hill with me as an avalanche rescue dog.  I loved the aspect of having to make sound decisions in stressful situations so much that I began to teach wilderness medicine for Aerie Backcountry Medicine, and working part-time for American Medical Response in Bozeman, MT.  I continue to incorporate emergency medicine into my life, and get out in the mountains skiing, rockclimbing, and mountain biking as much as possible!!

Becca Wallace, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education: WEMT; Paramedic: Associate of Applied Science Degree, University of Montana

Becca is a native Montanan; growing up she spent most of her time exploring Montana's wilderness. Becca's hobbies include backcountry skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, white water rafting, fishing, and skydiving. She especially enjoys recreating outdoors in the winter. Becca was an Anatomy and Physiology Teaching Assistant at the University of Montana cadaver lab. She is the former education director for Missoula Emergency Services and works as a full time Paramedic.

Mary Warner, Instructor
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Certifications/ Education:  Licensed Practical Nurse, WEMT-B

Mary started her outdoor career as a raft and rock guide in the New River Gorge, WV in 1999.  She is most at home as a nurse while working under the cherry trees for Montana Migrant Council in a mobile health clinic that serves the migrant population of the Flathead Valley. This past year, following her love of teaching, she received her WEMT-B in order to pursue teaching with Aerie. She has also taught A&P labs for the College of Technology- UM. Currently, she is enjoying her job as an Emergency Room EMT and, of course, SKIING!

Jillian Weiler, Office Assistant, Equipment Coordinator
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Certifications / Education: BS Wildlife Biology, University of Montana; WEMT-B; Level l Avalanche

Jillian coordinates the gear for each class, creates many of the course advertisements and assists in the office. Growing up in Missoula, MT has fostered a love of all things outdoors from hiking and snowboarding to gardening. In the winter you can find her shredding with the Lost Trail Snowboard Patrol, and in the summer- learning the intricacies of her whitewater kayak. She has traveled throughout the Western US and Canada as well as to South America enjoying all facets of winter adventure.

Travis Williams, Instructor
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Certifications:  WEMT-B, Swiftwater First Responder

Along with working for Aerie, Travis is a full time student at the University of Montana. He is also a member of the Missoula County Search and Rescue, and a private investigator. His military background as a Marine has taken him all over the world, including active duty in Iraq, but Montana has always been his home. He is an avid fisherman and has a fancy for tactical shooting.

Justin Woods, Instructor
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Certifications:  Paramedic, Swiftwater Rescue Technician

Justin is a full-time, professional firefighter/ paramedic in Whitefish, Montana.  Justin works as a raft guide in the summers. He spends as much of his spare time as possible in the backcountry skiing, ice & rock climbing, or kayaking in Montana and Alaska. Justin coordinates Aerie's courses in the Flathead Valley - Glacier National Park area.