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Don Langlois Don's nautical background includes US Coast Guard 100 Ton Masters license, Able Bodied Seaman, sailing instructor, yacht delivery skipper, member US Sailing Association, and Applied Science Degree in Marine Technology. Voyages include Pacific Coast to the Arctic and New England to Carribean Sea. Jerry Casson Willi Prittie Cliff Palmer - Cliff has been a professional alpine guide and outdoor educator for over 16 years. During this time he has led trips and taught courses in South America, North America, and Europe. His outdoor venues include: mountaineering, rock-climbing, ice climbing, avalanche education, ski touring, sea-kayaking, and adventure trekking. He has been teaching avalanche education courses for 8 years. Cliff has received his professional training through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), Association Canadian Sea Kayak Guides (ACSKG), and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Cliff is a Professional member of AIARE and certified AIARE Level 1 and Level II instructor. Cliff is also a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Gary Brill |
Don's is the owner and director of the avalanche education program. He has worked as a guide in skiing, sea kayaking, rafting, mountaineering and canoeing and as an Outward Bound instructor, and brings with him superior teaching skills. In 1977, Don began his preoccupation with snowy mountains. Working as winter Park Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park, he gained extensive experience in ski mountaineering, backcountry ski patrol, avalanche hazard evaluation and forecasting. Don started his training 30 years ago with well-known avalanche experts William Hotchkiss of the National Ski Patrol and Peter Lev of the American Avalanche Institute. More recently, Don trained as Level 1 & 2 with the Canadian Avalanche association, Level 1 ski instructor with the PSIA, Level 1 ski guide with the Canadian Ski Guide Association, Hiking Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Don is certified WFR (Wilderness First Responder). He is a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association and Affiliate member of the Canadian Avalanche association.
Willi has been climbing, skiing, guiding and teaching for the past quarter century. He taught some of the first recreational avalanche courses in the state with the Mountain School. Willi is considered one of the premier instructors in America and his students have had outstanding success in reaching personal goals. Needless to say, Willi has developed quite a following. He has led climbs to Cho-Oyu, Pumori, Island & Mera Peak in Nepal, Denali in Alaska and led other climbs in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. In 2000, Willi led expeditions to Everest, Vinson, Aconcagua, Denali and Kilimanjaro. Willi is the consummate mountain guide and one of the most respected mountaineers in America. More recently Willi led the 2002 & 2003 Mt. Everest expeditions that put 31 climbers on the summit. Willi is AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
The courses' originator, Gary Brill, is an avid and active backcountry skier and alpine climber. He honed his skiing skills as a former downhill skier and heli-guide but for the past 24 years has skied almost exclusively in the backcountry. Gary has climbed and skied extensively throughout western North America and has remained an active mountain guide since 1980. He received formal training by successfully passing both summer and winter assistant guide training with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides in 1981. His avalanche training includes British Columbia Institute of Technology Level I and II avalanche courses for ski guides in 1981 and 1982. He also has attended several seminars, most recently the 2000, 2002, and 2004, 2006 ISSW avalanche conferences. Gary is a