Kent Scheler

Born and raised in the high desert mountains of Eastern Oregon, I have dedicated my life to riding the steep and deep. I followed my dreams to Alaska in 1999 where I perused an Environmental Science degree with and emphasis on snow and avalanche study. I'm a professional member of the American Avalanche Association and am formally trained and certified in avalanche safety, both in the United States and Canada. I have almost a decade of experience riding Alaska mountain terrain and my professional background includes heli-guiding, avalanche research and publications, avalanche safety education, assistant avalanche forecaster, and remote meteorological monitoring. I take pleasure in working in challenging environments and spend my free time enjoying all that Alaska has to offer.

Tim Thomas

My love of skiing started the moment my dad strapped skis to the moon boots on my four-year-old feet and sent me down the bunny slope. Every year since, I have been pursuing my love of and passion for skiing. Growing up in the San Juán Mountains of southwestern Colorado set the stage for my life style of outdoor recreation. Throughout the years have I worked as a ski instructor at Wolf Creek ski area, guided river rafting at the head waters of the Rio Grande, and guided skiing for a snow cat operation in the San Juan's. The past few years I have enjoyed exploring and developing new terrain in the Colorado for backcountry ski operators. Six years ago, my attention was brought to the Alaska Heliskiing Guide School and I jumped at the opportunity to further pursue my passion for skiing. I made the journey to Haines and the majestic beauty and capacious terrain of Alaska has ever since influenced my path in life. I now call Haines home following the purchase of property and time spent establishing my self in the community. I work as a heliskiing guide for Alaska Heliskiing beginning in February every year and when the season is over, I enjoy snow machine riding and backcountry touring. As a professional in the field, I keep current on medical, avalanche, and backcountry safety certifications and continuously educate myself in big mountain guiding. I take pride in providing my clients with a safe and enjoyable experience. One of my greatest pleasure as a guide is to witness the triumphant exhilaration of a client after they have skied down one of our life changing mountains. I also personally enjoy the opportunity to witness the rock star skills of the professional clients that I have guided throughout the years. Heliskiing in Haines has been the ultimate apex in my skiing career and I want to continue providing my clients with the same unsurpassed Alaskan experience.

I am also a retired smoothie shack owner !

Ted Purdy

At the age of 19 I left New Jersey, where I grew up snowboarding on golf courses, to spend a 'season' in the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I never looked back! Over the next 10 years, I managed to travel extensively in the backcountry of the Rocky, Wasatch, Teton, Sierra, Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges, looking for the deepest snow and the steepest, most challenging terrain I could find. In 2003 I moved to Alaska, where I attended the Alaska Heliskiing Guide School to further my formal training. In Haines I finally found the perfect combination of mind blowing terrain, a deep maritime snowpack, and a great crew of people at Alaska Heliskiing to learn from and work and play with. They have not been able to get rid of me since.

For the rest of the year I am in Southcentral, AK working as a project manager and enjoying my free time camping, fishing, hiking, sea kayaking, or canoeing with my wife, Susan. I spend the early part of the ski season working as an instructor for free avalanche courses provided by grants from the state of Alaska.

Tom Burt

If you are looking for experience in the mountains, this is the man. Tom grew up in North Lake Tahoe, started skiing at four, started snowboarding in 1982 at 18, became professional in 1985, traveled the world to climb and ride mountains on 6 of the 7 continents, came to Alaska to ride in 1989 and started guiding in AK in 1992. With 20 seasons in Alaska, Tom has pioneered more first descents than most will ever dream about. But the best part of Tom as a guide is his ability to read the snow and terrain to find the best that is out there. He has guided every type of heli-er from first timers to the likes of Jeremy Jones, Travis Rice, Seth Morrison, and Shane McConkey. It does not matter if you are a skier or boarder; a day with Tom is always a treat because his experience in the mountain translates into an incredible experience for you. He is one of the few guides who can ride about any line with anyone. He is sought after by films crews for his experience, but he lives to freeride. So make sure you try to book him while he is there, Tom only guides for a shortened season because he has a family back in Lake Tahoe.

Other news on Tom, he has become an owner of Winterstick Snowboards check out www.winterstick.com

Seth Koch

Seth was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1970. Seth graduated from the U of O in 1992 where he studied Psychology and Outdoor Education. He started his professional outdoor career and his passion for wild places and high adventure while at the U of O. Seth has been a professional ski guide, mountaineering guide, sea kayak guide, and outdoor instructor since 1993. He has pursued many personal adventures as well, on multiple continents, and on various expeditions in the mountains and on the ocean. He has participated in numerous expeditions attempting, and sometimes completing, first ascents and descents. Seth believes in living life to its fullest and enjoys sharing that with everyone he meets.

Seth is a custom home builder and commercial contractor who emphasizes sustainable building practices. Seth is also the co-founder of Alpine Initiatives, a non-profit ski industry philanthropy group. When Seth isn't guiding he can be found running his construction business, mt biking, skiing, and spending time with the family.

Seth has guided heliskiing and ski-mountaineering since 1996. He has multiple film credits in his credentials, and has guided most of the world's professional big mountain riders. With his 2 decades of professional guiding and instruction, Seth is a professional who still embodies and shares his zeal for wild places and high adventure.

• 1990-1993 - University of Oregon Outdoor Pursuits Program - Assistant Instructor
• 1993-1999 - The Big Mountain Ski School - Alpine and Telemark Ski Instructor - Member PSIA
• 1994-1999 - The Big Mountain Snow Cat Skiing - Coordinator and Lead Guide
• 1995-1999 - Flathead Nordic Ski Patrol - Search and Rescue - Member NSP
• 1993-2000 - Alaska Discovery - Senior Guide
• 1994-2000 - Spirit Walker Expeditions - Senior Guide
• 1997-Present - Alaska Heliskiing - Lead Guide, Training Coordinator, Safety Advisor
• 1998-Present - Alaska Guide School - Coordinator and Lead Instructor
• 1995-2000 - Outdoor Emergency Care
• 1993-Present - Wilderness First Responder
• 1995-Present - Avalanche II

Gabe Gioffre

Born and raised in Alaska, spending everyday either in the mountains or on the water set the stage for an ongoing love affair with the world around me. I now live in Girdwood which means plenty of days rallying on the mountains with friends, in terrain that most people only dream of. In 93' I discovered Valdez as a teenager and began climbing and skiing anything I could get the courage to go up. Being young, I was taken under wing by the seasoned mountain vets who encouraged me when I got scared, which was often. I took it upon myself to become educated on mountain and water safety. With my newly acquired knowledge and skills exploring the higher more remote ranges of Alaska was my next step. I took the Alaska Heliskiing Guide School 2000 and have been returning every season since to guide. I continue to explore mountains, rivers, valleys, oceans all over the world.

Herky

Having been born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, I have had many incredible opportunities. One such opportunity would be guiding for Alaska Heliskiing.  I've worked for this company on and off for 17 years, however, the last 5 years here in Haines have by far been the most rewarding. Thanks to my friend Sean Dog, I've been privileged to meet the likes of Tom Burt, Seth Morrison, Tanner Hall, Nicholas Mueller, Frederick Kalbermatten, and so many more that I could fill a book the size of the Bible. All I can say is, "You the MAN, Sean Dog!". 

My ski/mountain career began in Juneau at our ski area, Eaglecrest. I began skiing in 1979 and was instantly hooked. In 1992 I started snowboarding and by 1995 quit skiing altogether to pursue snowboarding full-time. With the advent of fat ski's, my interest in skiing rejuvenated and I now guide on both disciplines. I've taken our guide school twice, first in 1993 in Juneau, then again in 2005 in Haines. The joy's of guiding are so many but my favorite is watching someone ski a line they didn't think they could do. By the bottom they realize it wasn't as hard as they thought and seeing that look on their face go from shear terror to pure joy is priceless.

I still live in Juneau and plan on living there for the rest of my life as the community has so much to offer someone like myself, someone who enjoys an outside and adventurous life style.

Rob Liberman

I live in Telluride, Co and the San Juan mountains most of the year where I ski powder, guide and ride mountain bikes, and enjoy the nearby Utah desert. Skiing has been a deep rooted love since early childhood. I am grateful to my parents for allowing it to be a part of my upbringing. I ski raced through college at CU Boulder and absorbed as much as possible about all aspects of the sport in my four years, while studying biology and kinesiology. After graduating, I spent three endless winters traveling to South America and elsewhere, becoming further entrenched in the ski lifestyle. Alaska has always been the mecca and after my first pilgrimage in 2005, I have been returning more appreciative and humbled each year. With a zeal for sharing the beauty, adventure, and fun of heli skiing, I continue to refine my skills and expand my shared experiences.