Brian Jones
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Canada West Mountain School Owner and Lead Guide
A certified IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide, Brian has extensive experience in the mountain ranges of Western Canada, Alaska, California's Sierras, the European Alps, South America's Andes, Russia's Caucus Mountains, Antarctica and the High Atlas Range in Morocco.

Brian has lead multiple successful expeditions to Denali, Aconcagua, Elbrus, Vinson Massif, Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Logan as well as many other peaks around the world. He has also worked as a Mountain Safety guide for several Eco-Challenge expeditions in BC, Australia, Morocco, Argentina and Fiji; and, is on the faculty of the Outdoor Recreation department of Capilano College in North Vancouver and Squamish, BC.

Brian lives in Squamish, BC with his family and divides his time between directing the school's operations and leading many of the International Expeditions each year.

Geoff Creighton
(ACMG Rock Guide)
Canada West Mountain School Lead Rock Guide
Geoff leads up our Rock Climbing program, and is an ACMG-certified Rock Guide and Level 3 Climbing Gym Examiner. Geoff has worked and managed operations at several climbing facilities in Vancouver and has been climbing as a multi-disciplinary rock/ice/alpine climber since the late seventies, garnering a number of first ascents in these disciplines to his credit.

A seasoned alpine climber and regular contributor to North American climbing magazines, Geoff has climbed extensively in Quebec, Alberta, BC and Ontario with first ascents on Mt. Logan and in the Canadian Rockies. He lives in North Vancouver, BC.

John Furneaux
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide; CAA Active Member)
John is a certified ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide who has been inspiring Canada West Mountain School participants on his expeditions and course for many years.

John is always seeking out new areas to explore and has been responsible for many challenging first ascents in Squamish, the Waddington Range of BC's Coast Mountains and in Alaska. As well, John has climbed in the Yukon, Alaska, Himalayas and throughout the west coast of North America. John is exploring a new technical route on a Himalayan Peak in the Kuhmbu Region of the Nepalese Himalayas during the fall of 2006.

John leads our Expeditions to Cho Oyu, Mount Waddington, Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya and Mount Logan as well as teaching on many of our Mountaineering and Winter climbing courses. His calm manner, enthusiastic attitude and wealth of experience will make your time with CWMS a memorable one. He lives in Squamish, BC, where he spends most of his free time climbing, skiing and mountaineering.

Conny Amelunxen
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Conny has had numerous first ascents of big walls around the world, from Squamish to Baffin Island to Patagonia. He recently made the first ascent of Hoth! on the southeast buttress of the South Tower of Paine in Patagonia.

Conny lives in Squamish, BC and has been instructing our Rock, Alpine and Avalanche safety courses since 1998 when not guiding down in South America.

Conny will be leading our 2007 Aconcagua Expedition as well as developing our new climbing and trekking programs in Patagonia.

Keith Reid
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
In between traveling around the world in pursuit of alpine first ascents, Keith has been committed to instructing and guiding on the rock and in the alpine for CWMS since 1990.

Equally talented on rock, snow and ice, Keith has made such notable first ascents as the 5.13 testpiece Gom Jabbar in Cheakamus Canyon, as well as first alpine ascents in BC's Waddington ranges and the St. Elias range of Alaska.

Keith lives in Whistler and is the only IFMGA/ACMG certified Mountain Guide to also hold ACMG Rock Guide certification.

Klemen Mali
(IFMGA Mountain Guide)
Klemen started climbing at the age of seventeen near his hometown of Kamnik in Slovenia and hasn't stopped climbing since!

As a certified IFMGA Mountain guide, he has extensive climbing experience around the world, including Alaska, Canada, South America’s Andes, Patagonia, European Alps, and the Karakoram/Pakistan Himalayas, totaling more than 700 alpine ascents around the world. While alpine rock is his passion, with notable free-alpine ascents up to 5.13a, Klemen is equally at home teaching Ice Climbing, Mountaineering courses or cragging in Squamish! Klemen can usually be found sharing his wealth of knowledge and experiences while on our Mountaineering courses and on our Swiss Alps classics climbing programs.

Chris Lawrence
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Chris's understated manner belies his depth of experience as a truly professional instructor and guide in the mountain environment.

An ACMG/IFMGA certified Mountain Guide instructing CWMS courses since 1990, Chris has also worked and guided extensively around BC and Alberta, always ensuring that the people on his trips have an excellent time, whether it be on a one-day rock outing or two-week alpine expedition to Mt. Waddington.

Chris lives in Squamish, BC with his family where he is also a member of the Squamish Search & Rescue.

Lars Andrews
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Lars has grown up in the mountains of BC and is passionate about taking people of all abilities out and sharing the mountain experience. Guiding and teaching both come naturally to Lars as anyone who has spent time in the hills with him can attest. Whether you are skiing the steeps, learning to rock climb for the first time or on an expedition in the Rockies you'll have a great time with Lars.

Lars also spends his time Guiding and operating Whitecap Alpine Lodge, a private backcountry ski lodge based in the Coast Mountains out of Pemberton BC.

Rich Prohaska
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Rich has spent his life exploring the various mountain regions of the world, establishing many new alpine and rock routes from Antarctica to Greenland to Baffin Island.

Equally at home on big Alpine routes in the St. Elias or sending 5.12 rock routes at the local crags. Rich can be found on many of our Mountaineering programs, Guided ascents and Mount Logan trips. His relaxed approach and love of the mountains help ensure that any trip with Rich will be a great one

A passionate skier and mountaineer since he was a young child, Rich lives near Pemberton, BC in the heart of the Coast Mountains with his young family when not out guiding or seeking new routes around the globe.

Tim Pochay
(ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Tim is an Internationally Certified Mountain Guide who brings a wealth of climbing, guiding and teaching experience to our programs. Though Tim lives in Squamish, BC, he can be found guiding in the European Alps, South America, the Canadian Rockies or just about anywhere in the world.

With over 25 years of climbing experience including first ascents of some of the more challenging ice and rock climbs in the Rockies such as The Replicant and Dreams of Verdon, Tim will provide excellent company along with great leadership and instruction.

Paul McSorley
(ACMG Assistant Alpine Guide)
Paul McSorley, a Squamish-based ACMG Assistant Alpine Guide, started climbing at aged 16 and has worked as a Guide in Oman, France, Canada and the US over the years. In addition to climbing throughout Canada and the US, he has also lead numerous climbing expeditions to Argentina, Chile and Pakistan.

Paul has a true passion for climbing and for sharing his mountain experiences with others. His enthusiasm for the mountain environment goes well with his relaxed and professional manner, whether he is teaching a Rock course or Guiding on big Alpine climbing routes. Paul can be found Instructing and Guiding on all of our Rock, Ice and Alpine programs.

Dave Sarkany
(ACMG Ski Guide, CAA Professional Member)
An experienced Ski Guide, climber, mountaineer, backpacking guide and mountain photographer, Dave has been instructing CWMS courses since 1993.

Dave, an ACMG Ski Guide, brings a wealth of experience in BC's mountains to our program, having completed many multi-week expeditions throughout the Coast Mountains into unexplored wilderness. He has also worked extensively for Outward Bound, and brings a quiet yet extremely knowledgeable presence to our program.

A new father with one daughter, Dave lives in Whistler BC.

Bruce Wilson
(ACMG Backpacking Guide, CAA Professional Member)
Bruce has diplomas in both Outdoor Recreation Management and Outdoor Leadership from Capilano College in North Vancouver and is an ACMG certified Backpacking Guide. He has more than 20 years experience guiding trips and instructing in the outdoors from canoe trips in Northern Ontario to expeditions in Geneva, Switzerland.

A CWMS instructor since 1990, Bruce has also worked extensively running his own adventure based kayaking and leadership school, and currently lives in Squamish, BC.

Dana Lindahl
(ACMG Asst. Rock Guide, CAA Active member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
Dana has worked on all aspects of Canada West Mountain School programs since 1992, teaching Avalanche Safety courses, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering and Leadership programs. When not out teaching courses or leading a group in the mountains, Dana can be found spending his time climbing, skiing and pursuing mountain adventures of his own.

Currently, Dana is embarking on the adventures of parenthood in between guiding and teaching in the mountains.

Jen McGuiness
(CAA Active member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
Jen has a passion for exploring BC's mountains and sharing remote wilderness experiences with people of all skill levels. Jen has been guiding trips in BC for 6 years and has been teaching Canada West Mountain School's Avalanche Safety Courses since 2004.

Jen has a diploma in Outdoor Recreation; is a Canadian Avalanche Association AST -1 Instructor; a CSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor; a member of the Volunteer Ski Patrol on Whistler; and is certified as a Full Sea-Kayak Guide. Her sense of humour and confident demeanor will put you at ease on any course or adventure you join her for.

John Grant
(CAA Active member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
John has been working in leadership roles in the outdoors for over the past decade, operating outdoor adventure programs in rafting, canoeing, snowmobiling, backpacking and backcountry skiing.

In addition to teaching CWMS Avalanche Safety courses and Backpacking programs, John also runs a local College Outdoor Leadership program, teaching aspirant Guides and Tourism operators.

His cheerful and relaxed attitude and wealth of experience in the backcountry are matched by his knowledge and dedication to helping his students learn to the best of their ability.

Laurent Mingo
(ACMG Backpacking Guide, CAA Active Member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
It is on the outstanding trail system of the Alps and Pyrenees that Laurent's first backpacking trips took place. Later, throughout extensive spring ski traverses, and long summer backpacking trips in remote areas of the Coast Mountains and the Yukon, he gained experience, admiration, and passion for true wilderness.

In the mid 90's, Laurent was involved with avalanche research at UBC as part of a graduate program, and he has been teaching recreational avalanche courses for several years.

An ACMG Backpacking Guide and a CANSI Level I Telemark Instructor, he is keen to share his enthusiasm for the outdoors either while on a guided trip, or during an Avalanche Course.

Tim Stephens
(ACMG Asst Rock Guide, CAA Active Member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
After extensive traveling, Tim fell in love and was inspired by the beauty of the Canadian mountains and choose Canada for the place to pursue his dream of becoming a Certified IFMGA Mountain Guide. He moved to British Columbia in winter of 2003 and has been Guiding, Teaching and leading groups on Rock Climbing programs and Avalanche Safety courses since then.

Tim has rock climbed in some of the most spectacular places in the U.S.A., Mexico, and Canada. Currently living in beautiful Squamish BC, Tim is constantly working towards the next step of becoming a Mountain Guide. Tim’s passion and thirst for knowledge, combined with the love and respect for the outdoors helps inspire those who are on his trips and programs.

Victoria Challies
(CAA Active member, Avalanche Skills Instructor)
Victoria has been leading groups in the mountains for the past 7 years both in the winter and in summer environments. She brings a great level of enthusiasm and positive energy to our Avalanche Skills Training courses, as well as a very professional and thorough approach to her instructing role. Her passion for wilderness values and environmental ethics helps to round out any course she is instructing as well!

Currently pursuing her Masters degree in Art Therapy, Victoria will still manage to get out teaching on AST courses and other Winter programs during the 2007-2008 season.

Dr. Stephen Wheeler
Medical Consultant to Canada West Mountain School
Steve Wheeler is a physician specializing in Emergency Medical Care, based in Victoria, BC. Steve works with our Guiding and Instructional team in many ways, both reviewing our safety standards in regards to Medical issues as well as providing direct consultation via Satellite Phone to leaders on all of our programs should the need arise.

Currently the Medical Director for the BC Air Ambulance Service, Steve also has a passion for adventures in the mountains. A veteran of many international expeditions such as Aconcagua, Mt Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, as well as local mountaineering classics like Mt Waddington in BC's Coast Mountains, Steve has a proven record both in the emergency room and while on Expeditions.

Linda Knight
Canada West Mountain School Office Manager
Every organization needs someone to keep all the pieces together, and Linda does an exceptional job of keeping our Guides in line as well as ensuring everyone on our programs is looked after from the moment they first contact our office!

A graduate of the Canadian Tourism College Adventure Tourism program, Linda has a passion for adventure and has explored many wilderness regions around the world, including Nepal, Bhutan, Morocco and many wilderness areas throughout North America.

Linda lives in North Vancouver, BC with her family and can also be found running the local North Shore trails when she's not busy dealing with keeping CWMS running smoothly.