Archives: Instructors

Hi, my name is Randy Hartwig. I started skiing as a kid in the east and always loved being outside in the winter. Even then, I was fascinated by the different types of snow that I encountered. I moved to Utah to attend the University of Utah, and ultimately got a degree in Business and … Read more

Born and raised in the Tetons, Morgan is no stranger to the mountains. Her first love with snow began on the magic carpet at age two, but has grown to include many facets and varieties. Morgan is an ex-ski racer turned freeride competition skier turned mountaineering and backcountry skier and now full-time mountain guide. Her … Read more

Raquel “Rocky” Spencer Schifani hails originally from the state of Texas, but don’t hold that against her. She moved to Colorado in the fall of 2008, and it only took one winter to convince her to stay permanently. Once she moved to the mountains, and joined the Vail Ski Patrol her love of snow science … Read more

Jamie has blazed the trail as a splitboard guide. Many of his achievements can be considered a first in the industry. He began working as a snowboard guide for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in 1999 and has been guiding heli skiing in Alaska since 2001. He also has spent 15 years teaching Avalanche education … Read more

Thomas grew up playing around the mountains of Colorado. His love of conservation and the outdoors pushed him to earn a BA in Outdoor Recreation and Education from Western Colorado University. He promptly moved to the Tetons to begin a guiding career with Exum Mountain Guides. His passion for avalanche education and spending time in … Read more

Mike has worked as an avalanche forecaster at Alaska Electric Light & Power for 12 years in addition to instructing avalanche courses. He is a certified avalanche dog handler with SEADOGS in Juneau, Alaska.

Born and raised in Northern California, Sam began exploring the Sierra and developed a love for the mountains at a young age. Since 2018, Sam has worked as an avalanche course instructor and ski guide with Alpenglow Expeditions in Lake Tahoe, and is excited to bring his passion for the mountains and snow to AAI. … Read more

Chrissie Oken is originally from North Carolina. After college on the east coast, she moved to Colorado and started working in outdoor education in 2010. Weaving together winters in Colorado and the Tetons with summers in Alaska, Chrissie has worked as an EMT, a ski patroller at Vail, and for NOLS (the National Outdoor Leadership … Read more

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee; mountains and rivers called Will to the West. He has been following a path blending education and recreation for the last 10 years. Guiding on whitewater rivers in the summer and in snowy ranges in the winter. Teaching in the classroom or field, he empowers others with skills to … Read more

Mike Soucy’s career in the mountains spans for over two decades and includes guiding, ski patrolling, avalanche education, and most recently, Provider Program Manager for AAI. Additionally, he stays busy working as an IFMGA Mountain Guide and member of the AMGA National Instructor Team. In his leisure time, he’s lucky enough to enjoy the same … Read more

Katie has worked in the outdoor industry since 2013 as an instructor for NOLS and an ACMG rock climbing guide. She loves to ski, climb, and run in the mountains near her home in Lander, Wyoming. She has been an avalanche educator since 2014 and loves sharing her passion for backcountry skiing with others.

Jen Reddy is a Jackson-based illustrator, avalanche educator, and member of Teton County Search and Rescue. In the late 1990s, Jen traded her 210’s and downhill suit for a pair of fat skis and a down jacket and never looked back. Her (mis)adventures on snow, rock, and dirt have shaped her teaching and art, which … Read more

Hannah found backcountry skiing as a teenager in New Hampshire. Once she mastered skiing ice and river beds she began to chase snowy landscapes across the west, and hasn’t looked back. Hannah has a strong background in education, and is excited to contribute her teaching experience and love of skiing to AAI.  When she’s not … Read more

A paddler, skier, climber, mountain biker, paraglider and all things motorsports, Levi works as the coordinator for the outdoor program at Southern Utah University. Prior to working in higher education, he spent various seasons river guiding and ski patrolling. When he is not working, he enjoys learning new outdoor activities and continuing to pursue time … Read more

Erme Catino is a skier and freelance writer based in Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT. He has a M.S. in Environmental Studies and has worked in various roles within the ski industry –  including running PR for brands, contributing to various ski publications, and was a correspondent for Powder Magazine for eight years. He’s typically walking … Read more