Archives: Instructors

Jake Hutchinson is entering his third decade working as a snow professional – from ski patrolling and avalanche forecasting in the Wasatch Mountains to operational forecasting for the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park and extensive work with WBR, C-RAD and other US SAR, Military and K9 organizations. Jake has been an AAI course leader … Read more

Drew’s been forecasting avalanches and mountain weather for the Utah Avalanche Center since 1999. After receiving a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado in Boulder, he took a commission with the US Navy as an Intelligence officer during the first Desert Storm.  Subsequent to working abroad, he spent a number of years working and guiding … Read more

Christian Santelices believes that experiencing nature first-hand has the power to transform people’s lives. As a fully certified IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide his twenty plus year career has been dedicated to helping facilitate this process. During the summer months you’ll find him working in the Tetons as Co-Chief guide for Exum Mountain Guides. The rest of … Read more

Cameron Banko has been guiding helicopter and snowcat skiing throughout Alaska and the lower 48 since 2010. He has taught avalanche courses for AAI since 2012. In the off-season he lives and practices law in Park City, Utah, where he skis and rides bikes as much as possible. Cameron completed his formal avalanche education through … Read more

Bill Anderson is a happy, in the moment guy who, with his girlfriend Jill and her dog Loki, splits time living between Wilson WY and a yurt in the Kelly Yurt Park. Bill has been a climber and skier since he was a teenager and still brings the same amount of psyche to the mountains as he did … Read more

Allen O’Bannon has been working in the cold for over 25 years and has been teaching about avalanches almost as long. A NOLS winter instructor since 1988, Allen has honed his educational skills and has taught at all levels (avalanche awareness courses through level 3). He has worked as a guide and avalanche educator for … Read more

Aaron Dahill is a year-round mountain guide based out of Jackson Hole, WY. He teaches avalanche education courses for The American Avalanche Institute, guides backcountry skiing and rock climbing for Exum Mountain Guides, heli-ski guides for Points North and ski patrols at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. When he’s not busy guiding, you can find him skiing or climbing … Read more

Former Owner & Instructor Don Sharaf has spent 30 years backcountry skiing and riding all over the US and Canada and is a former owners of AAI. He has taught avalanche and mountaineering courses for the last 25 years and been a heli-ski guide and avalanche forecaster in Alaska for the past 15 years. In … Read more

Skiing and backcountry avalanche forecasting are a passion for Don. He is a lead instructor and is a former owner of the American Avalanche Institute in Jackson, WY.  His winters are busy teaching avalanche courses for AAI, ski guiding, and skiing. He loves skiing in his local mountains with numerous ski descents and tours in … Read more