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| Unparalleled
guiding, snow safety, and skiing and snowboarding
skills may be the basic credentials of our team
of guides, but their qualifications continue from
there. Three were born and raised in the Sun Valley
area and its surrounding mountains, while the others
bring alpine backgrounds from ranges around the
U.S. and the world. If life as a heli-ski guide
seems thrilling, just ask any one of this group
how they spend their time when not searching for
safe and fabulous powder lines. In brief, there’s
rarely a dull moment with this crew. |
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 A
long way from his ski career beginnings at Buck
Hill, Minnesota, Mark celebrates his twentieth year
as owner of SVHS during the 2003/2004 season. This
former ski racer and coach continues to guide and
oversee daily operations while developing facilities
at the newly constructed Smoky Mountain Lodge. Rarely
a winter day passes that Mark stays off his skis;
when not in the helicopter he’s frequently
spotted on Baldy’s trails. Mark is married
with two daughters and also shares his home with
intrepid avalanche dog, Otto.
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 If
you’re lucky enough to spend a day skiing
with Pete Patterson, you’ll be hard-pressed
to decide which stories you’ll want to hear
from him. Will it be tales of growing up at the
base of Baldy, the 1976 Innsbruck and 1980 Lake
Placid Olympic downhills, his bronze medal at the
1978 World Championships, or his regular adventures
to Nepal, South America, and Greenland? He is joined
in heli-skiing and world travel by wife and fellow
SVHS guide, Kim Jacobs. Together they own Mountain
Spirits (www.mountainspirits.com)
an adventure travel guiding service. Adding to his
impressive resume is the fact that Pete celebrates
20 years of guiding with SVHS this season.
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 This
Ketchum native began guiding with SVHS in 1999.
After graduating from the local Community School,
Erik traveled east to Dartmouth College, but was
eventually drawn back to his home turf. He got his
start guiding with Stanley-based Sawtooth Mountain
Guides in 1993 and is now co-owner of the company.
However, he maintains an operating agreement with
SMG partner Kirk Bachman that guarantees yearly
heli-guiding because a winter with the SVHS community
is too great to pass up. Erik has guided extensively
throughout Idaho in a variety of outdoor sports
including skiing, climbing, and whitewater rafting
and is at home carrying a climbing rope, a kayak
paddle, or ski poles. At SVHS, he specializes in
PHOPPP—Putting Heavy Objects in Pete Patterson's
Pack—one of the first skills taught to heli-guide
interns. |
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 While
never one to take himself or others too seriously,
Bozo does approach all guiding and alpine pursuits
earnestly—this dedication is proven by his
20 years of guiding for SVHS. A native of New Hampshire,
he’s claimed ski descents on New England peaks
as well as many throughout Europe, Canada, the western
U.S., and even Mexico while finding the time to
become an EMT and an accomplished kayaker. These
days Bozo gets to share the mountains and rivers
with his son Ben, an enthusiastic snowboarder and
boater. Watch out Dad! |
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 Mark Baumgardner and his dog, Otto attended the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Seminar in Alta and Snowbird, Utah January 24-27, 2005. This was the second time the team has attended this excellent school for Avalanche SAR. There were a total of 28 teams from Colorado, New Mexico,, California, Washington. Also present from the Sun Valley area were Troy Quesnel and Kintla, SVSP, and Blaine County SAR members Cam Dagget and Chaly, Johnny Unser and Taz, and Chuck Rumph and Chili. After getting a chance to work on tremendous piles of old avalanche debris, finding buried volunteers, clothing articles and even a car, the Sun Valley Dog teams became finely tuned and are ready to respond the next time avalanche danger threatens the valley. Feedback was provided by skilled instructors and WBR dog teams that had recently worked the Dutch Draw avalanche of mid January2005. Instructors from the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Assn (CARDA) were present as well. It is hoped that the coordination of the search dog program will lead to closer cooperation between the Sun Valley Company, Sun Valley Heli-Ski and Blaine Country Sherrifs Department. |
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 Fun-loving
and personable, Pat started his guiding career as
a fishing guide in the remote bush country of his
native Alaska. He first came to Sun Valley as a
cross-country ski racer with the Sun Valley Ski
Education Foundation. Pat finally realized that
skis were meant for going down hills. He moved to
California where he spent his time alpine touring,
got an EMT, studied snow safety, and trained avalanche
dogs. After 8 years, he found his way back to Sun
Valley to work as an avalanche forecaster and joined
the Sun Valley Heli*Ski team. He now lives in Hailey
with his wife, two young children, and three dogs.
In his spare time, you might see him kayaking, fly
fishing, or guiding on the Middle Fork of the Salmon
River with Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters. |
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Bio
to come ..... |
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At Sun Valley Heli Guides we comply with all the
requirements for guides as recommended by Heli Ski
US. This organization was instituted to ensure and
protect the future of Helicopter Skiing in the United
States. |
www.heli-ski.org
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