Colby Brokvist

Colby began his career at SYMG as a backpacking and mountaineering guide and continues to lead select trips each season. He found his niche specializing as expedition leader for our longer backpacking departures such the John Muir Trail, Yosemite High Passes Loop, Yosemite Grand Traverse and Trans-Sierra Trail. After several years he assumed the role of senior backcountry guide where he aided in the development of new itineraries and course development, including SYMG's guide training course, a program which he continues to lead.

The ability to strike a balance between the adventurous and relaxing aspects of mountain travel continues to earn Colby praise as both a trip leader and planner. He is equally at home on technical peak ascents as he is lazing in wildflower-strewn mountain meadows. In addition to his many mountaineering accreditations, Colby is a dedicated naturalist and finds his passion for guiding in providing interpretive and educational experiences for all of his clients. He holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and has been known to burst into explanations of alpine plant physiology in the middle of 14,000' peak ascents! Describing his love of the guiding lifestyle, Colby once wrote "It is both the serenity and excitement of the wilderness that compels me to it and I only hope to enjoy it with good friends."

Csuri Odry (Chude)

Csuri (pronounced "Chudy"), but we all call her Chude, was born to Hungarian parents who settled in the Yosemite area in the 1980's. She has been a local for over 20 years and it shows! Chude is one of the most versatile guides we have on the staff.

Chude can guide naturalist day hikes in Yosemite one day, rock climbing in the high country the next and prepare and leave for a 23-day John Muir Trail the following. Her backcountry ethics and wilderness first aid skills are legendary making her reputation as a mountain-woman the real deal. But don't let that fool you, her sense of humor, pleasant demeanor in the backcountry, and ability to relate to all walks of life make her one the most respected guides in the area. When not guiding in the summers, Chude works as ski patrolwoman in the winter, spends time with her daughter, and manages to travel each year to such places like Thailand and Costa Rica. This winter she plans to get to Annapurna, Nepal to research a new trekking trip that many of her past clients what her to lead them to.

Patrick Warren

I first came to the Sierra in 1999 to pursue my dream of becoming a Wilderness-EMT and work for YOSAR (Yosemite Search and Rescue). I spent that season working on my medical and mountain skills and was able to capture my dream and spend the next seven seasons working for YOSAR and climbing the best granite on earth in Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra. During that time I was fortunate enough to complete many great ascents ranging from steep alpine ice on Mt. Mendal to alpine rock endeavors such as the Dark Star on Temple Crag. I've also accomplished Big Wall ascents of El Cap, Washingtons Column, Leaning Tower, Half Dome and the Falls Wall to name a few.

My love for the Sierra doesn't start or stop with my 17-year climbing obsession, but continues and feeds my love of backcountry trout fishing and backpacking. I have found with a little extra effort you can find yourself on a secluded California stream, river or alpine lake soaking up the sun, chasing wild trout and living the best life possible. The Sierra has been a life-changing experience for me and I hope to share a little of this experience with you on an SYMG trip very soon.

Tim Bluhm

I was born in Los Angeles, 1970. My parents were, and still are, avid outdoorspeople and from before I can remember I was cruising the mountains of California. The Sierra Nevada, in particular, is a place of inspiration for me. I learned to ski and climb here, and have passed many sun-drenched days in the high country with my family and friends. It is a place I associate with health, freedom and adventure. The passing of the sun, the stars and the moon, and the sound of ones' own footsteps take over, slowing the internal clock to a normal rate, a slower speed that is all but forgotten in the race of modern life. It is a privilege to share this experience with others who seek it.

You can read more about Tim's adventurous lifestyle as a mountain guide and accomplished musician in December's OUTSIDE MAGAZINE feature article entitled "The 25 Coolest People Now", where he was chosen along side athletes and icons such as Lance Armstrong, Laird Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Phelps and Kerri Walsh. For Tim Bluhm music, go to the Mother Hips web site. Tim will also be leading a unique High Sierra Singer-Songwriter Workshop trip again this summer.

Greg Aiello

"Greg Aiello is one fantastic guide" said one our clients this summer and that about says it all! Greg is a Yosemite area native and local and the love for his backyard, the Sierra, shows in every moment spent with him in the mountains. Greg works as an adventure videographer in the industry between guiding and is often on location all over the world. He is currently working on our DVD brochure with all the footage he takes each trip. If you think Greg looks familiar, that's because you may have seen him on TV as the star host for the ABC's National LiveWell Network Adventure show called Motion.

Last summer Greg led our longer backpack and horsepack trips through the Yosemite areas as well as the John Muir Trail in Sequoia National Park. Greg's high energy, passion for the mountains, and sense of adventure make him an outstanding guide.

Jeff Zotz

Jeff puts his BA in Environmental Studies from UCSD into action on a daily basis. Since graduating in 1999 he has worked as a staff biologist and ski instructor for Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, has led 18-26 day expedtions for Longacre and has been a program director for Naturalists at Large. When not guiding in the Summers, Jeff teaches Middle School science and runs the outdoor programs for the school taking the kids into the wilderness and to the oceans for educational adventures. He has found a home here at SYMG where his work ethic, enthusiasm, sense of humor and knoweldge of the outdoors make him a perfect fit for our staff.

Laura Steinbach

My first visit to the Sierra Nevada was back in 2002 on a three month backpacking trip along the Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails. Since that very trip, I have been infected with all that these mountains have to offer and, following that hike it took me only one year to find my way back to California on a more permanent basis.

I'll be the first to acknowledge that it was the backpacking, climbing and horseback riding that drew me here, but what I find most intriguing is difficult to describe and certainly isn't apparent in photographs. It's the sound of the spring meltwater, the feel of the warm Sierran granite, and the haze that settles over the mountains just as dusk falls. These are the things that can only be realized by being here in the midst of it all. Throughout all of my travels, I've never found a better playground... er office.

David Merin

David developed his passion for nature at a young age while growing up in the desert southwest. His parents encouraged him to enjoy the outdoors by teaching him to ski and hike since the time he could walk. He moved to Portland Oregon and attended Lewis and Clark College where he earned a B.S. in Biology. While working in The Link Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder (helping to make brake-throughs in understanding Alzheimer's disease at the molecular level) he often got away to rock climb in the nearby famous canyons of Colorado, a passion that has now led him to a full time career in guiding.

David has been climbing now for over 10 years and is an AMGA certified rock guide and EMT. David has a genuine and pure love for climbing, the outdoors and looks forward to sharing his passion with you. His favorite places to climb are El Dorado Canyon and Yosemite. His personable style and positive energy will surely enhance any great day out of the rocks or on the trails.

Rob Segula

Rob hails from Columbiaville, Michigan where he grew up studying fly fishing and perfecting casts with his two brothers. He was introduced to the sport by his father who caught a 22" Brown while Rob slept atop his shoulders. His favorite waters are The Pere Marquette River, The Ausable, The Escanaba River, and The Carp River, and the Little Red River in Arkansas (home of the world record Brown Trout he likes to point out).

In addition to fly fishing his passions include acting, teaching, and more recently rock climbing. Rob is a veteran of the Marine Corps, and was the Founding president of a fraternity at Northern Michigan U. But what he truly lives for is the subtle rise of majestic native trout or the slow swing of a big trout out of a deep pool to a rising Nymph. I have to caution you before booking a trip with him his passion for the sport is extremely contagious. Every fishing experience to him is of a spiritual nature. He is very conservationally oriented and he practices very strict catch and release to the point that he does not eat any fish. His favorite saying when asked about this is "Fish are Friends not food."

Jerry Anderson

I moved to Yosemite in 1965 as a rock climber and was fortunate to be in the famed Camp 4 for the "golden years" of Yosemite climbing. In the early 1970's I began to guide for the original Yosemite Mountaineering School under the direction of Wayne Merry, a member of the team that made the first ascent of El Capitan. Over the years I have guided climbing, fly fishing, day hiking and backpack trips and, as of 2008, have 37 years of guiding experience.

I have also been teaching skiing and back country ski patrolling since 1986, starting at Badger Pass in Yosemite and currently at Northstar at Tahoe. I am a PSIA Level III certified instructor and also train new ski instructors. I have been married since 1975 and my wife, Sigrid and I have a grown son and daughter. I love the experience of guiding and I can't imagine anything more rewarding than the opportunity to meet people of all kinds and share the Sierra with them.

Roddy McCalley

All of my family's vacations were spent backpacking in the Sierra. My first trips were in a baby-carrier. My earliest memories are of scrambling on granite and catching frogs by clear cold lakes. I left California for Yale, took a degree in Ecology, and came right back. For most of the last 9 years I've taught ecology, backpacking and rock climbing for outdoor education companies in Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, the redwoods and other beautiful areas of California. My interests include reading, rock climbing, and travel. I spent a year in Thailand, where I learned that classroom teaching is hard work. My latest adventure was a trip to South America... now I hope to spend every summer in the Sierra and every winter in Patagonia!

Andrew Skurka

Andrew Skurka, a graduate of Duke University is an accomplished 28-year-old professional backpacker who is most well known for his two monumental long-distance hiking firsts -- the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. He was named the 2007 "Adventurer of the Year" by National Geographic Adventure (which described him as "a Gen Y version of Henry David Thoreau or John Muir") and the 2005 "Person of the Year" by Backpacker. In November 2007 Skurka completed the Great Western Loop, a superb 6,875-mile journey that links together 5 long-distance hiking trails, 12 National Parks, and over 75 wilderness areas, which he blazed in 208 days. And in July 2005 he completed the Sea-to-Sea Route, a transcontinental network of long-distance hiking trails from Quebec to Washington, which took him 11 months and which involved 1,400 miles of snowshoeing. Skurka's shorter hikes include the 1,700-mile California section of the Pacific Crest Trail (in 44 days), the 480-mile Colorado Trail (twice), the 2,170-mile Appalachian Trail (in 95 days), a 385-mile trek through northern Minnesota in January, and many week- and weekend-long trips in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming.

In addition to the distinctions from Adventure and Backpacker, Skurka was featured in Outside's 2007 "Outside 100" list and in Men's Journal's "2005 Adventure Hall of Fame." He has appeared in numerous newspapers and television broadcasts, including The Wall Street Journal and the Fox News Channel. Andrew will be designing and leading some special long distance trips for SYMG in 2010.

Drew Brodhead

As long as I can remember, the outdoors have been a special place for me. Growing up in Northern Michigan, I was never far from water, snow, trees and trails. I spent the majority of my youth outside exploring the great state of Michigan. I have been fortunate to travel to 7 different countries and many states in my pursuit of outdoor knowledge and experience. I currently attend Northern Michigan University, working on my degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management. While not in school you will find me climbing, canoeing, or searching for the elusive morel mushroom.

Heidi Vetter

For as long as she can remember, photography has been a pivotal force in the life of California large-format photographer, Heidi Vetter, leading her into marriage, children and owning her own business. For Heidi, photography is a bridge between insanity and balance, a reflection of her self, defining who she is and what she wants to say. In 2002, this drive to photograph, to take chances and to seek meaning in her life resulted in a three month solo journey through the Sierra Nevada High Country. The body of work that grew from this journey is emotive and inspirational, and a testament to one women's confrontation with nature and her existence. Now her vision has taken on a new voice, a stronger one, ominous and daring as she hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and to find their own sense of stillness in nature.

For our new WILDERNESS PHOTOGRAPHY and WOMEN'S ADVENTURES with Heidi click here.

To learn more about Heidi, and see more of her images, go to heidivetter.com

Roberto "Oso" Flores Rodriguez

Oso's (The bear) climbing and guiding career began in 1984 on Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba. He now has over 20 years of professional experience in guiding and instructing. On El Pico de Orizaba he has reached summit 166 times with clients during the last 10 seasons, including many times with SYMG. Oso is the chief guide on our Aconcagua expeditions in Argentina as well as Mexico and Peru.

Oso also climbs and guides in the mountains throughout the Alps and South America with Peru being his favorite: Vallunaraju, Pisco, Huascaran (North and South), Chopicalqui, Copa, Ishinca, Urus, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo to name a few.

He has climbed Huayna Potosi, Ancohuma, Illimani in Bolivia, Plomo, Tupungato in Chile, and Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa (Dofourspitze) in the Alps. Oso also serves as a mountain rescue instructor for the Socorro Alpino de M'exico (Mexican Mountain Rescue) and for Protecci'on Civil (Government Emergency Agency) of Puebla and Veracruz. When he is not guiding, Oso works as staff member at Extreme Sport Competitions in different regions of Mexico. He loves to introduce people to the mountains and to share incredible experiences with them. His wonderful smile and infectious laugh are known all through the climbing world.

Jenny Kane

I find space to be myself in the outdoors, and this place is my inspiration. As a child, my dad used to pack up the family for a week and head to Yosemite every summer. We drove our minivan from Los Angeles into the lower pines campground and parked. This was the great outdoors to me.

Later, after high school I started working in the Park during my summer breaks - first with the concession service, then with the National Park Service. I interned with the wilderness department for two summers (once as an SCA volunteer) and during that time hiked about half of Yosemite's backcountry trails, about 400 miles. It was during this time that I discovered a deeper appreciation and love for wild lands and found my artistic inspiration.

I am a teacher by training and have worked as a guide for the Boojum Institute and Naturlalists At Large. But, I'm a learner at heart, thus my interests and talents are diverse. I love languages, culture, art and poetry as much as the mountains and can find inspiration in all of them, especially in combination.

During my time in Peace Corps Thailand, I was given an opportunity to teach yoga for the first time, and this winter during the guiding slow season I will start teaching in California as a certified instructor.

I enjoy the stillness in the mountains and look forward to sharing my love for Yosemite and the world with each of you this summer.

Ashley Burton

I consider the Sierra Nevada mountains my home. If I'm not off exploring the mountains, I'm busy planning my next trip. Growing up in Folsom, California, I was introduced to the outdoors at an early age. My family taught me the importance of the outdoors and encouraged me to explore it. I grew up hiking, backpacking and snowboarding. My passion for backpacking quickly developed during my college years at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Here I earned a civil engineering and environmental science degree and used my free time to escape the city life to find peace and solitude in the mountains, particularly Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks and Inyo National Forest. The Sierra Nevada has inspired me to travel the world in search of new mountain regions to explore.

Apart from guiding, you can find me running, swimming, reading, and sharing a beer with friends. I am fortunate for the opportunity to meet new people and share with them an unforgettable mountain experience.

Alex Steiner

Alex Steiner, born and raised in Wisconsin, grew up paddling and hiking everywhere he could. After graduating from Northland College with a BS in Environmental Studies, he took off on adventures abroad, mostly in New Zealand where he perfected his wilderness craft. Alex has found a home here in California and although backpacking is his first passion, he also climbs, surfs, paddles, and runs any chance he gets. When Alex is not guiding for SYMG, he takes students out into the mountains to teach them the basics of wilderness travel and ecology.

Phoebe Bryson-Cahn

Phoebe Bryson-Cahn has been leading wilderness trips since her college days at UCLA Outdoor Adventures. She has traveled and worked in a multitude of conditions, from snorkeling in Zanzibar to organic farming in New Zealand; from rock climbing in the desert to backpacking in the high Sierra. With a degree in Geography and Environmental studies from UCLA and a passion for environmental education, Phoebe brings a great level of knowledge and care of nature to her trips. An SYMG client summed it up best in saying, "Our backcountry experience, led so skillfully by Phoebe, was quite a transformational experience...I was so impressed with her mature leadership, gracious hospitality, good-humor, patience, knowledge of flora & fauna and her excellent cooking and care of her little flock." Her enthusiasm, empathy and leadership skills, paired with her love of the outdoors make her an outstanding mountain guide and a pleasure to spend time with in the backcountry.

Ryan Barnett

Growing up in New Jersey, Ryan spent many weekends exploring the mountains of the Northeast. He later attended college in Boulder, Colorado, where he earned a degree in archaeology. Of course, Colorado also provided easy access to backpack, ski and climb in the Rocky Mountains, the Utah desert and the Eastern Sierra. More recently, Ryan has been spending his winters in New Zealand where he has explored the country's beautiful mountains, glaciers and coastlines.

Ryan will tell you that it is the high peaks and variable terrain of the Sierra Nevada that draws him in. Each basin and peak offers it's own unique experience and guiding allows him to work in the mountains he loves every single day. Ryan's other interests include archaeology, rock climbing and sailing.