My name is Jyamchang Bhote (nickname: JB Sherpa). I am from the northeastern border region of Nepal. I have been working in trekking and mountaineering since 1999, participating in many expeditions across the Himalayas as a climbing Sherpa. In 2009, I became a certified IFMGA Mountain Guide from Nepal (without ski certification). Since then, I have been actively working as a mountain guide around the world. One of my favorite places is Antarctica. It is a truly special place on Earth. The company and people I have worked with there have been amazing, making every experience unforgettable.

Highlights of my experience:
- IFMGA Mountain Guide from Nepal
- Summited Mount Everest 8 times
- Climbed Mount Vinson, Antarctica
- Climbed Mount Denali, Alaska
- Extensive glacier and peak climbing experience in New Zealand and Norway
- Led and participated in many expeditions around the world

For the last 6 to 7 years, I have been working primarily in the Himalayas as a private guide, leading numerous trekking and climbing expeditions, including guiding clients on Mount Everest.

Pedro has been working in the mountains since 2008. Born in Chile, Pedro grew up climbing in the Andes to later on his career move into Alaska, Himalayas and the Alps. His passion for exploring new unknown places brings him back every year to Patagonia where he spends part of the season climbing on the Aysen región.

Libby is a wildlife guide in Alaska and Antarctica. She works with the Coastal Alaskan Brown Bear and the Emperor Penguin and she is passionate about sharing her love of these animals with other wildlife enthusiasts. When she's not with the penguins or the grizzlies, Libby can be found skiing, packrafting, paragliding, reading or writing. She writes an outdoors column for the Homer Independent Press and is working on her first novel.

Viviana was born and grew up in Punta Arenas, Patagonia. Her love for the mountains motivated her to turn her adventures into a career to help others experience the outdoors. She has worked as a guide for more than 20 years, leading expeditions. She also works as a NOLS instructor in the different places in the world: Patagonia(Chile), Alaska, RM, Pacific Northwest( USA), Baja (Mexico) ,Himalaya (India), British Columbia, and Yukon (Canada). Viviana has done multiple expeditions around the world, including the organization in the Female Expedition in Himalayas range, Mt Dhaulagiri 8.127 m, several expeditions in South and north Icefield with first ascents in Patagonia and Central Andes Range.

Curtis has been guiding for many years, Alaska to South America, rivers and mountains as well as running safety for film crews and industrial guiding. His dreams are of beaches and warm water, but he can't quite find his way out of the mountains.

Jon Gupta is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and high altitude expedition leader. With over 20 years of experience climbing and guiding across the world’s great mountain ranges, Jon has built a career around exploring wild places and helping others achieve ambitious objectives in the mountains.

From the Alps and the Himalaya to Antarctica and the Karakoram, Jon has led more than 140 expeditions, guiding technical alpine climbs, ski adventures, and some of the world’s highest peaks. His experience includes numerous 8000m expeditions, successful ascents of several of the world’s highest mountains, and pioneering projects such as the Lhotse Wingsuit Project.

Based between the UK and Chamonix, Jon combines a passion for exploration with a strong focus on safety, decision making, and personal development. He believes the greatest experiences come not only from reaching summits, but from the journey, the people, and the shared moments along the way.

An athlete, mentor, and storyteller, Jon works with individuals and teams to develop skills, confidence, and resilience in challenging environments, inspiring others to explore, learn, and experience the mountains at their best.

Pachi has been guiding for more than 15 years and started working in Antarctica for the Omega Foundation, helping to survey peaks in the Sentinel Range. She has over 10 first ascents in the Ellsworth Mountains, more than any other person, and is arguably one of the most experienced Antarctic mountaineers. She loves to take guests on our Climb and Ski Antarctic Experiences so they can explore new areas together.

Tom has been guiding full time in the mountains since 2012, leading high altitude expeditions and teaching rock and winter climbing. Based in Snowdonia, Wales, he is a passionate climber and mountaineer. Tom is also a full cert ski instructor, spending many winters in the European Alps. He has completed two summer and one winter season in Antarctica, working for the British Antarctic Survey.

Originally from California, Emma has been a mountain guide since 2015 primarily working in the Alaska Range, the North Cascades and various international destinations. In her free time Emma loves climbing, practicing yoga and traveling around the world.

Darren completed a PhD in geology and physics before deciding to pursue a career in mountaineering and snowsports. He has been guiding and instructing for over 30 years - starting in 1995 in the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Over the years Darren developed many international expeditions to South America, New Zealand and Nepal. He now lives in La Grave, French Alps where he runs French Alps Treks.

Darren started working for ALE in 2008 as a field guide. With 13+ seasons on the Ice he has a wealth of Antarctic knowledge and continues to follow his interest is science - in particular having coordinated a geology focused trip for ALE in Jan 2025.

Hannah McKeand is a Guinness World Record holding polar guide and expeditioner. She is a respected expedition and polar operations consultant; a public speaker; an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Polar Expedition Training LLC. In 2006 Hannah set a world speed record for skiing solo and unsupported to the South Pole. She has completed a total of six coast to South Pole and over 6000 miles of Antarctic sled-hauling; more than anyone else in the world today. Most recently, she has been working for the United States Antarctic Program managing the Scott Amundsen Base at the South Pole. 2023 will be her 19th Summer season on Antarctica, 15 of which have been as a guide and a remote camp manager for ALE.

Yoshiko grew up in Kyoto and developed a deep appreciation for wild places and exposure to different cultures. Have been primarily guiding on Denali in Alaska and ski guiding (back country, cat skiing, heli skiing) in Japan for over a decade as well as in Antarctica, N Casacde mountains, and the Alps. In her free time, she has enjoyed volunteering for local environmental non-profits e.g. training a wild Mustang to become a therapy horse for the Center for Adaptive Riding (Reno NV), tree planting, and collecting viable seed samples for Sugar Pine Foundation (Lake Tahoe, CA). Downtime is spent walking, running and mountain biking with Mika the Hungarian Visla for hours every day if not cuddling.

Nate has worked as a field guide for ALE since 2014. During that time he has led trips to many Antarctic mountains including Mt Sidley, Tyree, South pole, and many summits of Mt Vinson. His favorite Antarctic climbing however is some of the "lesser" and steeper, but easily and rarely accessed mountains near Union Glacier.

I first came to Antarctica over 20 years ago and met Skiers that had traversed into the South Pole where I worked as a carpenter building the new station. The skiers explained they had been facilitated by a fledgling company that was a predecessor to ALE. I knew then I wanted to do something like that with my life. I soon applied myself to mountain guiding as a career. Over the next several years I accumulated over 50 expeditions in my home state of Alaska including many summits of Denali and then branching out to the Alps, Andes, and the Himalaya including ascents of Everest and Kanchenjunga. I was very honored and excited that my hard work paid off when I was invited to join the elite team from around the world at Antarctic Logistics in 2016.

Stuart has had a lifelong passion and love for the mountains and outdoors. Stuart has been guiding for over two decades and this has taken him across the globe. People who have been on trips with him have remarked on his calmness under pressure, strong leadership skills, wry Scottish humor and his genuine enthusiasm for seeing his clients realize their goals. When not climbing he enjoys gardening and spending time with his wife, Amy, and sons Kai and Ewan at their home on Cougar Mountain east of Seattle.

Patrick has worked as an outdoor professional and guide since 2015. His work has taken him across Alaska, California, Colorado, and internationally. He has also worked as part of search and rescue teams in both Yosemite and Denali national parks. In his free time, he enjoys thawing out on long bike rides somewhere warm and sunny, and currently calls Colorado home.

Mingma Tenzi Sherpa is an experienced Nepali mountain guide who began his guiding career in 2005. He has successfully guided all 14 of the world’s highest peaks and was a lead rope fixer on the historic first winter ascent of K2. Known for his skill, leadership, and dedication, he is one of Nepal’s most respected mountaineers.

Rob has been adventuring and guiding around the world for 25 years. He has worked in Antarctica since 2000, supporting national science programmes and guiding expeditions. He has skied to the South Pole twice from the edge of the continent on opposite sides of Antarctica, and climbed Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest mountain, over 20 times.

He has climbed Mount Everest 10 times from the Tibetan and Nepalese sides, in addition to climbing K2 8611m 2 times, Lhotse 8516m 2 times, Cho Oyu 8211m 3 times and Manaslu 8156m.

He loves sharing his passion for adventure and challenge with other people.

Good Day Fine People,

I’m from Kentucky in the states, guiding since 2007 and with ALE since 2024/25. I guide annually in New England, The Tetons, The Alaska Range, and the southeastern US. I love working in Antarctica and with the ALE team! I live in Kentucky with my wife Cara and our children Rubye (Chocolate Lab) & Miriam ‘Midge’ (our tortie cat).

I also work as a personal trainer and carry an SFG1 Kettlebell Instructor Certification, RYT-500 Yoga Teacher Certification, and I study Tai Chi and Qigong.

I also enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephew whenever time, distance, and work schedule allow for it. Being from Kentucky, I’m also an avid Kentucky Wildcats fan! -GO CATS-

Cheers
-Nickel Wood-