Mel oversees sales, human resources, and accounting. She works closely with our seasonal teams in Punta Arenas and Union Glacier to ensure all guests have a seamless experience.

Larry coordinates all shipping logistics and equipment and inventory purchases. Each year he researches, purchases, and ships more than 22,000 lb (10,000 kg) of freight to Chile.

Steph works closely with all future guests to answer questions throughout the booking process and prepare them for their Antarctic experience. She also serves as an Account Manager for many of our travel agent and guide company partners.

Jessica is one of the newest additions to ALE’s Salt Lake City crew. She assists our sales team on all aspects of the booking process. Originally from Colorado, Jessica loves trail running (like really LOVES it), ultra-mountain running, and rock climbing. Her ultimate goal is to one day live the van life.

Also known as our “Chief Chippy”, Walt constructs all of our specialized structures and adapts equipment for use on the ice.

Ian is originally from Arizona, but has lived in Texas, Colorado, Oregon, and is now settled in Salt Lake City. He loves his cat named Leo and says he is “The Best!!” Ian enjoys biking, camping, and drawing. He enjoys working for ALE and the opportunity to travel to Antarctica and meet new people from all over the world.

Mike was one of the original Partners to establish ALE. Mike’s first experience of the Antarctic came in 1976, working for the British Antarctic Survey where he met fellow ALE partner, David Rootes. In 1988, Mike guided ALE’s first expedition to the South Pole. With plenty of his own mountaineering experience on Denali and St. Elias, his favorite ALE experience is our Mount Sidley expedition. His longest record for no shower is 180 days which he earned kayaking and skiing the length of Baffin Island. Mike has retired to Sheffield, UK, with his long term partner Olga, to enjoy more time sea-kayaking, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.

Mike was born & educated in Australia. His career began on MacQuarie Island as a geophysicist with an Australian expedition in 1971. He would go on to found Quark Expeditions and pioneer tourism transit to the polar regions with Russian icebreakers. In the late 1990s, he sold Quark in order to focus on new ventures in space travel and deep ocean exploration. He currently serves on the board of Space Adventures which offers space travel to the general public and operates Deep Ocean Expeditions which has coordinated dive expeditions to the Titanic, the Bismarck, and the Mariana Trench.

David visited Antarctica for the first time in 1976 with the British Antarctic Survey, at the same time as Mike Sharp. After serving as Station Manager for BAS until 1984, he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Polar Studies at Cambridge. Now he manages all of the environmental logistics and permitting for our operation as well as overseeing the Salt Lake City office, sales, and marketing. In addition to ALE, he runs Poles Apart Ltd where he and Nick Lewis worked together for several years, and which offers environmental and logistical support to many polar film projects including several Shackleton productions. David has been married for over 30 years and has two children; he resides outside of Cambridge and is an excellent photographer & bird enthusiast.   

Nick is originally from Wales and another British Antarctic Survey alum. He has an extensive climbing background and oversees our mountain and guiding operations on Vinson and in the Ellsworth Mountains as well as coordinating seasonal staffing. His favorite ALE experiences include Climb and Ski Antarctica which offer guests an authentic exploration that is totally unique. An environmental scientist by background, he worked on numerous polar and desert projects while a partner at Poles Apart. He met his wife while working on the Emmy Award-Winning NOVA Shackleton documentary. They now live in New England with their young daughter where they enjoy living close to the beach and the mountains.

Steve started with ALE as a field guide and then served as Field Operations Manager for 6 years. Working from the UK as the Expeditions Manager, he is the main point of contact for all independent expeditions and also contributes to the operations planning for each Antarctic season.

Rachel has been with ALE for more than 25 years! Not surprising given her love of wild places & background in guiding & adventure education. She has worked in Antarctica as a field guide, cook, and guest liaison and was Punta Arenas Operations Manager for eight seasons. She now works on ALE projects from her home in Squamish, Canada.

Alice loves experiencing nature in all its extremes and enjoys exploring remote corners of the globe.

Sue is one of the most seasoned members of the ALE team but don’t let her small stature and friendly accent fool you, she’s the toughest of the lot. She manages the Punta team and keeps all of the flight logistics and guest services running smoothly.

Ramón started as a driver for the company more than 20 years ago and helped set up ALE’s Chilean entity, Red de Aventura a la Antártica Ltda (RAAL) in 2005.

Olivia organizes all of the welcome briefings, gear checks, luggage pick-ups, and airport transfers for all of our guests travelling to Antarctica. Read Olivia’s Staff Spotlight.

Samuel Wild was born and raised in the United States before moving to Chile, where he organized adventure races and expeditions for the past four years. He studied International Business and Spanish, and enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and spending time with friends in his free time.

Priscilla was born and raised in Chile’s Atacama desert and is always looking for new adventures, new books, new movies and new recipes. Her friends often call her the ‘Queen of Desserts’ because of her sweet tooth! Prior to starting the ALE season, Priscilla traveled throughout the year to explore what lies beyond the Andes Mountains.

Camila Pérez was born and raised in Punta Arenas, Chile. She graduated college as a tourism major and spent the last four years organizing the logistics for the Patagonian Expedition Race. She loves going for a bike ride and listening to music, especially Pink Floyd.

Hernan is a Punta Arenas native and previously worked in the Falkland Islands as a tour guide for 10 years. He is the first member of the ALE team many guests meet, so look forward to a happy face, ready to greet you outside baggage claim at the  Punta Arenas airport.

I am César from Patagonia, Chile. I am enthusiastic for new challenges and passionate in my work; to give the best hospitality to our guests and the ALE team. The place, work, and exchange of life experiences is pure gold and gives me another perspective on life and of the world.

Gerardo was born and raised in Argentina but has also lived in Spain. He now resides in Norway where he works as a Restaurant Manager and receptionist in a mountain hotel.

Juan is a Spanish globetrotter and enthusiastic mountaineer. He has worked on various tourism projects including building capacity in Nepal, community-based programs with Quechua people in Peru, and guiding tours in the Atacama Desert and on Eastern Island. Juan is passionate about Andean culture, Asian philosophy, and flamenco!

Prior to joining ALE, Tomi lived in Argentina and worked for an American diesel company on a large drilling tower.

Rene is a Punta Arenas local who served in the Chilean military and has worked in a variety of mechanical and warehouse positions. Most recently he worked for 13 years in mining. Outside of ALE, he enjoys spending time with his son and playing soccer.

Eduardo worked as a truck driver for Civil Engineering Vicente and with Vilicic Construction in Tierra del Fuego. Lately he has been working as a fire truck driver/operator with the 8th company fire brigade in Punta Arenas.

Moises is married and has a beautiful daughter. He is a truck driver and has driven fuel tankers, transporting hydrocarbons for the National Petroleum Company. He also has experience with building pre-fabricated buildings from the USA.

Macarena was born and raised in Punta Arenas. She studied hotel administration and gained experience working for 10 years in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia Chile. She likes listening to music, watching movies, reading, and she loves drinking whiskey after a long day at work.

Ricardo manages the Punta Arenas warehouse and coordinates the receipt of all our container shipments from Salt Lake City and transferring inventory on to the ice. Before joining ALE, Ricardo worked in airport operations.

Tim started with ALE as a mountain guide on Mount Vinson. A veteran of high-altitude and polar expeditions in Alaska and Antarctica, he has extensive professional experience in mountaineering, overland vehicle travel, bush aviation, and remote project management. He oversees our entire Antarctic field program and the talented team that make it successful. When not directing field operations from Union Glacier or planning the next season with the teams in Salt Lake City and Punta Arenas, he can be found at his home in Alaska, or more likely nipping out on his next adventure via packraft or paraglider. Read Tim’s Staff Spotlight.

Carolyn is an experienced expedition leader and field guide in both North and South polar regions. She has also worked as a cancer researcher, management facilitator, and London bus driver! Carolyn coordinates with all departments on the ice and also our Guest Services teams in Punta Arenas and Salt Lake City to make sure we deliver the most incredible experience to all of our guests.

Avi divides her year between Denmark, New Zealand, Greenland and Antarctica. Her work takes her onboard cruise ships and on land-based tours with guests. Her dream of Antarctica came true in 2016 when she started working for ALE. She has also done one season at the Antarctic Peninsula, where South Georgia was a personal highlight, but Union Glacier is the place that has stolen her heart.

Julia is from Boston, USA but has spent the past 10 years between the USA, Chile, and Antarctica. When she is not on the ice she is usually travelling, working with goats, and developing her skills as a medical interpreter. Read Julia’s Staff Spotlight.

Alan comes from England and prior to ALE, worked for the British Antarctic Survey for several seasons. He’s completed many overland tractor traverses across the continent and truly keeps our camp running as the head mechanic. If anything breaks, he’s the man that can fix it! Read Al’s Staff Spotlight.

Martin has been our Chief Medic since ALE was formed. He’s proud to be from Sheffield but has also lived in the French Pyrenees. Martin is qualified in both France and the UK in Emergency Medicine and General Practice. He is a wilderness medicine specialist and ensures all of our guests remain safe and well throughout their time in Antarctica.

Dean hails from the great country of Wales and leads our Operations Team in Antarctica overseeing communications and IT at Union Glacier. He’s also our go to engineer, ready to fix, install, and maintain all of our communication equipment on the ice.

Simon is a professional IFMGA certified Mountain Guide based in the French Alps. He’s worked around the world since 1987 and in Antarctica since 1992. Simon researches and maintains safe routes around our main camp at Union Glacier as well as assisting field teams with risk assessment and route planning. Read Simon’s Staff Spotlight.

Josh began climbing in 1999 and moved to Alaska because of the endless climbing potential. He has taught and guided at Alaska Pacific University and Alaska Mountaineering School and has helped guide numerous successful Denali ascents. Josh has a passion for vertical rock and the science behind the art of climbing. He also plays a mean guitar.

After a career designing cancer drugs for a living, Iain started working as a guide in the polar regions. He has overwintered three times on Antarctic research stations for the British Antarctic Survey, spent more than 10 summer seasons on the ice, and led expeditions in some of the remotest parts of the continent.

Marc joined the Belgian Air Force in 1983 and became an operational meteorologist in 1990. He spent 17 years working on operational air force bases, supporting F-16 planes. In 2000, he joined the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium where he works as a marine meteorologist in the harbor of Ostend. Prior to ALE, he also worked in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey and the Australian Antarctic Division. Read Marc’s Staff Spotlight.

Devon lives in the Yukon and in northern British Columbia, Canada. He’s worked for ALE as a Remote Camp Manager and as a Ski Expedition Guide. Devon has also carried out his own ski expeditions in Greenland and the North Pole. Read Devon’s Staff Spotlight.

Joe provides water, heat, and power to all of our facilities at Union Glacier Camp. Outside of Antarctica, he has managed logistics for Mt. Everest expeditions and guided Yak trips in the Talkeetna mountains of Alaska. Read Joe’s Staff Spotlight.

Fred grew up in the western United States and has traveled and worked all over the world. When not in Antarctica managing our ski-way, Fred is a wildland firefighter specializing in aircraft management. He also functions as our fire and safety advisor for camp and field operations.

Hannah lives in Vermont. She splits her time there between farming and doing research at the University, on topics related to agriculture and climate change. Hannah is also a yoga instructor and really appreciates a good adventure and meeting new people.

Hannah set the world speed record for skiing solo and unsupported to the South Pole in December 2006, a record she held for four years. Hannah completed the 690 mile (1110 km) journey in 39 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes. She has completed six expeditions to the South Pole and over 6000 miles (9656 km) of Antarctic sled‐hauling. Hannah has also undertaken expeditions on the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, South America, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Namibia, Afghanistan and the Amazon, not to mention sailing around the world twice!

Carl made his first major expedition to the east coast of Greenland in 2004 and went on to Ski the Last Degree that same year. Since then he has completed multiple Ski South Pole expeditions in Antarctica and others in Greenland using dogs and kites.

A New Zealand native, Eddie  drove cat as part of the Pole of Inaccessibility expedition, helping to complete an overland traverse to the “farthest point from anything.” Eddie also helped move ALE’s main camp from Patriot Hills to Union Glacier in 2010. Back home, Eddie has served as head mechanic and cat groomer at Mt. Ruapehu ski area for more than 20 seasons.

Eric has spent the majority of his life between Utah and Alaska. His work experience includes wildland firefighting, commercial fishing, and two seasons as a Waste Operator and General Hand for ALE. He can usually be found climbing or snowboarding when he’s not at work.

Phil is a quintessential jack-of-all-trades, skilled in repair and new construction, notably working six seasons as a glacier guide and camp construction/maintenance in Alaska. He is originally from New York State and in his free time enjoys skiing, ice climbing, backpacking, and many other outdoor pursuits.

Kimbra hails from Wanaka in New Zealand. She has spent the past four years snowmaking and grooming at her local ski resort and the four years before that in various other mountain related jobs. Kimbra is a lover of adventures and good food, particularly when they are combined.

Ben grew up in a small New Zealand town and is passionate about the outdoors. He enjoys white water kayaking and skiing.

William lives in Shropshire, England where he works in conservation as a Countryside Ranger and a Tree Surgeon. He says “if I’m outside I’m usually happy!”.

César is from Patagonia, Chile and loves new challenges. He is passionate about his work and tries to deliver the best hospitality to our guests and the rest of ALE team.

Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Angelo has a degree in Tourism Management and travels around the world working as a freelance tourist agent for many different companies. His passion
for traveling and seeing remote places has led him to work on cruises to Antarctica and South Georgia Island. He currently lives between the Falkland Islands and his hometown.

Pato is known for dishing up fantastic breakfasts and plenty of laughs in the Union Glacier dining tent each season. If you’re passing through Vina del Mar, Chile be sure to stop by his family’s restaurant, La Cuisine, and say hello.

Lucy spends most of the year working as an Outdoor Instructor in the UK. She is based in North Wales in the summer and Scotland in the winter. She enjoys anything outdoors and is a keen mountain and road biker, climber, mountaineer and ski tourer – always with a smile on her face!

Siren is from Norway and has been working as a cook on ships and platforms. She likes to travel, see new places, and meet new people.

Tony has been a meteorologist with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for the last 27 years, forecasting in various roles around Australia including at an air-force base and several postings to Antarctica. Tony is a keen private pilot in his spare time as well as anything in the outdoors.

Fritz was born and raised in Flanders, Belgium. He studied Chemistry at the University of Leuven (KUL) followed by a postgraduate degree in Environmental Sciences. He began sailing at age 13
and became a passionate competitor in regattas, where meteorology played an important tactical role. This allowed Fritz to start working at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium as an Operational Forecaster. He was then lucky enough to combine his two passions, working as a Weather Router for sailors as well as forecasting for Kite driven Arctic/Antarctic expeditions.

Santiago or as we all call like to call him, ‘Chago’, is probably the most enthusiastic member of the Communications team. He has a degree in Computer Science and began working for ALE in the Field Guide Store. When not in Antarctica, Chago has a passion for ski touring in the southern volcanoes of Chile.

Clare has spent much of her working life as a search and rescue coordinator in Australia and the UK. She has also spent three seasons as a communications operator with the Australian Antarctic Division and worked at sea, aboard historic sailing ships.

Nigel is a mechanic from Cumbria, England. He keeps the ALE vehicles and generators operational as well as providing ground crew assistance for flight operations on the blue-ice runway. Nigel first worked in Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey in 1994 and since then has spent 3 winter seasons and more than 15 summer seasons on the continent.

Originally from Wales, Martin currently resides in Colorado. He spends most of his time rock or ice climbing but you can often find him on high altitude mountaineering expeditions. When not in the mountains, he teaches rope access and rigging, and volunteers for the Alpine Search and Rescue Team.