Our Family / Your Guides

We aren’t just heli guides. We are family. Most of our guides and staff have been with the Alaska Rendezvous family for over a decade.

All of our guides have a minimum Professional Avalanche training at Level 3, as well as advanced medical training (Wilderness First Responder or better). Our staff includes certified ski instructors and members of the National Ski Patrol.

Theo Meiners

In loving memory of the Patriarch, 1953-2012.
The Legacy of Theo Meiners.

 

Tom Bennett

Tom Bennett started guiding in 1986 and is a year round climbing and backcountry skiing guide. In winter, you’ll find him as an Alpine Guide and ski instructor at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In spring, he works at the Rendezvous, which he joined in 2002. Tom spends the summers guiding in the Tetons for Exum Mountain Guides. In September, you can often find him guiding heli-skiing for Powder South in Chile. Tom picked his college because of its proximity to a local climbing area (the Gunks), and moved to Jackson, WY upon graduation. He’s been a passionate climber and skier his entire life, with climbs and ski descents all over North America, Europe, South America and Nepal.

Sam Sehnert

Alaskan born and raised, Sam grew up skiing 300 miles north of Valdez in Fairbanks. He received his degree in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology from the University of Colorado, Sam then moved to Jackson Hole and fell in love with the Tetons. Sam is a fully certified Level III Professional Ski Instructor of Ameria, is a Backcountry Guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, has EMT training, is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, and is fully certified by the American Avalanche Institute. Sam has worked for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort since 2000 and for Alaska Rendezvous Guides since 2002. Sam spends his time feeding his passion for the outdoors and can almost always be found playing in the mountains.

A.J. Sanders

A.J. Sanders has been a guide for the Rendezvous since 2001. A.J. is a Backcountry Guide and Trainer for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort as well as a fully certified Level III P.S.I.A. ski instructor and a Divisional Examiner/Clinic Leader for the Intermountain Division of P.S.I.A. He has been a head coach for Jackson’s Steep and Deep Ski Camps, as well as the lead instructor for Jackson’s Backcountry Ski Camps. He is a fully certified Level III guide by the American Avalanche Institute as well as O.E.C. technician by the National Ski Patrol. A.J. is an ever-patient student and teacher; he has a keen eye and gives great attention to detail. His true passion for snow and skiing culminate in Alaska. The Tetons of Wyoming led A.J. out of the Midwest in 1996. Jackson, Wyoming is home to A.J. and his family, where his spends his summers as a fly fishing guide.

Matt Belford

Matt is a lead guide for Alaska Rendezvous, where he has guided since 2003. His ski experience was developed through ski racing in the east and, since 1997, as a ski instructor, staff trainer, and PSIA Divisional Examiner/Clinic Leader at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. During his first seasons in Jackson he developed knowledge and skills in the big mountain settings, skiing numerous peaks in the Tetons and competing in big mountain freeskiing competitions. Matt is fully certified by the American Avalanche Institute and is a Wilderness First Responder. When Theo provided Matt the opportunity to guide, Matt embraced the Chugach, and now relishes the opportunity to share this unique experience with friends, family, and anyone else who dreams to ski these magical mountains.

Jessica Baker

Jessica grew up skiing in the Selkirk Mountains of North Idaho and British Columbia. She went on to become a successful ski racer, a Big Mountain Freeskiing Champion, Founder/Owner of Ski Divas Women’s Ski Camps, and ultimately a full time mountain guide based in Jackson, WY. Jessica started working for Alaska Rendezvous in 2004 and is one of the first female guides for the operation. Jessica also works year round for Exum Mountain Guides, Jackson Hole Alpine Guides, and Ski Divas. She is a Level III P.S.I.A. ski instructor and a Divisional Examiner/Clinic Leader for the Intermountain Division of P.S.I.A., a Backcountry Accredited Examiner for PSIA-I, and a trainer for the Jackson Hole Ski School. Jessica has lead ski mountaineering expeditions on Denali and in The Alaska Range.

Craig Fischer

Craig was born in the small town of Belleville, Kansas. He received his BS from Baker University in 1994 and became a high school Biology teacher in Lusk, Wyoming. Craig began skiing in 1995 after moving to Jackson. In 1999 he met Theo while working for Valdez Heli-Ski Guides and his life has never been the same. Craig began working for Theo at the Rendezvous shortly after as a dispatcher, eventually working his way to lead guide. Craig is currently a Professional Ski Patroller at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. He is O.E.C certified, American Avalanche Institute Level III certified, Adult and Child Airway Management certified, has an ATF letter of clearance to be an avalanche blaster, and is an avalanche rescue dog owner/handler.

Robb Maris

Robb has dedicated his life to the joys of big-mountain skiing, and in turn, sharing his enthusiasm for such experiences with others. He is a year-round, multi-discipline, alpine, river and ocean guide / instructor. Certifications include: Medical- WFR/CPR, Avalanche- AAI L3, AMGA Ski GC1, Swiftwater Rescue- RQ3, Crevasse / Wilderness Rescue, PSIA L2. Employed by Alaska Rendezvous Heli Ski Guides and Lodge since 2007.

 

Josh Pope

Josh grew up in the Pacific Northwest learning to ski on Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain. He first came to the Rendezvous in 2006 to work as a dishwasher in the Lodge. He soon became an apprentice guide, working his way up the ranks to become a lead guide in 2009. Even though he has close to 2,000,000 vertical feet worth of descents in the Chugach, Josh is always working hard to improve his abilities as a guide. He is American Avalanche Institute Level III certified, is Outdoor Emergency Care certified, Adult and Child Airway Management certified, and has attended multiple International Snow Science Workshops. Josh is currently a Professional Ski Patroller at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort during the winter, and commercial fishes during the summer.

Nicholas Houfek

Nicholas Houfek is a Wyoming native and Jackson Hole ski instructor and race coach. He found his love for the mountains while exploring the Tetons and training under Theo; he knew he had a calling for ski guiding at a young age when traveling to ski in South America. He grew up ski racing in Jackson, finishing his racing career at University of Wyoming, where he qualified for nationals all four years. He has guided for Alaska Rendezvous since 2008. Nicholas also works as a real estate agent and property manager with Apex Real Estate and Property Management in Jackson. Nicholas is Level III certified by the American Avalanche Institute, is a Wilderness First Responder, is a Level II Professional Ski Instructor of America, certified USSA ski racing coach.

Mike Trombetta

Mike’s love of the outdoors started at age eight in Vermont; he was constantly pulled to the mountains and moved to Truckee, CA in 1999. Mike experienced Alaska in 2003 and his life was changed. Theo offered him a job in 2009 as chef of Alaska Rendezvous Lodge and an apprentice guide. Prior to heading north for the spring, Mike can be found in the Tahoe backcountry, or teaching his daughter Fia to ski at Squaw/Alpine resorts. Mike is Level III American Avalanche Institute certified, CPR, and Wilderness First Responder certified. He’s also a proud new member of the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, and he feels blessed to have become part of the Rendezvous.

Dan “Jiggy” Janjigian

A Boston native, Dan attended University of Vermont for Mechanical Engineering. The short winter seasons were not enough to keep Dan east; after graduating he moved to Wyoming. His love for exploring and living in the mountains has kept him there ever since. Dan spends his winters at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and ski touring in Grand Teton National Park. Dan joined the Rendezvous family in 2007 as a bartender and maintenance worker. His passion for being in the mountains came through in his dedication to the Rendezvous, and he started his guide career in 2010 when awarded an apprentice guide position by Theo. Spending every spring in Alaska is truly his dream realized. Dan is American Avalanche Institute Level III certified and a Wilderness First Responder.

Sam Green

Sam was raised in Utah and started skiing at the age of four. He relocated to Jackson, WY in 2000, and has further developed his passion for snow sports. Whether at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, ski touring in the Tetons, or riding snow machines, Sam makes it a goal to get in the snow every day. In 2006, Sam joined the Rendezvous family, working as the restaurant manager for the Lodge. He became an apprentice guide in 2010. He has skied in Argentina, Europe, Canada and the lower 48. Sam’s training includes American Avalanche Institute Level III, Wilderness First Responder, CPR, first aid, avalanche hazard assessment, and crevasse rescue. He is honored to have been taught by Theo Meiners.

Brent Coombs

Brent Coombs is a new member of the Rendezvous. Coming from a family with deep ties to the skiing world, he brings a genuine love of the mountains and a strong understanding of the sacrifice that such a lifestyle takes. In 2011Theo offered Brent a chance to work at the Rendezvous, after which he began working his way into Operations under Theo’s watchful eye and the help of the entire team. Now entering his third year, Brent continues to grow and learn as an apprentice guide. He appreciates the strong bonds and true family feeling that have formed with his coworkers . This has allowed him to gain the experience and knowledge needed while in a trusting and caring environment. Brent looks forward to many great seasons to come.

Greg Giedt