Our guides are locals and are among the region’s most experienced and knowledgeable backcountry skiers and riders.
We guarantee small groups and a client to guide ratio of 4 to 1 to provide plenty of individualized attention. Our guides will find the best snow and terrain to suit your ability, provide expert instruction, and interpret the natural environment for a fun and educational outing. All guides are certified in CPR, Advanced First Aid (Wilderness First Responder or Winter Outdoor Emergency Care), and Advanced Avalanche Safety. We are professional year-round mountain guides whose lives are dedicated to sharing outdoor adventure, education and the joy of mountain experiences with others.
Owners/Guides
Co-owner Jeff Jung has been professionally skiing in the Tetons since 1994 as a lead ski patroller at Grand Targhee Resort and as a backcountry guide for Teton Backcountry Guides (called Rendezvous Ski Tours at that time). Jeff has skied extensively throughout the western United States, with exploration spanning from Alaska’s Chugach Range, British Columbia, and the Canadian Yukon, to the Sierra Nevada of California, Wyoming’s Teton Range, and throughout Argentina and Chile.
Jeff is certified as an Outdoor Emergency Care Technician and has been an EMT. He holds a Level III Guides Avalanche Certification from the American Avalanche Institute in Wilson, WY, and has completed the American Mountain Guides Association’s Ski Guide course in Wyoming and the Ski Mountaineering Guide Course in Valdez, Alaska. In addition to free and fixed heel ski mountaineering, Jeff is an avid rock climber, surfer, and mountain biker.
Co-owner Diane Verna has been a professional backcountry ski guide in the Tetons since 1996. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education from Prescott College in Arizona. Her studies combined natural history interpretation with outdoor recreation skills. She has worked for Outward Bound as a Field Instructor in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains, in the Adventure Education Department for Prescott College as a Backcountry Skiing Instructor, and has instructed Nordic skiing for various institutions.
Diane is certified as a Wilderness First Responder from the Wilderness Medical Associates of NOLS and has been an EMT for Teton County, Idaho. She is certified in Nordic Instruction from the Professional Ski Instructors of America and has studied Avalanche Forecasting under Jerry Roberts on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Diane has participated in the AMGA Ski Guide course in Wyoming and completed the Ski Mountaineering Guide Course in Valdez, Alaska. In the summer months, Diane guides interpretive day hikes and backpacking trips in the Tetons.
Skiing & Snowboarding Guides
Evan Miller has been skiing for as long as he can remember. His parents introduced him to cross-country skiing in southern New Hampshire and a lifelong passion for exploring “just beyond the next hill” was initiated. In 2008, Evan moved to Utah in order to pursue work with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Since moving West, Evan has explored snowy environs across the globe in the Western U.S.; the Selkirks and Coast Ranges of British Columbia; India; Alaska; New Zealand; and even Antarctica. But the Tetons continue to be a favorite with reliable powder, inimitable Western hardiness, and lack of traffic lights. Evan is a full time professional guide and has recently received his IFMGA certification, recognizing him as a certified International Mountain Guide. He spends his summers guiding rock and mountaineering routes in the western US and on Aconcagua in Argentina. He is CPR and Wilderness First Responder certified, and holds a Level III Avalanche certificate through the American Avalanche Institute.
Kate Koons grew up in the great state of New Jersey where she learned the importance of sharp edges and how to bump her sister off of the Poma lift. For 23 years, Kate has worked as an educator, guide, and program manager all over the world. For the last 17 years, Kate has worked for NOLS, leading expeditions and managing the winter program in Teton Valley, Idaho. Kate’s passion for the mountains has brought her all over the world, including work stints in the Himalayas and Antarctica, yet the Tetons always draw her back home. Kate recently worked for the American Avalanche Association coordinating the Pro Training Program, as well as working the occasional NOLS course. She has a Wilderness First Responder and holds a Pro 2 Avalanche certification. When the snow has left the mountains, Kate can be found at home in Victor with her two dogs, trail running, biking, gardening, or dreaming of the next adventure.
Peter Stone is an American skier, climber and guide based in Victor, Idaho. Peter was raised across the intermountain west in Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. He was introduced to mountain sports at young age and competed as an alpine ski racer until the age of 18 when he decided to refocus on climbing and backcountry skiing. He has worked as a guide and adventure educator since 2012. Peter holds a BA in environmental studies from Fort Lewis college. He participated in ski expeditions to Chile, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. He has also guided in Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, and Nevada. Peter is an AMGA certified ski guide, and has successfully completed the AMGA Rock, Alpine, and Ice climbing courses. Peter Also holds a pro level 2 Avalanche certification. He has been a wilderness first responder since 2011
Matt Blodgett, fondly known as “Blodge” hails from the great state of Maine. The lure of powder drew him west where he landed in Driggs, Idaho. Blodge has worked trail crew for the National Forest Service for many seasons before transitioning to helping at-risk youth in wilderness therapy programs. Blodge is always ready to seek untracked powder and is willing to go the distance to have clients experience powder bliss. Blodge is a certified WFR and has completed his Level 3 avalanche training. When not out exploring the mountains on skis, Blodge can be found playing the banjo or building his own boats. He enjoys packrafting, bikepacking and hunting in the summer and fall months.
Grayson Swingle is originally from Central Ohio where he grew up skiing on mostly artificial snow. He moved out west in search of better snow during college where he received a Bachelors Degree in Adventure Education from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Since graduating, Grayson spent many years as a Field Educator for Teton Science Schools and currently spends his summers guiding for RMI Expeditions on Mount Rainier, Denali, in the North Cascades, and abroad. Currently he holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Level II and American Avalanche Institute Professional Level I, and has completed coursework through the American Mountain Guides Association. Grayson is passionate about spending time with good people in incredible mountain landscapes and has always felt most at home while exploring the Teton Range on skis.
Giles LaJevic-Augustine has been guiding in the Tetons since 2013, where he has worked as a ski guide and climbing guide (ice and rock). In 2024, he received his AMGA certification as an Assistant Ski Guide and has been certified as a Wilderness First Responder through various organizations since 2012. He holds a Level III Guides Avalanche Certification from the American Avalanche Institute. He has guided and explored throughout the world, in the Japanese Alps, the Arctic circle in Svalbard, the Dolomites, New Zealand Alps, and the Chugach Range in Alaska. He is the lead guide of the Via Ferrata at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, since its opening in 2017. He started and developed an adaptive climbing program with Teton Adaptive Sports and JHMR in 2020. He is also a certified alpine ski instructor through PSIA. Giles resides in Victor with his wife Heather and two young children. He loves taking his family camping at the City of Rocks and has a small garden where he raises vegetables and flowers.
Erme Catino is a skier, freelance journalist, and avalanche educator for the American Avalanche Institute. He’s worked as a backcountry ski guide for several outfits in the Wasatch before recently moving to the Tetons, where he has also forecasted with the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. He holds a Avalanche Professional 2 certification in addition to Outdoor Emergency Care, and has a M.S. in Environmental Studies. Always in pursuit of work that involves play and a lot of powder skiing, he has worked in various roles within the ski industry – including running PR and media projects for brands, writing for multiple ski publications, and was a correspondent for Powder Magazine.
Teton Backcountry Guides is a fully insured business operating under a special use permit from the Caribou-Targhee National Forest since 1986 and a Concessionaire’s permit from Grand Teton National Park . References can be provided upon request.