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 guides whose lives are dedicated to outdoor adventure.
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, spending 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 husband and two dogs, trail running, biking, gardening, or dreaming of the next adventure.
Matt Lloyd is on an endless pursuit to find the perfect powder turn. He’s grateful for every backcountry moment and appreciates each uniquely special day in the mountains. Matt celebrates his many years of his outdoor career: he’s Level I-III Avalanche certified, Wilderness First Responder/CPR-certified, a PSIA-certified ski instructor for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and has completed AMGA Ski Guides training. During summer months, he’s a local fishing guide who owns his own fly fishing guide service! Matt is blessed with the wonderful support of his wife Kerry and son Brooks. Expect a fun, educational and memorable day customized to your specific goals when exploring the Teton backcountry with Matt.
Josh Parker is known for his exceptional enthusiasm and passion for backcountry skiing. Parker, as Josh is fondly known, is all about helping you realize your goals in mountains. He has been a Ski Guide in the Tetons since 2006, has spent nearly three decades sliding on snow, and instructs Level I avalanche courses. In the summer, you may him with a chainsaw in his hands earning a living fighting wildfires for the Forest Service. He and his wife Sarah call Teton Valley, ID home. Parker is Level III Avalanche certified, has completed the AMGA Ski Guide course, is a member affiliate of the American Avalanche Association, and is Wilderness First Responder certified. Parker also demonstrates perfect form and technique of the alpine turn!
Peter Stone was raised across the Intermountain West in Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. He has been a lifelong backcountry enthusiast and has worked as a professional outdoor instructor and guide over the past seven years, most recently spending his summer in the PNW working on Mt.Rainer and other iconic peaks of the Cascades for IMG. Peter holds AIARE Level II certification, Wilderness First Responder certification from WMI, and is a Leave No Trace master educator. Peter brings much enthusiasm while working with Teton Backcountry Guides and he’s looking forward to another season of enabling others to experience the magical wonderland of the Tetons in winter.
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.
Chris Ebeling, a native of Oregon, started life in the mountains at age 3, skiing and backpacking amongst the Cascades. His formative years included many outdoor exploits: volcano summits, backpacking much of the Oregon PCT, ski racing at a national level, and bike-packing the coast of British Columbia. Chris later moved to Montana to pursue an education and explore the rockies. Across over a decade in Montana Chris graduated Montana State University with a degree in Photography and digital media, as well as developed a love for ice climbing, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and alpine climbing.Chris now calls Jackson, WY home and spends much of his winter skiing the backcountry shangri-la of the Tetons and surrounding ranges. In the summer he can be found alpine and rock climbing in the Tetons, PNW, and Northern Rockies. He has even been rumored to spend the occasional month biking and climbing in the Utah Desert. Chris guides and instructs full time year round in the Ski, Alpine, Rock, Ice and Expedition disciplines across the Western US, Alaska and S America. He enjoys guiding due to the opportunity to share the environments, experiences, and friendship of the mountains with many diverse people.
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). He has participated in the AMGA Ski Guide Course 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 new born daughter Neve, which means Snow. When he is not on the slopes, he is teaching his daughter how to skateboard or play soccer. He loves taking his family camping at the City of Rocks and has a small garden where he raises vegetables and flowers.
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.
