With one of the highest guides-to-guest ratio in the world, you can understand why we receive so many Top Service awards. Your every need is taken care of during this all-inclusive experience. From the gourmet chefs who prepare your delicious meals to the knowledgeable and safety-conscious guides who take you out onto the trails, every staff member's goal is to ensure you are well taken care of. And our support doesn't stop there. As part of the Mountain Trek community, you'll receive regular follow ups from us and we encourage you to touch base anytime if you're needing support, encouragement or you just want to say hi. Here are just a few of the faces you'll see during your time at Mountain Trek:
Kirkland Shave
Program Director & Lead Guide: Kirkland Shave embodies the essence of Mountain Trek. A certified hiking guide and a certified Life Coach, Kirk is a motivator who challenges guests to do more than they thought possible. Kirkland walks the Mountain Trek talk… sometimes barefoot.
Cathy Grierson
Head Guide & Fitness Director: A certified hiking guide for over 25 years, Cathy Grierson has developed a fitness program at Mountain Trek that complements the hiking intensive. Her positive, upbeat manner inspires and motivates our guests; she is a true role model staff member.
Jenn Keirstead
Nutritionist & Guide: Jenn Keirstead has taught about the healing qualities of whole foods for the last decade. With a background in psychology and nutrition, she delves deep into diet, lifestyle and emotional aspects of food, offering insightful and practical changes for our guests.
Michelle Engert
Guest Services Coordinator: Michelle Engert is usually the first person guests communicate with when booking a stay at Mountain Trek. She is our friendly, supportive and wonderful front-line person who ensures all the details of your stay are perfectly arranged.
Katya Hayes
Yoga Teacher, Fitness Instructor: Katya Hayes has been a yoga teacher for 15 years. She owns her own studio and is the first western woman to receive certification by the International Korean Yoga Association. She has studied yoga, Buddhism, Iyengar, Ashtanga and Vinyasa.
Sage Leboutan
Kinesiologist & Guide Sage Leboutan grew up in the West Kootenays, where she developed her passion for the outdoors. Since then has taught yoga in Central and South America and earned a degree in Kinesiology.
Simon Shave
Guide: Energetic and passionate about health and fitness,Simon Shave has completed a degree specializing in stress and health. Beyond these passions, he has grown up both playing and working throughout the beautiful Kootenay mountains.
Jeanie Dwyer
Guide: Jeannie Dwyer has been playing and working in the outdoors of British Columbia all her life. Born and raised in the West Kootenays, she loves nothing more than showing guests the beautiful secret spots around the region.
Lauren Powers
Guide: Lauren Powers is a passionate hiker, skier and photographer who has lived out West for the past eight years. She majored in Geography at the University of British Columbia and is applying her knowledge and love of the outdoors to a career in guiding.
Melissa Bryan
Kitchen Supervisor: For 18 years Melissa Bryan has worked in a variety of cooking environments from wineries to cat ski operations. Of Mountain Trek she says “I love seeing people transform before my eyes – it’s rewarding to know how they feel when they eat good, healthy, clean food.”
Bonnie VanTassel
Head Chef: Bonnie VanTassel has owned restaurants and worked at an Ashram cooking under the supervision of yogis to create healthy farm-fresh food. Since 2001 she's been delighting guests at Mountain Trek with her delicious spa cuisine.