Meet Some of Your Instructors

Please note that instructors vary by course and module.  However, these fine folks have been teaching for us for years, and teach 2-4 courses per year.  You can expect to work with most of them along the way.

Mountaineering/Alpine Climbing Instructors

Merrie Beth (MB) Board

MB, from Golden, BC, Canada, has an incredible depth of experience; she will be one of a handful of women to become a full IFMGA certified Mountain Guide later this year and currently holds ACMG Ski Guide and Assistant Alpine Guide certifications.

Her love affair with Patagonia started many years ago on a personal trip to cross the Northern Ice Cap. That expedition was foiled by the weather, but she kept coming back and was rewarded with a perfect traverse this season.  She embodies so many qualities you would want in your instructor: strong, solid technical and teaching skills, and an infectious enthusiasm no matter how tough the going is.

Cecelia Mortenson

Cece, an ACMG certified assistant alpine and rock guide, has guided and climbed on 6 continents, including work as the head field mountaineer for the US Antarctic program.  She has lead expedition glacier traverses for MTS in Alaska and Patagonia, and has climbed extensively in Canada, the USA, and Nepal.

 

Her passion for the mountains, guiding, and instructing is infectious.  She is an amazing instructor and we’re privileged to count her among our staff.

Jaya Marr

Jaya is the founding Director of the Mountain Training School and is among the most experienced Patagonian guides. She has lead 10 traverses of the Patagonian Ice Cap and counts innumerable peak ascents to her credit along with an unmatched wealth of experience and knowledge about the Northern Ice Cap.

 

Her inspiration comes from working with students and seeing them progress, learn, and surprise themselves with what they are capable of. “The harsh conditions of the Ice Cap bring out the best in people and allow them to see themselves in a way that never happens in town. I never get tired of that.”

Dennis Haskell

Dennis is originally from New Zealand and began his guiding career on the Fox Glacier. From there he has been guiding and ski patrolling in Canada, Alaska and Patagonia. He is a qualified NOLS mountaineering instructor, while continuing to work through the NZMGA qualification system. Students who have been on an expedition with Dennis invariably rave about his super calm approach to life in the mountains and his natural ability to help students to learn the many technical and leadership skills contained within the expedition.

Benjamin Gorelick

Benjamin is the expedition director for the Mountain Training School and has climbed and guided on 5 continents, including in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mongolia, Thailand, New Zealand, the continental USA, and Alaska.  He cut his teeth in the Chugach Mountains of Alaska, and after spending the first years of his career working around the world, he moved to Patagonia in 2005.  To date, he has lead 14 traverses of the Patagonian Ice Cap.

 

Ben is passionate about instructing, challenging students, and helping to train the next generation of mountain guides.

Rock Climbing Instructors

Alfredo Iglesias Gago

Alfredo is originally from the big city of Madrid, Spain. However, after 15 years of living in the paradise that is the Picos de Europa, that is where is heart is. He trained at the Escuela Espanola de Alta Montana (The Mountaineering School of Spain) and is an AEGM certified Rock Guide.

 

For the past 3 years he has running his own business, Guiatrek, based in Potes in the heart of the Picos.  He has an intimate knowledge of the many treasures to be found in this little known exceptional climbing area. Working with Alfredo, you can’t help but be inspired by this place and start falling in love with it yourself.

Thomas Exner

Originally from Germany, Thomas Exner is a full IFMGA guide who has been climbing and skiing for as long as he’s been able to stand.  He has guided extensively in Europe, and moved to Canada in 2005 to pursue a PhD in Avalanche Science.

 

Thomas’ calm demeanor and thorough teaching style make him an equally excellent instructor.

Brian Martens

A native of Boulder, Co, Brian has been addicted to the mountains since before he can remember. He has 15 years of climbing expertise from more than 20 countries on 6 continents.  He has professionally guided in the USA, Peru, and Chile.  And as a long time musical enthusiast, is trying to learn to play every instrument possible. Up next: Bagpipes on El Capitan.

Lyra Pierotti

Lyra has a varied background with climbing and guiding experience in Yosemite Valley, the Sierra Neva, Mexican volcanoes, and Mt Shasta. She is known for her great enthusiasm and her commitment to providing her students with quality instruction and an all-encompassing positive experience.

Ski Instructors

Nancy Pfeiffer

Nancy has been skiing and guiding for, well, a long time.  In addition to her work with MTS, she is the former head of the Alaska Avalanche School, a NOLS instructor, a passionate horse packer, and the head of the ORIGIN institute in Alaska, helping teach guiding skills to Native Alaskans.

Leighan Falley

Leighan is a born and bred Alaskan who is passionate about all things mountain.  She has guided for MTS in Patagonia and Alaska, and also guides on Denali, heli-skiing, and is a lead instructor for the Alaska Avalanche School.

Mike Mariash

Mike is an ACMG qualified assistant Ski Guide who makes his home in Revelstoke, BC.  He has ski guided for 6 years in Canada, Chile, and Argentina.  He is calm and patient, but strives to challenge his students and get everything he can out of them.