12/02/2026
Staff Spotlight: Assistant Ski and Climb guide !
Scotty has been working professionally in the mountains both as an alpine/ski guide and an alpine rescue specialist since 2013. During that time, his work has taken him from the national parks of America to the ice fields of Antarctica and the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Scotty is an assistant mountain guide with the NZMGA as well as with the AMGA, and most recently spent the last three years working and living at the foot of Aoraki / Mount Cook. When not found in the high peaks, Scotty likes to spend his time catching waves on the East Coast, going on long trail runs, baking bread, and hosting game nights with friends.
🏔️What inspired you to want to become a mountain guide?
Mountain guiding is something that I stumbled into, ironically. As a kid, I didn’t grow up around alpine mountains, but spent time hunting and fishing with my dad. I was obsessed with cowboys to the point that I wanted to be one and went to the rodeo each year for my birthday for nearly a decade. In 2012, I was fortunate enough to work as a cowboy and wilderness ranger outside Yellowstone National Park, but I quickly realized that horses and trailers weren’t quite as travel-friendly as my skis and climbing gear. With that, I traded in my chaps and spurs for crampons and GORE-TEX. Since that summer, I’ve worked as a ski guide, an alpine guide, and an alpine rescuer on multiple international SAR teams. Throughout all that, I’ve been consistently learning international best practices, improving my proficiency, and honing my craft. It’s been a long journey, but achieving my Assistant Mountain Guide certificate with the NZMGA was a big accomplishment. Now, I’ve got my sights set on continuing to learn about New Zealand’s Southern Alps as part of Aspiring Guides’ team and passing my final Climb and Ski exams.
