Thursday, August 12, 2010

Team FA Shisha

Kim Havell

Based in Telluride, Colorado, Kim Havell began her career in the mountains, innocently enough, as an alpine ski coach. From there, she gradually made the transition to climbing and ski mountaineering, and has since been a guest instructor for the San Juan Outdoor School, CVA, and Babes in the Backcountry, guided for H2O Heli Guides, and is an eleven year member of the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team, with medical and rescue certifications. Her other sponsors include Backcountry.com, Black Diamond, BUFF, SUUNTO, Smith Optics and Salomon skis. Kim has made numerous first female descents in Southwest Colorado, climbed and skied both the Grand Teton and Mt. Moran in a 2 day period, completed multiple ascents/descents of 13ers & ten 14ers in Colorado, and cut lines on peaks in France, Italy, Canada, Switzerland, Alaska, Russia, and Japan. She has also climbed several peaks in the Himalayas including Lobuche (6553m) and Ama Dablam (6888m) in Nepal, as well as an expedition to Gasherbrum II (8032m), Pakistan, with some skiing from 7315m, a women's expedition that skied from the summit of Denali (6194m), an Argentina trip of multiple ski descents in the Horcones Valley and on Aconcagua, and a recent ski expedition to the Central High Atlas Mtns of Morocco with 6 summit ski descents. Kim is also a ski model and guide for the Telluride Ski Resort, a live host for Live Sauce Media, and has a passion for climbing the desert rock of Indian Creek, UT.

Read more about Kim Havell at: www.havelltravels.com



Todd Passey

A native of Utah, Todd grew up skiing and playing in the mountains. After graduating from the Parks and Recreation department from the University of Utah he took his passion and developed it into a profession.

Todd has been a professional mountain guide for 9 years and has guided all over the world including Tibet, Europe, South America, across the Western United States, with his two areas of expertise in the high, cold mountains of Antarctica and Alaska. Todd has Summited Mt. Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak 14 times. One of these summits was a first ascent of the 5000’ West Face (AAJ 2005 Purple Haze Coulior) He has also ski guided Mt. Vinson, skiing from the summit to base camp. Other achievements in Antarctica include guiding Mt. Shinn (Antarctica’s 3rd highest summit) and guided a last degree ski to the South Pole. In Alaska he has made numerous guided and personal Ascents including; Denali’s Cassin Ridge, 13 expeditions on Denali’s West Buttress, Mt. Hunter, Peak 11,300, The Mooses Tooth, Mt. Dicky and Mt. Barill. Although he specializes in the high and Cold, Todd is a solid all arounder, with highly technical routes like the Walker Spur on the Grand Jorasses and the Gervasutti Pilar on Mont Blanc du Tacul, as examples of his wide range of ability.

A ski guide and avalanche professional, Todd has the experience knowledge and ability to asses the conditions and hazards in order to make informed decisions.

A natural leader, Todd loves his profession and continues to seek out knowledge and improve his skills. He is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide. He is also an IFMGA aspirant, lacking only his Alpine Exam which he plans to complete in the Fall of 2010. He has also completed his Avalanche Level III training and is a Wilderness First Responder.

Learn more about Todd on his website http://www.inthecompanyofguides.com/





Mark Fisher


Mark Fisher
Mark began his mountain adventures by rappelling off multi-story parking structures at night during high school. Since then, Mark has climbed and skied throughout the world on numerous expeditions. He has worked as a guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, for Alpine Ascents International both on Denali as well as internationally, and as a senior instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. Equally at home on rock, ice, alpine, or on skis, Mark simply loves being in the mountains. Some of his most memorable trips are successful ascents of the Cassin Ridge(Alaska Grade V) on Denali, and Porte du Chaos(V 5.10 A2) on the North Face of the Eiger. Mark is a Wilderness First Responder and has Level III Avalanche certification. He has called Victor, Idaho home for the last 9 years. Mark works as a professional photographer focusing on action sports, outdoor lifestyle, and environmental portraiture.

To view some of Mark’s photography work, please visit: www.markfisherphoto.com



Andy Tankersley


Growing up in Golden Colorado I was extremely lucky to be exposed to skiing and the mountains at a young age. After a childhood spent ski racing I began climbing and exploring deeper into the mountains. Since graduating from Colorado College with a degree in Geology I have worked almost exclusively in the mountains.

I have spent the last decade working in Outdoor Education, Guiding, and climbing and skiing for myself. I have worked for NOLS around the world, in the Indian Himalaya, Patagonia, Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest, the Waddington Range and extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains. I am senior staff at NOLS with over 175 weeks spent on courses and expeditions. I have spent the past couple winters supervising the Teton backcountry ski and snowboard program. I remain involved in NOLS instructor training and development programs. I currently work for Exum Mountain Guides, guiding many Grand Teton ascents, as well as other technical alpine objectives in the Tetons. I have guided both the West Buttress and the Muldrow routes on Denali, and worked and climbed throughout the Alaska Range. I am a current Wilderness First Responder and have Level III avalanche certification.