Show Notes:

Holly’s Links:

• Holly’s profile on The Mountain Guides
• https://www.instagram.com/hollyismackin/

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, happy Wednesday! This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today, our guest is Holly Mackin.

When Holly was little, no one would have ever assumed she’d find her pursuits in the outdoors. Mostly scared of bugs and raised within the traditions of Catholic culture, it seemed highly unlikely she’d commit to a life living in and out of a van or tent. Something changed in high school when she needed an escape from the drama of her peers. She started running outdoors and practicing yoga religiously. She found herself going on mission trips abroad, which gave her more purpose.

When she decided to go to college at the University of Colorado Boulder, she was exposed to backcountry skiing and climbing. Already a runner, she scheduled her classes around soloing the Flatirons so she could take her practice to more interesting places. Throughout college, she spent summers in Grand Teton National Park, where she later planted roots as a mountain guide.

Her passion for rock climbing takes her to the Southwest every spring and fall, frequenting areas like Indian Creek, Red Rock Canyon, and Joshua Tree. In the winter, Holly is usually found in the Tetons, hunting for untouched powder and teaching snow science. She coordinates all women’s backcountry skiing and climbing programs for The Mountain Guides under the Women’s Network. This program also works to support newer women guides on their journey to becoming mountain guides.

Holly followed her heart to become a guide, cherishes the connections she builds with her clients and fellow guides, and has big dreams to make an impact. Now, please enjoy this episode with Holly Mackin.

Things We Talked about:

• From Kentucky to Colorado, following the love of skiing
• Environmental Anthropology and skiing brought Holly to Jackson Wyoming
• Inception of guiding and it all started at a juicery
• In college, Holly maximized her time being on the ski slopes and rock cliffs
• Got an internship at The Mountain Guides doing all sorts of chores and volunteering to shadow trips to get outdoors
• Right now at Teton Valley guiding skiing and teaching avalanche courses
• Feeling closer to her environmental goals guiding
• Holly’s environmental takes and views and how she uses conversations to remind people that we are part of nature
• Holly loves being outside and human connections
• Women’s Programs with The Mountain Guides – guides development and clients long term progression
• Outlook on guiding
• Beyond guiding, Holly wants to be an entrepreneur

Show Notes:

Jessica’s Links:

• Ski Diva (website)
• Jessica and Ski Diva’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skidiva
• Going Greenland Film
• RAD MOMS: JACKSON HOLE Pro Skiers Take on Motherhood and Skiing

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, happy Wednesday. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today our guest is Jessica Baker.

Former World Tour Freeskiing champion, professional mountain guide, and mother, Jessica Baker, has a knack for seeking out remote adventures. From a young age Jessica developed a love for wild and mountainous landscapes while growing up on a small farm in North Idaho. From the Arctic to the southernmost Andes, Jessica has spanned the globe with her ski and alpine endeavors and broken the ceiling for women in the mountain guiding profession. Jessica lives in Jackson, WY with her husband, a fellow mountain guide, and her two young daughters.

I had so much fun chatting with Jessica. Her passion for mountains and guiding reinforced my belief in adventures and why guides love sharing these experiences. Her commitment to give back to the community and desire to break barriers for people to access the sport of skiing was inspiring. I also admired her energy. She sustains a busy guiding schedule, mentors students, plans big trips and film projects, and raises two kids. She really made me want to ski again. I can’t wait for you to listen to Jessica’s amazing life stories as well.

Things We Talked about:

• Mountains have been part of Jessica’s life since young
• Cut teeth guiding in 2004 and started full time guiding in 2007
• Competition life – what is free skiing? It was judged by fluidity, speed, difficulty of line, and style
• How and what does free-skiing share with guiding?
• Came and settled down in Jackson, WY
• Was asked “Do you want to be a guide?” and audited at Exum Mountain Guides
• The meaning and the draw of guiding
• Became a mom in 2013
• Jessican’s time management strategy
• The inception of Ski Diva
• Does advanced skiing courses have a place in women’s program?
• The financial barriers getting into skiing
• Don’t want to let the sport of skiing die, so access is important
• Giving back to the community
• Going Greenland film project and climate change
• Future plans

Show Notes:

Brigitte’s Links:

• Beyond Limits Education Website: https://beyondlimitsedu.com

Episode Intro:

Happy Wednesday, my dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. This is your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. In today’s episode, I’m excited to catch up with my good friend Brigitte Denton. We met at a National Outdoor Leadership School Instructor Course back in 2008, and I can’t believe it has been almost 17 years!

Brigitte has lived in the Eastern Sierra (Mammoth Lakes, CA) since 2007, moving from Southern California, where she grew up with the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. She has a Bachelor of Science degree and teaching credential in Biological Sciences. Before moving to the Sierra, she spent 18 years as a Los Angeles County Fire Department Ocean Lifeguard and EMT, protecting the lives of beachgoers. She also spent seven years teaching middle school integrated science. In 2003, she became a Wilderness EMT and later left traditional K-12 teaching to pursue outdoor education.

Since 2007, Brigitte has guided and instructed courses in mountaineering, backpacking, and sea kayaking, exploring areas of Alaska, the continental U.S., and Europe. These days, Brigitte works for Mono County EMS as an Advanced EMT. She also runs her own business, Beyond Limits Education (BLE), teaching a variety of medical courses and providing education consulting and instructional design services.

Brigitte is an outstanding educator and passionate about helping people. She is tough and also has a very soft heart. In this episode, we dive deep into various topics related to education. She shares the twists and turns of her life, from school teacher to outdoor education and then to EMS. When I asked about how she dealt with burnout and depression, she opened up and shared her struggle and a slow recovery after a near-death accident. Fascinating stories! Now please enjoy this wonderful episode with Brigitte Denton.

Things We Talked about:

• 10 years of active guiding
• Pandemic changed Brigitte’s course
• City influence
• Connection with water
• Accidentally became a K-12 teacher after college
• From marine science to education
• burnout at K-12
• multiple jobs to make ends meet
• the guiding days
• longer expedition and group development
• what kind of guiding Brigitte loves
• what happened after pandemic?
• An ankle injury triggered deep thinking
• The EMS land
• what did Brigitte come out of depression and what did she learn from the near-death accident?
• Self-care