Our Guides

Owners/Guides

Co-owner Jeff Jung has been professionally skiing in the Tetons since 1994 as a lead patroller at Grand Targhee Resort and as a backcountry guide for Rendezvous Ski Tours. Jeff has skied extensively throughout the western United States, with exploration spanning from Alaska's Chugach Range to the Sierra Nevada of California, throughout British Columbia and Wyoming's Teton Range where ski descents include Buck Mountain and Mt. Moran as well as Mt. Rainier in Washington and Mt. Logan in the Canadian Yukon.

Jeff is certified as an Outdoor Emergency Care Technician and an EMT. He holds a Level III Guides Avalanche Certification from the American Avalanche Institute in Wilson, WY, and has been trained under the guidelines of the AMGA participating in the Ski Guide course in Wyoming and the Ski Mountaineering Guide Course in Valdez, Alaska. In addition to free and fixed heel ski mountaineering, Jeff is an avid rock climber and mountain biker.

Co-owner Diane Verna has been a professional backcountry ski guide in the Tetons since 1996. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education from Prescott College in Arizona. Her studies combined natural history interpretation with outdoor recreation skills. She has worked for Outward Bound as a Field Instructor in Montana's Beartooth Mountains, in the Adventure Education Department for Prescott College as a Backcountry Skiing Instructor, and has instructed Nordic skiing for various institutions.

Diane is certified as a Wilderness First Responder from the Wilderness Medical Associates of NOLS and has been an EMT for Teton County, Idaho. She is certified in Nordic Instruction from the Professional Ski Instructors of America and has studied Avalanche Forecasting under Jerry Roberts on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Diane has participated in the AMGA Ski Guide course in Wyoming and the Ski Mountaineering Guide Course in Valdez, Alaska. In the summer months, Diane guides interpretive day-hikes and backpacking trips in the Tetons.

Ski & Snowboard Guides

Wes Bunch has been an Exum guide since 1994 and has spent many years ski mountaineering in the Tetons. Ski descents include the Grand Teton, Gannett Peak, Mt. Moran and Mt. Rainer as well as ski traverses of the Alps, Tetons, Wind Rivers and in Alaska. Wes guides on Aconcagua in South America and he is also a Ski Mountaineering Instructor in the Tetons. He enjoys randonee skiing and backcountry snowboarding and is Level III Avalanche certified from AAI. Last winter, Wes guided on climbs on Aconcagua.

Derek Ellis has been exploring the Teton backcountry since 1993 and has worked for Rendezvous since 1999. He is always excited to share his knowledge of the ever-changing dynamic of snow, weather, and mountains that each day of backcountry skiing presents. Derek spent 8 years traveling the West and Alaska broadening his knowledge of mountain weather and risk management as a wildlands firefighter in the summers and returning to Teton Valley for the winters. He now pairs ski guiding with native plant restoration, making his home year-round in the Tetons. His love of skiing has taken him from the Alaska Range to the Andes of South America. Although a devotee of the efficiency and safety of alpine touring gear, Derek is always looking for an excuse to float big telemark turns in the deep Teton powder.

Laurie Davis Shepard arrived in the Tetons in 1982 as an intern for the Wilderness Education Association. During her first few years in Teton Valley, Laurie met up with many mentors paving the way for her guiding career. After guiding for two summers in New Zealand, she moved to Jackson in 1986 where she taught Nordic skiing and led backcountry ski tours on Teton Pass for the Jackson Hole Nordic Center. Laurie became a Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Backcountry Guide in 1990 where she is still currently employed. After stepping down as head guide for six years, Laurie decided to branch out and started working with Rendezvous Backcountry Tours in 2004. She is currently certified as an Outdoor Emergency Care Technician and holds a Level 111 Guides Avalanche Certification from the American Avalanche Institute. Laurie resides in Durango, Colorado with her husband Charlie and her daughter Abbey, however her passion for guiding and skiing in the Tetons keeps her and her family coming back each winter.

Erika Eschholz is a longtime outdoor educator and guide who loves the fresh air and big mountain views. She believes that time in the hills can inspire people to appreciate life and bring out the best of the human spirit. She is delighted to help others experience the wonders of the snowy mountains and the simple bliss of sliding down slopes on skis. Erika has been leading people in the great outdoors since 1990. Some of Erika‘s favorite places explore include Garwal, Himalayas, Brooks Range, AK, Coast Range, and the Selkirk Mts of BC. She has traveled as far afield as Antarctica. When there is little to no snow in the mountains Erika can be found growing organic vegetables at Snowdrift Farm, Victor ID, where she and her cat Zibeboo live in a small off-the-grid cabin.  Come visit Erika anytime of year and reap the harvests of the season in the Tetons be it powder or peas.

Eric Henderson has lived and skied in the Tetons since 1996 where skiing has remained his passion and profession. Eric is a level III certified PSIA telemark instructor and has taught telemark skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort since 1995 . Currently Eric is also acting as an alpine guide for the Resort. Eric’s commitment to the avalanche community is shown through his teaching of avalanche courses, co-founding the Jackson hole local avalanche bulletin (www.jhsnowobs.org), attaining his level III American Avalanche Institute certification and his level I Canadian Avalanche Association Certification. Eric’s guiding career also spans to the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia where he has worked as a tail guide and snow slave. Most recently Eric’s accomplishments include a telemark descent of the Grand Teton, first descents in the Altai mountains of northern China, and a telemark first descent of Chenzen peak (7,000 meters ) in the Everest region of Tibet.

Tony Jewell grew up in the California suburbs, but once he visited the mountains of Wyoming, he knew he found home! Tony has been backcountry skiing since the mid-seventies and loves sharing his passion with others. In 1980 he started working for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is one of their senior instructors with over 450 weeks in the field. Many of these weeks involved extensive winter expeditions. Tony is a dedicated telemark skier and  has been a Nordic ski instructor for over 25 years including 14 seasons at Grand Targhee.   Tony has traveled, climbed and led trips in many mountain ranges around the world including Alaska, Canada, Pakistan, India and New Zealand. He lives in Victor, Idaho with his wife Deb and son Logan.

Josh Parker moved to the Tetons in 2001 to live his life in the mountains. It was here he found the rewards of sharing those experiences with others, which led to his pursuing a career as a mountain professional. Josh is qualified by the Wilderness Medical Institute as a First Responder, holds a Professional Level III certification from the American Avalanche Institute and is now working towards receiving AMGA certification as a Ski Mountaineering Guide. Known for his outgoing nature, exceptional enthusiasm and love of skiing, Josh spends as much time as he can in the backcountry whether exploring some of the steepest places in the range or its many powder stashes. His other experience includes working summers on Forest Service fire crews, counseling at-risk children, wetland restoration, surfing in Central America and woodworking. He recently finished construction and moved into his small cabin outside of Driggs.

Lynne Wolfe is a long-time resident of the Greater Yellowstone area. She is the editor of The Avalanche Review, which is published 4 times a year. She is a Certified Avalanche Instructor through the American Avalanche Association, and teaches a variety of avalanche courses throughout the winter. Lynne loves to ski fresh powder deep in the backcountry with her husband Dan Powers and black dogs Pancho and Chili. She can be found drinking strong coffee or dark beer, and will always accept chocolate from anyone.  Lynne enjoys breaking trail to get to great powder skiing and she will help you refresh your avalanche  skills in the Teton backcountry.