MEET OUR GUIDES

Andrew started skiing on the icy rolling hills of Pennsylvania. At first chance, he loaded all his belongings into an old pickup and drove to a somewhat random spot on a map in Colorado. Years later he would see “Aspen Extreme” and chuckle.

As the current Administrative Coordinator of Apex Mountain School, Max oversees marketing, social media, program development, day to day operations, and gear maintenance.

Elizabeth Schwab is an east coast ski racer turned backcountry skier. She has spent 5 winters teaching, skiing, and learning in the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado. She also works on the ambulance crew in Silverton along with Search and Rescue.

Chris Berdoulay has been a longtime guide at Apex Mountain School. He loves spending time with his family, is an active volunteer with Vail Mountain Rescue Group and works on the ambulance crew. Traveling has led him to hike and climb internationally. This lets Chris learn about other cultures.

Jack is our in house naturalist, with an incredible affinity for the world around him and everything Colorado has to offer. Having nearly completed every 14er in the State (multiple times), Jack is our Mt. Elbert specialist.

Chris has a strong passion for teaching outdoor-based skills and enjoys connecting with students while moving in the mountains.

Born in Chile, Aidan (he/him/his) spent much of his childhood living in South America before immigrating to the United States where he lives today. In the latter half of his childhood, Aidan called the mountains of Colorado home and grew up exploring his rugged backyard peaks through the lens of backcountry skiing and ultrarunning.

Devon Dennis grew up in Pennsylvania. There, he developed his love for outdoor activities through hiking, mountain biking and snowboarding.

Kerry is a retired Air Force pilot, ski guide and avalanche instructor with over 25-year’s experience in adult education and expedition planning. He has a passion for ski traverses and ski mountaineering racing.

Bob Pettit is passionate about climbing and outdoor adventures throughout the Southwest. He spends his summers in Vail and winters in Phoenix AZ, where he was born and raised.

Professionally, Andrew has served as an outdoor instructor for the CSU Outdoor program and as a teaching assistant for multiple outdoor leadership classes at CSU.

Bob Pettit is passionate about climbing and outdoor adventures throughout the Southwest. He spends his summers in Vail and winters in Phoenix AZ, where he was born and raised.

Apex’s passionate team player Kylee Smith is a loyal member of the office squad at Apex Mountain School. A definitive “yes” person, she dedicates her inquisitive and creative nature to assisting with tasks varying from marketing efforts to filing duties.

Jesse began his guiding journey as a teenager navigating whitewater rafts down the great rivers around the west. When there aren’t snowy mountains to guide, Jesse instructs Wilderness Medicine courses and guides multi-day bicycle trips.