Meet the Professionals - The ATS Team

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Basecamp>Instructors

Alpine Training Services Instructors

We are committed to providing the most qualified instructors and guides in the industry. Each of our programs is led by a senior instructor who specializes in the particular location and technical sport in which you are participating. Our staff holds certifications from industry agencies including the American Mountain Guide Association, American Canoe Association, Professional Climbing Instructors Association, Peak Rescue Institute, Rescue 3 International, Wilderness Medicine Institute, Spec Rescue, our in-house West Coast Canyoneering Methodology, and the Leave No Trace Institute. The list of staff below is a partial list and gives you an idea of the experts who lead our programs.

	Darren Jeffrey Managing Director Darren Jeffrey, the president of ATS, has pioneered the sport of canyoneering in the United States over the last decade, including over 100 canyoneering first descents in Hawaii, Arizona, California, Washington and Utah. His innovative techniques and gear designs have continued to push the sport forward, increasing safety margins across the board. With a varied range of certifications including PCIA, AMGA, NFPA, and SRT and an extensive history of life experiences, Darren is easily one of the most skilled canyoneering instructors in the world and one of the top rock climbing and canyoneering instructors at ATS. Full Bio
	Travis McDaniel Director of Operations A co-founder of the WCCM and Vice-President of ATS shows the passion Travis holds toward the sport of canyoneering and adventure in general. Travis is a true adventurer at heart and when not off saving the planet, he can be found searching out new locations for future trips. With certifications from Rescue 3, WMI, and the PCIA, Travis continues to teach adventures in every discipline as one of our most requested guides. Full Bio
	Chase Rivera Tactical Operations Director Chase Rivera, a certified ACA whitewater kayak instructor, has an in-depth fitness background with multiple certifications from the NASM. The Fitness and MultiSport Director for ATS since 2007, Chase has proven himself in the field many times over and freely dispenses his extensive knowledge on the human body. If you go on one of our many kayak adventures, chances are good Chase will be there. Full Bio
	Brent Fidler Marketing Director In addition to serving as the marketing director and generally running day to day office operations for ATS, Brent also leads many of our backpacking programs. With multi-day expeditions ranging from the High Sierra to Alaska to the desert under his belt, Brent is a knowledgeable instructor in the field. With a seemingly endless sense of adventure and youthful enthusiasm, Brent is a great instructor to spend a week in the field with.
	Kegan Allee In addition to being a Wilderness First Responder, Kegan holds certifications from the WCCM and the PCIA. Her experience in rock climbing, canyoneering, kayaking, and backpacking round out her as one of our best all-around instructors. You'll often find her leading one of our adventurous multi-day multisports.
	Gavin Santillan Gavin Santillan is one of the most highly skilled instructors at ATS. Whether off exploring new slot canyons in Utah, rock climbing in Los Angeles, or dreaming of the jungle rainforests in Mexico, Gavin has adventure on the brain. Gavin can frequently be found leading canyoneering programs and teaching our survival school. A natural born teacher, Gavin effortlessly imparts his extensive knowledge to all his students.
	Dave Redman Dave is a very patient instructor filled with a boundless depth of knowledge about the natural and geological world. He has experience with canyons in Utah, the Sierra, Southern California, and some incredible swiftwater routes in Maui. Ask him to tell you a story and you'll no doubt hear him describe routes of such beauty and unknown, you'll want to be a canyoneer for the rest of your life. Dave holds the WCCM certification and medical training from the Wilderness Medicine Institute.
	Chuck Chapman You would be hard pressed to find a more honorable human than Chuck Chapman. A native of Arizona, Chuck spends every second of his free time researching and exploring adventures throughout the Southwest. With extensive experience in desert survival, Chuck always has a good story to tell. Being a patient teacher has made Chuck our top instructor in Arizona. Chuck holds a WMI Wilderness First Responder certification, the WCCM certification and a PADI Divemaster certification.
	Johnnie Braden Johnnie has an extraordinary passion for showing people the natural world. His thirst for adventure is only quenched when he is able to show people a side of nature very few ever witness. With ATS, WMI, and Rescue 3 certifications, Johnnie is a great instructor to trust in the field. When not off exploring the deserts of Death Valley or the rainforests of Maui, Johnnie can be found leading canyoneering, trekking, and survival schools courses.
	Nick Stentzel We consider ourselves lucky to have Nick as our photography school instructor. Nick has traveled extensively, shooting documentary films and photography around the globe. He has spent time photographing the "invisible children" of Northern Uganda, hiking through the Andes Mountains in Peru, and wandering the streets of Singapore. He has also lived in Australia and Brazil for extended periods, enjoying life in the Southern Hemisphere.
	J.J. Getskow J.J. has completed extensive training in a variety of fields to present himself as an expert guide. JJ can be found assisting with canyoneering and rock climbing programs, when not off leading backpacking treks, or visiting jungles in remote corners of the globe. J.J. is WCCM certified, always quick with a joke and one of the most charismatic instructors we have.
	Spyros Vamvas Spy's enthusiasm for adventure and incredible sense of humor make him a prized instructor for ATS. With certifications from WMI and the WCCM, you will often find Spyros leading canyoneering programs in our many locales. In addition, Spyros is well versed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Spy spends his off days planning adventures to the distant corners of the globe and designing projects for the ATS Filmworks.
	Sandra Callan When Sandra is not backpacking through the Sierra or rock climbing in Yosemite, she can be found leading many of the multisport programs to our exotic locations. Sandra's heart truly lies in the outdoors and this love for adventure clearly shows on all her trips. WCCM, LNT, WMI certifications and a winning smile make Sandra a great asset to our team.
	Laura Bylund Laura has scaled big walls in Yosemite, hiked the Machu Picchu trail in Peru, climbed limestone rock in Thailand, and explored canyoneering routes throughout the Sierra. Her spirit for adventure keeps her travelling throughout the year, participating on as many ATS adventures as she can. Laura is a Wilderness First Responder, and holds certifications from the WCCM and PCIA.
	Jace Getskow Jace Getskow always finds peace in the middle of any chaotic canyoneering route. A natural at the sport, Jace sees waterfalls in his dreams. A kinesiology major has trained Jace on the movement of the human body making him a perfect teacher to instruct you on moving down and through a waterfall. Jace's patience for teaching and diligence make him a top instructor for ATS.
	R.B. Hopkins R.B. is one of the most easygoing guys you will ever meet. He is also one of our most well-rounded instructors and assists on our trekking, paddling, canyoneering, and rock climbing programs. On his off days, he can be found riding his horse through the local mountains, out exploring some single track on his bike, climbing some crags in Joshua Tree, or hiking through the Sierra.
	Josephine Kinney "Jo" is the newest addition to the ATS team and is serving as a Junior Instructor while learning the ropes. Jo has already impressed with us with her attention to detail and quick-learning. You'll most often find Jo out helping with our youth programs and she keeps her summers busy travelling around the globe making sure the ATS spirit is strong on all our programs. Jo holds certifications from the Wilderness Medicine Institute.

ATS stands for Alpine Training Services, LLC.

ATS Adventureworks specializes in canyoneering, rock climbing, technical mountaineering adventure courses domestically throughout California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Oregon; providing international training in Ireland, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Canada, Peru, Panama, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

ATS Filmworks provides specialty adventure film rigging and stunts for the film industry including work on the Amazing Race and The Biggest Loser.

ATS Tradeworks is a provider of professional elite training for service agencies and the military including rope rescue, confined space rescue, rappelling tactics, and swiftwater rescue.