Guides and Staff

Our Staff are dedicated professionals who live, work, and play in the Canadian Rockies! Great people to spend time in the mountains with, they will ensure that you enjoy the best active mountain adventure that we can provide!

Yamnuska Team

David Begg

Past owner and now Associate Director of Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, David grew up in New Zealand where he began a life-long commitment to mountaineering when he was 16. New Zealand's Southern Alps were a perfect place to develop as a serious mountaineer. Upon graduation from University in 1975 he abandoned academia in favor of a mountain lifestyle. Between forays to climb in Europe and Alaska he also began working as a guide in New Zealand's premier mountain region, Mt. Cook. After qualifying as an internationally certified mountain guide in 1983 David emigrated to Canada where a few short years later he found himself at the helm of Yamnuska which he then directed for 21 years.

David continues his connection with Yamnuska and particularly enjoys guiding ski mountaineering and introducing beginners to backpacking and mountaineering in the summer. He especially appreciates seeing his clients discovering the mountains the way he did 30 years ago in New Zealand. He lives in Canmore with his wife Maria, also a guide and Associate Director.

Adam Burrell

Adam grew up in Thunder Bay paddling canoes and kayaks, hiking and trying to rock climb in running shoes at the local bluffs. After a Kinesiology degree in Winnipeg, he just had to move further west and started guiding expedition canoe and rafting trips in the NWT on the South Nahanni River in 2004. After hiking 2 long distance trails in early 2000, the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest Trail, he decided that it was time to pursue guiding as a profession.

Adam started working as a hiking guide and ski instructor for Yamnuska in 2008, and is working toward his full guide certification. He spends the off-season rock climbing and mountain biking with his wife Joanna, usually somewhere warm and sunny!

Kevin Blades

I have sometimes thought of going away, but I imagined that as a kind of holiday, a series of adventures like Bilbo's or better, ending in peace." - Frodo Baggins

"After last year's hiking and backpacking season I made the move to Kimberley, B.C., a small  town in the Purcell Mountains. For the winter I was forced to ski lot's of powder and fix broken body parts when I took the job of ski patrolling at the local hill (it was rough).  Since then I've been exploring the Purcells on ski, foot and bike waiting for the summer season to begin again."

Kevin has been working in the Outdoor Industry for more than 15 years and has guided trips in the Coast Mountains and the Rockies. Kevin is also a  Red Cross First Aid Instructor. 

He's also trekked the Tongariro Circuit in New Zealand, climbed Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, cycle toured S.E. Asia for a year and backpacked a number of never-before-done trips in the Canadian Rockies. He's trekked, cycled and climbed the world over  and wants to bring the fun, passion and beauty of our natural world to you.

 Alison Cardinal

Alison is originally from Northern Ireland, and after completing a degree in Geology from Glasgow University, she moved to Canada and has been involved in the guiding and ski industry ever since.

She now lives in Canmore with her husband. In the winter season she's a ski guide and instructor then switches to backpacking and hiking in the summer. A committed mountain person, she  enjoys rock climbing and mountaineering in her free time.

Maria Cashin

Maria is an Associate Director of Yamnuska and past owner. She continues to work with Yamnuska overseeing and guiding on the hiking programs and working as a ski instructor. She originally hails from Newfoundland, but has resided in and near the Canadian Rockies since 1989 developing a strong love of the mountains and mountain activities. She has also worked as a geologist, cave guide, and interpretive guide for the Burgess Shale fossil beds in Yoho National Park.

Maria’s passion for outdoor pursuits has taken her all over the world. In addition to hiking and backpacking these include cave exploration, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, climbing and geology. Maria’s extensive travels have reinforced that the Canadian Rockies are a wonderful backyard with world class hiking and backpacking. She truly enjoys spending time on the local hiking trails and sharing her extensive knowledge of the natural history and love of the mountains with her guests. Maria resides in Canmore with her husband David.

Tamara Dykshoorn

Tamara was fortunate to grow up in the western prairies of Canada and since 1994 called Alberta her home.  After completing Outdoor Pursuits education she has spent the last 11 years introducing and leading teens, adults and seniors in a broad variety of outdoor adventures.

In 2006 she first came to Yamnuska to teach ski programs and continues to work with them year round.  She is also an Emergency Medical Responder with the Alberta College of Paramedics. 

Her Interests in the off season and summer include single-track mountain biking, rock climbing and fly fishing in the alpine lakes and rivers.

In the winter season, backcountry skiing is her true passion.  Tamara lives near Canmore with her husband Nick and their German shorthaired pointer, Sage.

Kristen Stuart

Kristen loves nothing more than sharing the beauty of the Rockies with hiking and trekking clients from around the world. Growing up enjoying the outdoors in northern Alberta, she backpacked her way across several continents before eventually choosing the mountains as her home. She has been working as a hiking guide in the Canadian Rockies for the past 6 years guiding a variety of hiking and interpretive trips in both summer and winter. You are most likely to meet her leading the "Canadian Rockies Walking Tour" and "Glacier Views" walking programs.

Kris has a strong passion for yoga and has combined this with her love for the mountains through her business called "OM Mind-Body Fitness", working as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor. By facilitating workshops and retreats, she strives to help people reconnect with themselves and their environment through self-reflection, yoga practice, hiking and meditation. Kris invites you to join her this fall on a Yamnuska yoga and hiking retreat for a weekend of "Renewal In the Rockies".

In her spare time you will find her pursuing her passions in the mountains for rock, ice and alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, practicing Ashtanga yoga or trekking and exploring mountain ranges around the world. She lives in Canmore with her mountain guide husband, Mike.

Director of Operations, Dave Stark

Dave is a fully-certified Mountain Guide and is responsible for guiding operations, guide training and supervision.  Dave began his mountaineering in the 1970's and brings his dry wit and attention to detail to many Yamnuska programs.

Office Manager, Sylvia Watson

Sylvia graduated from our Mountain Skills Semester in 2002 and then, deciding to relocate to Canmore from Ontario, she joined the Yamnuska team. In 2005 Sylvia was promoted to the Office Manager, overseeing the accounting and finance and assisting with logistics and marketing projects. She is a keen rock climber and skier and competes in many running & cycling events, having recently taken up duathlons and triathlons. Sylvia is a certified nordic ski instructor with the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors. 
 

Customer Service, Andrew Stevens

Andrew joined our team in 2006. Originally from Ontario, Andrew has a background in tropical ecology and guided and taught natural history programs and river trips in Central America. Drawn to our mountains and considerably more temperate climate, Andrew now calls Canmore home.