Guides

Born and raised in Eastern Washington, Layne discovered climbing, skiing, and mountaineering during college and quickly turned that spark into a career in the mountains. He has since guided extensively across the American West and internationally, with climbing and skiing travels spanning more than 20 countries. From teaching rock and glacier skills to leading multi-day alpine objectives, he brings a wide breadth of experience to the teams he works with.

Off the mountain, Layne lives in Montana, where he balances work in social services and construction with continued training and exploration. His guiding is shaped by a background in youth outdoor programs, ministry, social work, and community development, giving him a deep appreciation for the ways shared adventure can foster resilience, confidence, and connection. Known for his thoughtful leadership and dedication to client growth, Layne thrives in helping others reach new summits, both literal and personal.

Pablo Kuntz is an experienced high-altitude mountain and expedition guide with more than two decades of professional guiding across the Andes and the great ranges of the world.

Based in Mendoza, Argentina, Pablo has led over 35 successful expeditions to Aconcagua via all major routes and guided climbers on many of South America’s 6,000-meter peaks, from Ojos del Salado to Llullaillaco. His career has also taken him to the Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir, and Caucasus ranges, where he has led technical climbs, ski expeditions, and remote treks. Known for his meticulous approach to safety and logistics, Pablo combines deep regional expertise with international expedition leadership experience in Pakistan, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia.

Passionate about giving back to the climbing community, Pablo is an instructor at the Argentine School of High Mountaineering (EAAM) and teaches avalanche forecasting, wilderness medicine, mountain rescue, and backcountry ski techniques to the next generation of guides. He is fluent in six languages, holds advanced certifications in avalanche science and wilderness first response, and has a reputation for adapting expeditions to meet the needs of diverse climbers—including successfully guiding adaptive athletes to high-altitude summits.

With his breadth of experience, commitment to safety, and ability to inspire confidence in the mountains, Pablo brings unmatched depth and professionalism to every expedition.

Born and raised in Patagonia, Gianni Capano has been guiding professionally since 1999 and is widely recognized as one of South America’s foremost Aconcagua specialists. With nearly 50 successful ascents on the mountain and extensive experience guiding in the European Alps, the Himalaya, and across the Andes, Gianni brings both breadth and depth to every expedition.

Beyond the climbs themselves, he has played an integral role in advancing guide education, serving as an instructor, course director, and international representative for certification and training initiatives. His expertise spans technical alpine guiding, avalanche forecasting, ski safety, and operations management, all anchored in a career built on safety, logistics, and client care. Fluent in Spanish and English, with additional proficiency in German and Italian, Gianni embodies professionalism and passion, making him a trusted leader in the world’s high places.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Stephanie now calls the foothills home, where the mountains are both her backyard and her inspiration.. With more than a decade of experience in the outdoor industry spanning ski instruction, ski school management, product marketing, and customer success, she has built a career at the intersection of adventure and strategy. She is also pursuing her Outdoor Industry MBA at Western Colorado University, combining her professional expertise with advanced studies in sustainable business and product management.

In her role with Climbing the Seven Summits, Stephanie is focused on creating a thoughtful and seamless guest experience. She’s often the first point of contact, offering guidance, answering questions, and ensuring climbers feel supported from the moment they begin planning their expedition. Her approach blends professionalism with genuine care, helping guests focus on the climb while knowing every detail has been carefully handled.

As an outdoor enthusiast herself, Stephanie understands the challenges and rewards of time in the mountains. Whether skiing fresh lines in the backcountry, climbing at her local crag, or exploring trails on her mountain bike, she brings firsthand knowledge of the adventure lifestyle to her work. Her goal is to help every guest feel prepared, confident, and inspired as they take on journeys of a lifetime.

Ty is originally from Kemmerer, Wyoming, where he grew up climbing in the Wind River Range and other rugged corners of his home state. Ty’s interests span from alpine objectives to sport climbing and the various disciplines that connect them all. Currently, he is working toward his IFMGA certification through the AMGA. In conjunction with his AMGA training and coursework, Ty is continuing his education in Organizational Leadership with plans to pursue a master’s degree. He already holds a degree in Outdoor Education and Leadership from Central Wyoming College.

In his community, Ty serves as a high-angle rescue team lead for the Lander Search and Rescue (Wyoming).

In both academic and professional work, Ty centers his endeavors around Habit-Based Resilience—a framework he developed to bridge the gap between leadership theory and the realities of high-consequence environments. His approach to guiding is built around systems that hold under pressure, emphasizing clarity, adaptability, and disciplined decision-making in the mountains.

Tate grew up in a small town in Western Wyoming, exploring the nearby mountain ranges. While working on a Forest Service trail crew in high school, a coworker showed Tate “the ropes” of rock climbing, and his love for climbing technical mountains began. Since then, Tate has worked with Climbing Ranger teams in Grand Teton (US), Denali (US), and Aoraki/Mount Cook (NZ) National Parks, as well as guided in Denali National Park for multiple seasons. Before that, he attended Utah State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Outdoor Adventure Leadership. In the winter months, Tate resides in Bozeman, MT, ski patrolling at Big Sky Resort. In his free time, Tate is often found in the mountains, but he also enjoys good food and live music.

Raised on the Mornington Peninsula in southeast Australia, Tom didn’t grow up near the mountains—but his passion for pushing physical limits in harsh, unpredictable environments inevitably led him to them. What began as a personal pursuit quickly turned into a deep love for high-altitude adventure, sparked by successful expeditions on Aconcagua, Mount Elbrus, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tom plays a key role on our Kosciuszko Winter Ascent and Australian Alpine Academy programs, assisting with guiding and sharing his wealth of experience. With multiple seasons in Australia’s alpine backcountry under his belt, Tom takes pride in helping beginner clients build confidence and develop the essential skills needed to take on bigger, more demanding mountains.

When he’s not in crampons, Tom trades them for trail shoes—competing in some of the toughest ultramarathons in Australia and around the world, including Everest 135, Down Under 135, and the Unreasonable EAST 200-miler. He has also represented Australia at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships multiple times.