Balancing the desire to challenge both my mind and body has led me to a unique place in life, where I split my time between conducting exercise physiology research at the University of Montana and climbing and guiding around the world. My research specifically explores how athletes adapt to extreme environments—whether it’s intense heat, cold, or high altitude—many of these questions are inspired by my personal experiences climbing and guiding in the mountains. Additionally, I actively apply the science behind my research to help climbers prepare for and navigate their climbing journeys, both in training and on expeditions.

Reviews from CTSS Clients:

“Pega is a LEGEND,” – Seven Summits Finisher

“Pega’s attention to detail and clear and concise communication ensured we were an effective team. Continually alert to safety considerations, he did not ‘follow the herd’ but considered optimal routes for my capabilities. I am now a much better climber, thanks to Pega’s patient coaching. Pega’s competence in handling my evacuation due to unanticipated health issues was exemplary. If you climb with Pega, you will be in safe hands with world-class expertise. He can also teach you a few magic tricks and plays a mean game of ping-pong.” – 2024 Everest Summiteer 

One of the world’s best Himalayan guides, Pega Sherpa, is known for his technical skills, patience, and thoughtfulness while guiding. Because of this, Pega is also one of our most sought-after private guides on Everest.

Pega brings a remarkable resume, including 13x summits on 8,000-meter peaks, experience as a mountain and trekking guide across the Himalayas, and, most recently, one of our Star Guides on Kilimanjaro, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. In his free time, Pega is also a climbing instructor at the Khumbu Climbing Centre (KCC). He has completed both basic and advanced climbing courses with KCC and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). He has also completed his Rigging for Rescue and Wilderness First Responder courses in the USA.

Victoria has been climbing mountains for as long as she can remember.

She spent her winters as a child exploring the Austrian Alps, where she became passionate about spending time in the mountains and off-piste skiing. Victoria’s mountain endeavors have taken her all over the US, South America, and Europe. She has a background as a Registered Nurse and Ski Patroller, equipped to help keep everyone safe in the outdoors.

Victoria guides and instructs mountaineering and ski mountaineering in the summer, and backcountry skiing in the winter. She is especially passionate about creating access for all in outdoor spaces and helping aspiring mountain athletes learn new skills and achieve their goals.

Don hails from Port Ludlow in Washington, USA and is one of the most sought after senior guides in the world with over 23 years of climbing experience leading over 1,650 commercial trips across the globe.

His calm, cool, even keeled demeanour paired with an extraordinary work ethic, patience and kindness has seen him excel in the high mountains and become a client favorite. Always willing to go the extra mile to help those around him be safe and successful, Don has a natural ability at extreme altitude, a deep commitment to client care and a passion for the high Himalaya. In a previous career Don was a whitewater guide and a teacher and holds a Masters Degree.

Born and raised in Tsum, a remote Himalayan valley bordering Nepal and Tibet, Phunjo Jhangmu Lama is a mountaineer and a proud mother who also holds the women’s speed ascent for Mount Everest.

In 2024, Phunjo reclaimed this title and her place in the Guinness Book of World Records reaching the summit from base camp in just 14 hours and 31 minutes!

Phunjo grew up with her loving grandfather who was a yak herder, and at the time this duo made the eldest and youngest yak herder along the steep slopes of Ganesh Himal. Today, Phunjo is a Goodwill Ambassador for Nepal and the first and only female in Nepal certified for long-line helicopter rescuer. 

Phunjo’s climbing resume is just as impressive as her profession resume, including summits on Mount Everest, Cho Oyu (without supplemental oxygen, Denali, Aconcagua, Manaslu, Ama Dablam, and Lobuche. Those who want to climb with Phunjo should not only be physically strong, but also mentally strong with a sharp focus and respect for our Earth. She, like many Nepalese people, understand the power of the mountains and what they can do spiritually if you open yourself up. 

Raised in the mountains next to Bend, Oregon, Dani began her guiding career when she was still in high school, teaching her classmates how to backpack, rappel, white-water raft, and more. After leaving Oregon, she sought out other beautiful, mountainous areas and has lived or guided in New Zealand, Colorado, Alaska, Argentina, and New York. She graduated from Western Colorado University with her BA in Psychology & Sociology and currently lives in South Lake Tahoe with her partner Shelby and their dog Mongo.

Dani is an AMGA Apprentice Mountain Guide, a certified Wilderness First Responder, and has her AIARE Level II with hopes of becoming an AIARE Instructor. She believes the mountains can be a humbling yet empowering context. Through guiding, Dani loves using her skills to instruct and encourage others, especially those from marginalized communities, to become stronger, bolder versions of themselves. When she is not guiding on Komo Kulshan (Mt. Baker) for CTSS, you can find her instructing avalanche and backcountry ski clinics in the Carson Range, taking groups of women up high peaks in South America, or leading kayak trips on the beautiful Lake Tahoe. Off the clock, she enjoys working on her motorcycle, frequenting her local bowling alley, and taking extended vacations to surf in warm water.

“Kat and Dani are great instructors and guides. It’s not often you can come across guides who have done this so many times that they don’t naturally lose their “patience” when rookies like myself are clueless!

They deserve recognition, not only for this trip but for their experiences and expertise. From a personal standpoint, I was naturally a bit anxious to meet on Day 1. I think we can all agree that the Gear Check phase of an expedition can be stressful for everyone… but I didn’t experience that. Not once did I feel like I wasted money or was dumb for not having something, which is a first for me.

Kat and Dani set an immediate first impression of understanding and an approachable environment. No one was uncomfortable with them, which speaks to their character and professionalism but more so to their personal and natural leadership ability.”

– Adam F.

Washington-born and raised, Willie loves the mountains, rivers, and forests of the Pacific Northwest. An avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer, Willie travels to the Alaska Range for ski recreation and guiding on Denali. Throughout the winter, Willie can be found in the mountains of Washington, teaching avalanche safety and wilderness first responder skills and working for the Northwest Avalanche Center. During the spring and summer, you may find Willie on the volcanoes of Washington, observing the firnification of the snowpack or rafting the beautiful rivers of central Washington.

Originally from upstate New York, Mike grew up playing sports and spending time outside running, hunting, fishing, and participating in Boy Scouts. Mike ran his first long-distance event in high school and still considers himself an avid runner today. When Mike joined the Marine Corps, he discovered mountaineering while stationed on the West Coast. Today, Mike resides in Colorado, where he climbs, skis, and runs as much as he can while working to advance his guiding career through professional courses. Mike has climbed all over the United States and has high ambitions to continue climbing bigger and more technical mountains worldwide. 

Get to know Mike a little better in his Guide Spotlight on our blog.

Meet Stephanie, originally from the heart of the Midwest, whose journey spans from Indiana’s cornfields to Utah’s desert canyons. With over a decade of experience teaching environmental and outdoor education, from Chicago’s south side to the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico, Stephanie transitioned into the expedition and guiding realm with an open heart, ready for the adventure that lay ahead.

Though no longer in a formal teaching role, Stephanie remains a lifelong educator at heart. Her unwavering desire to inspire others serves as her guidepost. There is no doubt that she has a deep passion for helping others explore their potential in the outdoors.

But for Stephanie, it’s more than just getting outside. It’s about experiencing nature to its fullest. It’s opening up to the sights, sounds, and smells of the land, water, and air. It’s connecting with different cultures and ways of life. It’s finding time to look inwards and outwards. And finally, maybe even most importantly, it’s inspiring others to become stewards of our environment so future generations can fall in love with the same places we cherish.

When Stephanie isn’t typing up website copy or answering your most pressing questions about an upcoming expedition, you can find her hiking, backpacking, and paddling through some of the Colorado Plateau’s finest canyons. Every once in a while, she gets to dip her toes into the ocean and take advantage of her Advanced Open Water scuba certification – one of her favorite ways to fully immerse herself into the outdoor world.

Dani grew up camping, climbing, canoeing, and snowboarding with her family in Minnesota. She quickly fell in love with the outdoors and pursued an operations, management, and logistics career in the guiding industry. Dani has years of logistical experience for all Seven Summits and has worked on location in Argentina, Antarctica, and Alaska managing logistics for climbing and skiing expeditions.

Dani now lives in Wyoming and loves being a part of the incredible team at CTSS. She also works part time as a personal trainer, helping others reach their own mountain fitness goals. In her free time, Dani enjoys rock climbing, traveling, training, cooking, and running with her friends and family.