Simone Williamson

I am blown away by all the technical and skills-based knowledge I have gained so far this ski season with my mentor, Sarah. Sarah has shown me how to backcountry trip plan efficiently - helping to build my confidence in trip decision making and assessment. I've also learned how to skin up icy sections of a trail with a new hiking technique that Sarah showed me - an area that I had been struggling with. I've also improved my ski form and just generally feel more all around confident. This mentorship program has also been a process of sharing knowledge back and forth, as I feel I've brought a lot to the discussion as a mentee. Our relationship as mentor and mentee been about mutual respect, communication and safety, which is the dream.

Laura Krosen

Backcountry skiing is a dynamic sport: you never get the same day twice. Each day out ski touring offers many types of challenges and triumphs and sharing these learning experience with a mentee is exceptionally rewarding. Being mentor challenges me to be the best ski partner and leader I can be while honing skills like how to communicate, sharing my knowledge and setting achievable goals.

Brett Trainor

I've lost track of the number of times I've been out with a group of women and heard someone express something along the lines of 'I have never been out with so many incredible women before'. I've also lost track of the number of times I've been out with a group of women and heard a man exclaim, "Oooooh, girls day!" Now, there's nothing inherently 'bad' about not having a group of women to be outside with (although assuming gender is certainly harmful). What is more fascinating to me, is the uniqueness and surprise expressed in both of these remarks. After 5 years of Mountain Mentors, I almost live in a bubble where it seems normal to be surrounded by other women outside. In those moments, I am reminded that for most, seeing women leading and supporting women is, quite literally, remarkable.Somehow, despite all of the 'knowing' about how more diverse groups make better decisions and drive increased performance, we are still living in environments where the novelty of a group of women recreating together is worth remarking upon. When will that change? There's nothing wrong with being surprised, but what will it take for spaces that center women to be so commonplace that instead of stopping to comment, we just smile and get on with our day?Mountain Mentors has always been about celebrating our differences AND our collective humanity - we can't have safety until everyone feels safe, until everyone belongs, until everyone is welcome. After five years of mentorship programming, we still have a long way to go to achieving our vision of 'backcountry spaces where everyone belongs and feels safe.' One thing I know for certain is that there's nothing unique or surprising about a confident, capable woman - I've had the absolute pleasure of meeting hundreds of them over the past five years.

Emma MOstrom

I am so grateful for this opportunity and have got far more out of it than I could have ever imagined. I’m still far from super confident but am learning to trust my own mind and decisions. My mentor is the coolest person I’ve ever met, and has been sharing her knowledge and given me tools to make better, safer decisions.

Petra giacomelli

After being part of the program for over three years now (as a Mentor and Mentee), I can clearly say I feel a deep passion and ‘inner fire’ for MM. From the first moment on, I felt welcomed and a place/space where I belong. It gives me the great opportunity to meet like-minded people, create new friendships as well as building my skillset and confidence. To me its strong empowerment, knowledge sharing and community building through accessibility and trust. I have met amazing people which became my best friends and most reliable backcountry partners. I have had my best outdoor-experiences with my mentees and the cohort exploring new areas, shredding lines and powder, reaching benches and ridges, enjoying full-moon skiing on our Wendy Thompson Hut trip and facing great challenges which let us grow inside-and outside of our comfort zone. With MM I can be me while being and learning with others.

Sydney Badger

Being a part of Mountain Mentors has helped me see and stand strongly in my own skills, capacity and communication. Over these past two winters, the learning moments I've experienced with my mentee have helped me step into vulnerability, name my own insecurities, and also recognize the areas where I can feel more confident in what I have to offer the backcountry experience. I've been so pleasantly surprised by the depth of this community, and consider the friends I've made through MM to be of utmost quality!

Rosie Langford

Over my five years of involvement, I can sincerely say that Mountain Mentors and the community that fuels it have been the wind at my back in for my personal growth and development. As a mentor, I’ve learned how to listen and how to respond to needs of others and myself with compassion and courage. As a mentee, I grew into confidence as a learner and into the validity (and importance!) of my pursuits, uncertainties, objectives, and fears. As Program Director, I had the utmost privilege of witnessing 60 relationships build and the power that trusting relationship hold, individually and collectively. And now, in my current role, I am energized and impassioned not only by the participants of Mountain Mentors, but also by an incredible team dedicated to creating safe and welcoming spaces in the outdoors. I have learned so much already and am sure that, in the coming years, the effects of this community and the experiences I have had within it will continue to surface in unexpected, exciting, and extraordinary ways. For that, I have so much thanks to give to Mountain Mentors.

Devon Denis

I have been part of this amazing program for two seasons now, and I have learned and grown so much throughout. I am so grateful to have this amazing platform where womXn in the Sea to Sky can develop their confidence and decision-making skills in the back-country. I have been a mentor both seasons, and feel each time that I get so much value through leading by example. My mentees, but also the community, events, courses and supports have enhanced my experience in this corridor. The womxn I have mentored are incredible; I hope to meet and work with many more!

Cohort Highlights