POWDER SOUTH HELI-SKI guides stand as some of the most esteemed and respected professionals in the global heli-skiing community. Our guides hold UIAGM/IFMGA International Certification as Mountain Guides, showcasing their expertise and commitment to the highest standards. With decades of experience in the heli-ski industry, they have led expeditions in diverse locations worldwide, including Alaska, Greenland, Turkey, India, Canada, Russia, the Alps, Sweden, Japan, and South America.
Many of our guides not only bring their extensive knowledge and professionalism to POWDER SOUTH but also own and operate heli-ski operations in various parts of the world. This wealth of experience contributes to the exceptional quality of our heli-skiing adventures. As leaders in their profession, our guides prioritize your safety and ensure that you experience the best possible snow conditions and terrain for your enjoyment.
When you embark on a heli-skiing journey with POWDER SOUTH, you are accompanied by a team of guides who are not only experts in their field but are also dedicated to delivering an unforgettable and safe adventure.
Rodrigo Mujica - Director
An Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Mountain Guide, Rodrigo is the Director and Founder of POWDER SOUTH and has been a guide for 40 years. He has led 24 expeditions to Denali and 32 expeditions to Aconcagua -- the highest peaks in North and South America, respectively. He has been a member of expeditions to Shisha Pangma and Cho Oyu in the Himalaya, and his climbs in Patagonia include the North and Central Towers of Paine, Agujas Guillaumet and Poincenot, as well as Cerro Torre attempts. He's made Patagonian Ice Cap explorations including the first east-west traverse of the northern Ice Cap. He holds first ascents in Antarctica, the Andes and Alaska; speed ascents of Denali, Aconcagua, and Juncal. He's guided the Ellsworth Mountains and 8 trips to Antarctica and has extensive climbing and guiding experience in Yosemite and the Alps, including Frendo Spur and the Grand Jorasses. He's a former Technical Committee member for the American Mountain Guides Association and a former Senior Guide at Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rodrigo is the owner of AVENTURAS PATAGONICAS Mountain Guides and speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.
Joaquin Oyarzun - Director
Joaquin is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of POWDER SOUTH HELI-SKI GUIDES. A former Olympic skier, Joaquin raced for eight years on the World Cup speed skiing circuit and finished his career at the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France. He became a Professional Ski Instructor at the ENSA in Chamonix in 1985. His mountain experience includes five successful Aconcagua ascents, many Central Andes peaks and several expeditions to 8,000-meter peaks in the Himalayas, including Shisha Pangma (Central Summit), Cho Oyu (Camp 2), and Manaslu (Camp 3). He speaks fluent Spanish, German, French and English.
Heli-Ski Guides
Christoph Garber
An Internationally Certified UIAGM/ IFMGA Guide, Christoph grew up in the beautiful Tirolean Alps in Austria. There he started skiing with not even 2 years. After Freeride Skiing in his youth he discovered climbing and alpinism. After a couple of years spending a lot of time in the mountains he became a UIAGM mountain and ski guide at the age of 22 in 2017. Chris guides full-time in the Alps and guided expeditions to Putha Hiunchuli 7.247m in Nepal and Broad Peak in Pakistan. He learned to guide Heliski from the best in Canada at CMH and is now heliskiing in a lot of places like the Caucasus, in Sweden and in the Chilean Andes with Powder South.
Anjan Truffer
Anjan, an Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guide, was born and raised in Zermatt, Switzerland where he resides with his wife. For the past eight winters he has been guiding in Canada for CMH, and he's now mixing it up with POWDER SOUTH in Chile. He has also heli-ski guided widely in Europe, especially around Zermatt and Val d' Aosta, as well in Greenland and Alaska. Anjan has guided extensively in the Chilean Central Andes on Tupungato, Aconcagua, Llullaillaco, Pissis, Bonete, Mercedario, Marmolejo, San Jose and el Plomo. He has also guided on Alaska's Mount McKinley (Denali), Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Elbrus and many peaks in Peru. Anjan speaks English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Stefan Palm
Another of our Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guides, Stefan hails from Sweden has been guiding around the world for the last 30 years, searching for perfect snow, good climbing, and challenging summits. Based in the French Alps in Chamonix he owns HeliskiguidesSweden the leading heliski operation in the Swedish Lapland. We feel honored to have Stefan as one of POWDER SOUTH's Premier Heli-Ski Guides.
Didier Eynard
Didier, an Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guide, has been ski guiding for over 20 years. He has heli-skied in Switzerland, Italy, Greenland, and Chile and completed backcountry ski trips in the Alps, Morocco, and the Norwegian Fjords. When not chasing wild snow on skis, Didier also works as a Mountain Guide in the Vanoise Massif and throughout the Alps. He has climbed all over the world, including in the Himalayas (Cho Oyu). He speaks French and English.
Philippe de Gelis
Philippe is an international certified UIAGM / IFMGA French Mountain Guide and Professional Ski Instructor with a tremendous amount of experience in the mountains and has been guiding groups since 1984 ! Heliski, backcountry and off piste ski trips in the French, Swiss, Italian and Austrian Alps, the Pyrenees, Spain, Morocco, South America, Greenland and Japan. When not chasing powder Philippe also works as a Mountain Guide: climbing, canyoning and trekking Morocco, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Nepal... But what he enjoys most is sharing his ever ending enthusiasm for the mountains. He lives in the French Alps and is based in the Three Valleys and Paradiski and speaks French English and Spanish.
Yves Poensin
Yves is an international certified UIAGM / IFMGA French Mountain Guide since 1987. He has heli-ski guided in the Italian alps, Greenland, Himalayas and Chile. Yves also has plenty of experience off piste in the French Alps, 3 Valleys, Chamonix and the Dolomites. He’s manager of travel agency Monté Médio in Annecy Base camp and starting point for all the activities mountain, canyoning via ferrata and skiing. He lives in the French Alps and is based in the Three Valleys and speaks French and English.
Raimundo De Andraca
Raimundo is a certified UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide from Chile. Born in 1993, Raimundo De Andraca grew up immersed in the majesty of the Andes mountains. Now based in Cerro Castillo, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, he has built a life deeply connected to the rugged wilderness of the region.
Raimundo has distinguished himself in recent years with groundbreaking achievements in the climbing and skiing world. These include pioneering new routes on Glaciar Universidad and Monte San Lorenzo, as well as completing several first ski descents in both the Central Andes and Patagonia. Among his most notable accomplishments is the historic first ski descent of the south face of Monte San Valentín, the highest peak in Patagonia.
His true passion lies in sharing the thrill of climbing and skiing in Patagonia’s remote and untouched landscapes. Raimundo’s ability to guide adventurers through these extraordinary terrains is complemented by his fluency in both English and Spanish, making him a skilled and approachable guide for international clients.
Marc Lazzaroni
Marc is a certified UIAGM / IFMGA moutain guide. He was born and he grew up in Courchevel (France) where he co-founded the Mountain Guides Association. Since the year 2000, he has been running a heli-ski operation in Greenland. Marc has traveled the world heli-skiing; Canada, Alaska, Chile, Turkey, Spain, Caucasus, Sweden, Iceland, Argentina, Antartica... and throughout the Alps. His specialty is adventure travel world wide, trekking, climbing and skiing in Nepal, Tiber, New Zealand, Kilimanjaro, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Mongolia, Kyrgystan, China and Uzbekistan. He speaks French, English and Spanish.
Giulio Signó
Giulio is a Mountain Guide since 1987 in the Societá Guide Courmayeur at base of the Mont Blanc. He is a ski instructor too and has always been dedicated to Freeride and heliskiing. Since 1988 he is a helicopter rescuer and trainer of the operational crews, in the organization of the Soccorso Alpino Valdostano and Italian Alpine Rescue. For over 10 years he has been organizing trips around the world to the most interesting and spectacular spots for off-piste skiing and heliskiing in the following countries: Kamchatka2010, Sweden Abisko, Patagonia, Japan, Canada, Iceland, Turkey, Chile, Kamcha2019, Chile from 2019 in collaboration with Powder South and was struck by this territory he decided to return as often as possible.
Lionel May
An Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Swiss Guide, Lionel lives to ski. He works as a Ski Guide during the Northern Hemisphere winter at Verbier then does the same during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere. He was born and raised in the Swiss Alps doing what he does best, climbing and skiing. Lionel's passion for the mountains has taken him everywhere in the Alps, where he is also a Rock and Ice Climbing Guide. He is currently Director of Verbier ski lift operations. He speaks French, English and German.
Jonatan Hulten
A Swedish expat who has lived in the Alps for many years, Jonatan is an International Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guide with a ski racing and freeskiing background. He has guided heli-ski trips in Northern Scandinavia, around Chamonix, and in La Grave. He loves to travel around the world with skis to meet people, experience new cultures, and ski beautiful mountains. Jonatan makes a living as a full-time Mountain and Ski Guide.
Kent McBride
Kent is one of the world's most renowned Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guides. He has extensive guiding (18 years) and instructing experience in all facets of climbing and skiing, having plied his trades in mountain ranges throughout the world. He's known for his ability to organize exciting and interesting trips, meet challenging goals for his clients, and broaden their skills in the mountains, a combination that has helped Kent develop lasting relationships with a wide variety of clients. He is one of the few Americans who have passed the rock, alpine, and ski mountaineering exams to become UIAGM / IFMGA certified. Over the past two decades Kent has skied, climbed, and guided in Europe, Patagonia, Chile, Canada, Mexico, the Himalaya (China, Nepal, Tibet), Japan and the major hot spots around the United States. He has also worked 15 winters as a Heli-Ski Guide, in the mountains of Alaska (Girdwood, Haines, Tordrilllos, and Valdez), Greenland, and in Chile with POWDER SOUTH. In 2005, he climbed to the Central Summit of Shisha Pangma (8000 meters) in Tibet without oxygen, then completed the first ski descent down the Untsch Couloir.
Angela Hawse
Angela was the 6th woman in the U.S. to become an internationally licensed IFMGA guide. She’s one of few women who have made a lifelong career as technical guide. She has over 25 high altitude expeditions under her belt all over the world. She guides ski mountaineering trips to Antarctica, ski traversed across Lapland, reached the South Summit of Everest and led an all-women’s ascent of Ama Dablam and Mt. Elbrus to name a few. Angela is the president of the AMGA, on their Instructor Team, Owner of Chicks Climbing and Skiing and guides for Telluride Helitrax. She teaches Pro 1 & 2 avalanche courses, has a Master’s Degree in International Mountain Conservation and in 2011 was awarded the “AMGA Guide of the Year”.
Dan Corn
In my time guiding I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work all over the United States and Alaska as well as in the European Alps, Chilean Andes and the Himalaya. I began guiding in the winter of 2004 in New England and in 2007 I migrated west to the Tetons. Since then I have worked for Exum Mountain Guides and the American Avalanche Institute in the northern Rockies while spending my springs in Alaska, guiding for the Alaska Mountaineering School and Valdez Heli Ski Guides. From 2015-2017 I switched up my spring schedule and began working for Denali National Park as a climbing/mountaineering ranger on the highest peak in North America. After receiving my IFMGA ticket in 2017 I returned to guiding full time.
Anders Swenson
Anders, an Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Guide, for almost three decades has been skiing and climbing full time. Base in Verbier, Switzerland with his family, he guides off piste skiing, ski touring and heli skiing besides the Alps, Japan, Canada, Morocco, Chile, Antarctica and Northern Norway. During the summer season, he works in the Swiss Alps guiding alpine 4000 meters peaks and long good rock climbs. He has also been guiding and climbing in Denali Mount Vinson and scouting Mount Everest. Anders speak fluent English, French, German and Swedish.
Jorge Kozulj
Raised and lives in the ski town of Bariloche, Argentina, Jorge has been guiding, climbing and skiing for over 20 years all around the World. Since 2009 he goes every year ski guiding to Antarctic Peninsula, Heliski trip guiding in Kamchatka, participated in Heliski trip along the Andes covering 1000 km of the Patagonian Andes. He spends his days guiding in the Andes in Patagonia and part time in Chamonix area in the Alps where he guides and plays in the spring. Also, steady guiding Sailing and Skiing in Northern Norway and Iceland. A big passionate guide, skier and explorer of the Andes who have put a big input developing backcountry skiing in his region since 1999. Jorge speak fluent English, French and Spanish.
Sebastian Rojas
An Internationally Certified UIAGM/ IFMGA Guide, Seba is a renown Alpinist & Skier, born and raised in the Chilean Andes. For many years he has skied new first descents and opened new climbing routes in the Andes. He has climbed many of then hardest peaks in Patagonia including Cerrro Torre, Torre Egger, Fitz Roy and the 3 Paine Towers and has opened many new routes on big virgin walls in Patagonia. Has summited two 8,000 meter peaks (new route on Annapurna), Also climbs in The Trango Towers with an ascent of the the famous Nameless Tower, via Eternal Flame in the Karakorum, Pakistan, his resume goes on and on with world class ascents. Seba guides all around the Andes, Patagonia, Alaska and the Alps. He loves to discover and share the magical of the Andes and Patagonia with his guests. He speaks fluent Spanish and English.
John Forrest
A well-known Canadian heli-ski guide, John has more than 30 years of experience leading trips in some of Canada’s greatest mountain ranges and around the world. He is the Co-Founder of Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, located in British Columbia’s northwest region, and is the former President of HeliCat Canada, the industry’s leading national association. John has always enjoyed exploring new areas and has chosen Chile for his latest adventures during the Canadian summers, enabling year-round heli-ski guiding. John brings a great amount of expertise to POWDER SOUTH, and his obvious love for the mountains and powder snow reflected in his contagious enthusiasm.
Tom Bennet
Tom, a big name in the Jacksonhole, Wyoming, ski community, has climbed and skied extensively in the Western US, Alaska, Canadian Rockies, New England and the Alps. He has been on expeditions to Nepal and South America, most recently summiting Ama Dablam. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a ski guide/instructor at the Jacksonhole Mountain Resort. His resume includes technical ski descents of many Teton peaks including the Grand Teton. A heli-ski guide for POWDER SOUTH in Chile and a lead guide for Alaska Rendezvous Heli-Ski Guides outside Valdez, Alaska. Tom is a lead guide in the summer for Exum Mountain Guides in Grand Teton National Park. Tom lives in Jackson, ,Wyoming.
Kevin O'Rourke
Kevin has made his name in Utah's famed Wasatch Range, now serving as the Chief Operating Officer and Lead Guide for Wasatch Powderbird Guides and Powderbird International. Powderbird is based in Snowbird, Utah, and specializes in private and small group ski trips to deep powder caches around the world. Kevin developed his guide skills by apprenticing at Powderbird and gained further experience in snow safety and emergency first aid as a member of the Alta Ski Patrol. He has more than two decades of experience in all facets of the heli-ski industry, mountain search and rescue, and avalanche control. In addition to his time heli-ski guiding in the Wasatch, he has also guided in Alaska, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey, Nepal, Chile, and Greenland. He lives in Alta, Utah.
Jerry Hance
One of the godfathers of the heli-ski industry, Jerry brings nearly 40 years of experience to POWDER SOUTH. While developing his skills in Alaska, Jerry pioneered more than 300 first ski descents in the world-renowned Chugach Range. He has heli-ski guided longer than probably anyone we know, with an excellent safety record and reputation for innovation among the brightest minds in the industry.
Jean Pavillard
Jean, a professional ski and mountain guide for 22 years, was born and raised in Switzerland. He is UIAGM / IFMGA-certified and developed his mountaineering skills the old fashioned way: by apprenticing and attending national courses in the Swiss Alps. Widely respected on both sides of the Atlantic, Jean has been the technical director for the American Mountain Guides Association and was instrumental in helping the AMGA become a part of the international guiding association. He is certified by the Swiss and American guiding associations and is a member of the International Association of Mountain Guides. He has worked as a national testing examiner for the American and British Mountain Guides Associations, and been featured in a number of international publications, including Couloir, Ski, and Sports Illustrated. Their articles characterize Jean as a leader in the industry who is dedicated to educating others about safe mountain travel.
Grigory Mintsev
Grigory grew up in the Kamchatka peninsula, a land of mountains and volcanoes. Grigory started skiing and hiking in childhood, and it became his passion for life. He has been guiding since 1999, and somehow ski and guide on 6 continents including Antarctica. He is a member of Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and professional member of Canadian Avalanche Association. Grigory is co-founder and lead guide of skitouring lodge in Altay mountains, East Kazakhstan where he spends most of the winter months but also runs ski touring and heliski programs in different mountain ranges of the world. Grigory is also an avalanche safety courses instructor, both for recreational and professional users, with extensive experience in adapting the Canadian avalanche safety system to Western and Eastern Europe.
When he is not working in the summer, you’ll find him riding a mountain bike or trail running in his home mountains. For the last 10 years, he has been based in Chamonix Valley, France.
In Memorial
Juan Senoret – (R.I.P) 1987 – 2023
An Internationally Certified UIAGM/ IFMGA Guide, Juan is a world class Alpinist & Skier, born and raised in the Andes He Guides Internationally worldwide In recent years he has carried out remarkable activities, opening new routes in Cochamo and Torres del Paine as well as incredible new ski descents in Northern Patagonia. He has as climbed Cerro Torre, Fitz Roy, Torres del Paine just to mention a few of his highlights. He is passionate about sharing adventures in the great mountains and has been guiding different skiing and
mountaineering trips around the world. Fluent in English and Spanish.
“Juanito” departed this life on October 11th, 2023, while attempting a new ski descent with French professional skier Christophe Henry. He will always be in our thoughts as one of the great ones!
Juan Señoret and his brother Cristobal Señoret were recently nominated in 2023 for the Big List of “Piolet d’Or” award, for their Incredible First ascent of the north face of Cerro Catedral, in Torres del Paine, Chilean Patagonia, opening the route Dos Hermanos (800m 5.11+ A0), Twenty pitches with three protection bolts. The Piolet d’OR award is among the most prestigious Climbimg award ever for hard core Mountaineering, Alpinism and Climbing.
Andreas Fransson – (R.I.P) 1983 – 2014
Andreas is a professional skier, UIAGM Aspirant Guide, rock climbing instructor, ski instructor, ski coach, and a former member of the Swedish demo team. Born in Sweden but based in Chamonix, France, Andreas is one of the premier freeskiers and steep skiers in the world. He splits his time between film projects (including the award-winning documentary "Tempting Fear"), steep first descents, guiding skiers and snowboarders around the world, and skiing his home range around Chamonix. Some of his notable feats include: the first descent of Denali's South Face, the first descent of the Whillans Ramp on Poincenot in Patagonia, Aconcagua's Polish Glacier and Mercedario in Argentina, Sajama in Bolivia, Artesonraju and Huascaran in Peru, Chimborazo in Ecuador, and many of the steepest lines in the Alps. He is also a noted philosopher whose blog can be found at www.andreasfransson.se.
Andreas tragically passed away September 29th, 2014, while ski touring in Patagonia. Thanks for the great memories Andreas, you will always be in our thoughts. Read More
