Wild Walks Team

 

So let's meet the Wild Walks team...

Whitney Thurlow: Chief Guide and Director, UIAGM/IFMGA

After living and working in New Zealand for over 20 years (originally from Jackson Hole, U.S.), Whitney and his partner decided to create a high end backcountry travel experience and hence Wild Walks NZ was created. He is an internationally qualified U.I.A.G.M. mountain guide who has skied and climbed throughout New Zealand since 1979. Former Training Officer of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, his passion is exploring New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Whitney has over 50 ascents of Mount Aspiring. Whitney has also skied, trekked and climbed throughout the world. He won the 1990 World Telemark Giant Slalom Championships and won four North American Telemark Championships, and takes pride in cooking fluffy rice.

Andy Oxley: Director

A keen skier, Andy has spent the last 10 years ski touring on some of our best high alpine terrain, including the Mannering Glacier, Pioneer Pass and Graham Saddle. That's spring...for the rest of year we keep her locked in the office & chained to the computer to ensure that Aspiring Guides keeps on the straight and narrow. She does ocassionally escape for a spot of tramping (kiwi for "hiking") and sailing over the summer months when we've got our backs turned!    A recent addition to the team, Andy has come from a business and a local hospitality background. Some of you may remember her cooking you a mean breakfast or two in the past - now she's organising your time in the hills and leaves the good breakfasts to our guides!!

Robyn Brighouse : Administration

After many years of dreaming about mountain climbing Robyn participated in a Mountain Skills Course with Aspiring Guides in 2003. She loved it so much she continued in the same year with a Black Peak Ice Climbing Trip and a summit of Mt Aspiring. In 2004 Robyn travelled to Peru to join an Aspiring Guides expedition in the Cordillera Blanca and summitted Ishinca and Alpamayo. As she was spending so much time in the office Aspiring Guides decided to employ her to help out in the office.

Brenda George

 Brenda George: Senior Guide

Brenda was raised on a remote farm on the west coast. She worked possom trapping until an unfortunate incident with a cow made impossible for her to continue working on the farm. Moving to Wanaka Brenda began ski patroling at Treble Cone and working summers as a trekking guide. Brenda's dry sense of humor and love of adventure make her the perfect trekking companion. She has explored every nook and cranny of the South Island and has a wealth of wilderness knowledge to share. She still avoids any contact with cows.

Jo Haines : Guide, NZMGA climbing guide

Jo has been wandering the hills since she was a teenager. As well as years exploring the NZ Southern Alps on transalpine trips and climbing NZ’s well known and less well know peaks, she has been fortunate to have spent time in the Himalaya, on the rock walls in Australia and the USA and hanging out with Emperor penguins in Antarctica. Jobs past and present include instructing at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre, working in Antarctica and the Himalaya, teaching high school physics and designing websites or working in the mountains around her local town of Wanaka. Back-country telemarking and skate skiing keeps the smile on her face in winter.

Andy Wardell : Trekking Guide, Ski Patroller

Andy Wardell During the winter season, Andy is a ski patroller at our local ski resort. Prior to that he spent a season in the French Alps, running a chalet and ski guiding for their guests.  He has also worked for the Department of Conservation in past years and has developed an intimate knowledge of the hiking in our end of Mt Aspiring National Park.  Feel free to discuss track improvements - he's the man to talk to!

Jeff Richards: Trekking Guide, NZMGA Hard Ice Guide

 

David Lundin: Trekking Guide, Ski Patroller

David LundinLike Andy & Brenda, David is a ski patroller in the winter months at a small resort called Ohau.  Originally from Christchurch, he has a keen interest in the outdoors. Hiking, Biking and skiing.

Anthea Fisher : Trekking Guide

Anthea FisherAnthea has travelled, trekked and climbed throughout the world. Countries include Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Europe and Peru. Despite this she says that there is nothing quite like coming back to New Zealand, and in particular the Southern Alps. Anthea, when not traveling spends time leading personal development expeditions in Australia. Designed to bring out the best in people while challenging them in wilderness environments. She gets great satisfaction from taking people to stunning places and seeing their eyes and minds open wide.

Anna Cook : Trekking Guide, NZMGA Asst. Ski Guide

Anna is blessed with an inquisitive mind. Her interests range from the Himalaya to surfing, photography and snow science. She is one of the most experienced female ski guides in the world with her time spent between working heli-skiing in New Zealand and the Indian Himalayas. She also stays busy fitting in mountain bike and ski tours in India with her own company Hidden Himalaya. She is in charge of snow safety for Harris Mountains Heliskiing and is an accomplished photographer with credits in various outdoor magazines. Despite all this, what seems to interest Anna most, are people. She loves to meet new people and share experiences. Walking with Anna the time flies by as the conversation ranges from understanding the weather to holistic medicine and trying to get the light just right to photograph an alpine flower.