Alpine World Ascents

Markus Beck
Owner, Head Mountain & Ski Guide, Avalanche Safety Instructor

Markus' passion for the mountains stems from his swiss roots. A Swiss native, he grew up roaming the mountains from an early age on forming an intuitive understanding of the mountains. A highlight in his career, Markus accomplished the first snowboard descent of Tharpu Chuli in the Nepal Himalaya. Eventually, he turned his passion into his profession by becoming a certified, full-time ski and mountain guide and founded Alpine World Ascents in 2000.

One of an elite few guides in the U.S. with both AMGA and IFMGA certification, Markus has passed rigorous trainings and certifications in Alpine Mountaineering, Rock and Ice Climbing and Ski Mountaineering. He is a Swiss-certified Level 3 Ski and Snowboard Instructor and Instructor Trainer, an AIARE Level 2 avalanche lead-instructor and member of the instructor pool, and a backcountry observer for the CAIC. Markus has a Masters Degree from the University of Bern in Switzerland in Education and Sports and speaks six languages.

At home in the mountains anywhere around the world, Markus accompanies his guests to many different places- popular, exotic, new or even unkown ones. With his infectious love and passion for the mountains, he carries the adventurous spirit through in his guiding on the world's great climbs and ski tours.

The following ski and mountain guides are at the core of the exclusive Alpine World Ascents team:

As a guide and climber, he has accomplished high altitude ascents in the Andes, Alaska and Tanzania as well as alpine routes in both New Zealand and Patagonia. After more than a decade of guiding, he then worked as a researcher with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and now spends much of his work as an environmental engineer.

Brian also holds the position as the AIARE executive director and is also tightly involved in the AIARE curriculum development.

Tim has guided extensively in Peru, Ecuador, Alaska and Switzerland. He also teaches avalanche courses, drawing on a wealth of expertise in avalanche forecasting and backcountry skiing.

Tim is an AIARE Level 2 avalanche instructor and a backcountry observer for the CAIC. He is an AMGA certified rock and alpine guide and is currently pursuing full certification also in the ski disciplines to achieve IFMGA status. He has a degree in biology and environmental science from the University of Virginia.

Full of energy, mountain savvy and experienced, Tim is a great companion to be with in the mountain. He has been working with Alpine World Ascents since 2002.

Joe Thompson
Mountain Guide

Joe started his guiding career in 2000. An AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Top Rope Site Manager, Joe guides rock of all types, shapes and sizes and teaches instructional programs on rock climbing and rock rescue systems. He is currently pursuing full certification also in the alpine and ski disciplines to achieve IFMGA status. Joe also is an EMT-Basic and has completed the level 2 AIARE avalanche course. In the winter, he also works as a ski patroller at Eldora Mountain Resort, a small ski area on the Front Range of Colorado.

Joe's favorite places to climb and guide are Eldorado Canyon and the Boulder Front Range where he also lives. He has been working with Alpine World Ascents since 2005. Friendly, down-to-earth and fun, new and repeat guests alike are always excited to climb with him.

Charly Oliver
Canyoneering Specialist

After managing to avoid graduating from college with a music degree, Charly began a career in the Outdoor Industry working in various climbing shops and as manager of the Boulder Mountaineer in Boulder Colorado where he also worked as a climbing guide. From this humble beginning he continued in sales and marketing management positions for BlueWater, Lowe Alpine, La Sportiva and Trango and is currently working as a Sales Representative in the Industrial, Commercial and Rescue markets for Petzl.

A certified guide and instructor for the American Canyoneering Association. Charly’s love of canyon country reaches back to climbing trips in the Utah desert where he started descending canyons as something to do on rest days. In years since he has explored numerous technical canyons across the western United States. He currently is a lead instructor and sits on the ACA’s board of directors teaching canyoneering courses in Colorado, Arizona, California, Utah and Washington.

Rodrigo Mujica
Mountain Guide- Aconcagua Specialist

Internationally Certified Guide. Director and Founder of Aventuras Patagonicas and Powder South Heli Ski Guides, the premier heli-skiing operation in South America. Guide for 23 years. and AMGA alpine, rock and ski guide. Guided 24 expeditions to Denali and 28 expeditions to Aconcagua. Expeditions to Xixabangma and Cho Oyu in the Himalaya. Climbs in Patagonia include North and Central Towers of Paine, Agujas Guillaumet and Poincenot, Cerro Torre attempts. Patagonian Ice Cap explorations including first east-west traverse of northern Ice Cap. First ascents in Antarctica, Andes and Alaska. Speed ascents of Denali, Aconcagua, Juncal, Guide in Ellsworth Mountains and Mt. Vinson in Antarctica. Extensive climbs and guiding in Alps, including frendo Spur and Grand Jorasses . Climbs in Yosemite. Former Technical Committee member for the American Mountain Guides Association. Guide at Exum Mountain Guides. Speaks English, French and Spanish.