Greg Johnson lives at the other end of this page. Greg spends his time, snowboarding, skateboarding and climbing. He lurks in Revelstoke and Nelson, BC and other zones around the western US.
From the Chicago area, Greg sifted west when he was 19 in search of mountain adventures and skateboarding. He found both in the Seattle area. Since then he has lived all over the western US and Canada. In the past Greg completed a masters degree investigating snow and avalanches, worked as an avalanche forecaster for the US Forest Service and Canadian Avalanche Centre, as well as a climbing ranger for the National Park Service. Currently, Greg works as a snowboard guide and civil engineer.
Hello Greg,
Im heading to the Split-fest at Rogers Pass and inquiring if you’re free over the course of the weekend to head out for a split tour at rogers pass. If yes, what are your rates for the day.
Take care champ
James
I’ll be up there Friday evening giving a short talk. Due to a low interest, I’m not going to be guiding. However, a few of us would be happy to join you on Saturday for a day out.
Best,
Gj
That sounds great. Hopefully the conditions in the Pass Saturday are fine and we can burn some good turns! How can I contact you or the others in the group?
cheers
James
HI Greg
If possible, my girlfriend and I would definitely be interested to get out on a tour with you on Saturday during the splitfest as well. I see from the post above that you’re not going to be guiding that day, but if you’re willing to let us tag along we’d really love to get with you and get any insight about Roger’s Pass and the current conditions. We’re coming to the area for the first time (from Vancouver) and are looking for some local knowledge. We’re also planning to arrive Friday evening to catch your talk. If you’re amendable to have us along with you please let me know. Certainly don’t mind buying you beer on raffle night if you have us along.
Thanks!
andrew
Sounds good, we’ll see you up there.
Gj
Hey Greg,
We met at Bald Face this past February. I was watching some avalanche training videos and spotted your familar face. Hope you’re doing well. Please let me know if you are teaching any avy courses in the coming years. Hopefully we’ll meet again.
Take care,
Chris and Annabelle
Yes, I’ll give you a message if I’m cooking up a course. But, don’t wait for me. Good meeting you guys, hopefully our paths will cross once again!
Best, Gj
Hi Greg,
I was up at the splitfest this year so I met you really briefly but I was just wondering what challenges you have faced in getting certified as a splitboard guide? I just completed my CAA Level 1 and am planning to do WFA this spring and then following that up with one of the three guide training programs. I guess that I’m wondering about employment and any challenges you faced? For instance, to work at a resort as an avi tech they aren’t all that excited about snowboarders ski cutting slopes. Do you think that I could convince them that I were proficient enough in split-ski mode that would suffice? That being said, do you ride hard or soft boots? And if soft, have you ever sorted out a way to lock in your heels for split-ski mode? Anyways, lots of questions for you so if you have any advice whatsoever it would be totally appreciated. Thanks for your time…
Hi Brett,
Good on you for wanting to get into the avalanche / guiding path. Its an excellent way of living life. If you are looking to gain some experience from ski patrolling, recognize that it may take a few years to get significant avalanche control experience. I would not focus on have any specific conversations about how to use a split, etc for ski cutting or other control work. You’ll learn the subtleties and limitations along the way.
Tail guiding at a cat-ski op is also a viable way of getting your foot in the door to the guiding world. There are lots of them out there.
For the splits, I use hard boot and soft boot binding set ups. It just depends on what I’m doing out there. I also use a couple different regular boards for the mechanized stuff.
Employment challenges are not really a huge issue. Some companies are not okay with people on snowboards, others don’t mind at all. You end up working for the guys that get it.
Best,
Gj
Thanks Greg. Ideally tail guiding is where I would like to get started rather than patrolling/avi tech but I may be stuck in Kelowna next season until I can complete my obligations here and then make a move closer to some cat operations. It’s not all bad though, I still need some courses under my belt and need to finish off a couple of the longer tours for the experience portion of the requirements so I can still work on those from here and keep my job for the time being.
I’ve made some really good connections with a couple of cat operations so I just have to query them about a snowboarder in their midst. In terms of setups that is good to hear, I’ve been pretty apprehensive to get a pair of hardboots but I think that you are right that different applications require different hardware. Just afraid that I’ll lose a little bit of snowboard soul more than anything…ha…
Thanks again for your input and I hope your having a great season. I’m headed down to the Mt. Baker Splitfest this weekend so I can’t complain…cheers!
Hey Greg,
I was wondering if your going to Revy/Rogers area from Jan 30th – Feb 2nd?
I was looking for a guide and was wondering what your rates were. I have my Professional Level 1 Avy course from CAC and did do a wilderness first aid course with slipstream back in 08.
The only real problem, is I am currently at Sea Level on the east coast.
Please let me know your availibility for these dates and your rates.
Cheers
Corey
Hey Corey,
I’m in Japan and traveling to Kyrgyzstan and won’t be at the pass during that time. Bummer. Ease into the terrain, use what you know, choose objectives you and your crew are comfortable wish, and you’ll be all good.
Yee Haw,
Gj