The Mountain Addicts

Meet The Team

Mel Makepeace

Ski Guide & Owner
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • ACMG Top Rope Climbing Instructor
  • Professional Member of the CAA
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Outdoor Emergency Care Tech
  • Icelantic Ski Ambassador
  • Rab Equipment Ambassador

Mel is the proud owner of Mountain Addicts – Guiding and Instruction. Mel began her career in 2008 working as a ski patroller in Fernie before moving on to ski guiding. Her guiding experience includes heli-ski guiding at Last Frontier, ski touring guiding, and cat-ski guiding. Mel has worked all over BC, New Zealand, and Japan. As an instructor and guide, she is passionate about sharing incredible mountain experiences and particularly loves facilitating mountain travel confidence and independence in women.

When she’s not skiing, Mel can be found hanging around on the granite cliffs in Squamish working as an instructor and operations manager for Squamish Rock Guides.

Corin Lohmann

Ski Guide
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • Professional Member of the CAA
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid

Corin loves sharing the mountain experience and the connections that are made while learning and exploring in the backcountry. A graduate of the Mountain Adventure Skills Training program, he began his career on skis patrolling in Fernie. Corin went on to become a guide and has been guiding ski trips in the mountains of Western Canada since 2011, including ski touring guiding and instructing ski-mountaineering courses for Icefall Lodge, and heli-ski guiding at CMH. He lives in Fernie with his family and spends his summers running Icewalks ; a glacier guiding business in Jasper National Park.

Tyler McMillan

Ski Guide
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid Certification
Tyler ski patrolled at Fernie before moving on to guiding in 2007. His varied experience includes cat-skiing, ski touring, work on media shoots, and A LOT of heli-skiing. Tyler recently moved back to Fernie and is spending more time at home and refocused on local ski touring objectives. In Tyler’s words:
“I love finding good snow, interesting terrain and watching guests exceed what they think is possible for themselves at any ability in the backcountry.”

Melissa Saarinen

Apprentice Ski Guide
  • ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid Certification
  • ACMG Apprentice Hiking Guide
Mel was born into a family of accomplished professional skiers and is keeping with family tradition herself. Her mother ski patrolled at Whistler-Blackcomb with Mel in the womb, and Mel went on to ski patrol at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort in addition to cat-skiing guiding at Island Lake Lodge. Mel is now a dedicated avalanche educator and ski touring guide, and her favourite part of the job is making tracks where there aren’t any.

Marc Reimer

ACMG Ski Guide
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid

Marc Reimer is a ski guide based in Revelstoke BC. A former Castle Mountain ski patroller, Marc has spent most of his guiding career ski touring guiding at Sol Mountain Lodge, and heli-skiing guiding at Last Frontier.

Steve Kloepzig

Ski Guide
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • Member of the CAA
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Outdoor Emergency Care Tech

“Big” Steve Kloepzig has over 20 years of guiding experience in the Elk Valley. A gentle giant, this father of two girls and former pro-hockey player, is one of the most requested guides at Island Lake Catskiing. Steve has also worked as a heli-ski guide, and recently spent time ski touring in Greenland.

With an excellent safety record, and a strong belief in the value of mentorship, Steve is eager to share his knowledge on the AST 2 Dec 27-30. Steve is also available for private ski touring.

Greg Inman

ACMG Ski Guide
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • Canadian Avalanche Association Operations Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid

Greg Inman grew up skiing Poley Mountain in New Brunswick. After graduating from Acadia University with a degree in Recreation Management, Greg moved to Fernie to become a ski guide. With a background working as a heli-skiing guide in northern BC, and ski touring almost every range in BC, he now spends most of his time guiding at Island Lake Catskiing while raising a young family in Fernie. Greg’s love of skiing is infectious, as well as his laugh, so you’re sure to have an unforgettable day. Greg is also the owner of Broadwood Tree Services.

Eric Dahlberg

Ski Guide
  • Professional Member of the CAA
  • ACMG Ski Guide
  • CAA Operations Level 2
  • Outdoor Emergency Care tech
  • Click Here to Learn More About Eric

Eric is an ACMG Ski Guide, Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association, and Apprentice Rock Guide.  Eric has a real enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge and always going the extra mile to create the best guest experience. He looks forward to sharing his love for the mountains with you.

Hear What Others Think

I did my AST 1 course with Mel and Tom and it was phenomenal! Even as a non-native English speaker, I got everything. They are very patient, knowledgeable and provided us with so many practical skills for our ski touring trips. If I decide to take an AST 2, I would travel across the entire planet just to be a part of their crew. Thank you guys!
Gabriela
AST 1 Participant
I took an AST 1 with Mel and it was awesome. Great course with very knowledgable instructors who kept things fun and interesting. Will definitely be taking more courses with Mountain Addicts.
Alicia
AST 1 Participant
Greg put on a fantastic day for us, blending great terrain choices and guiding with expert backcountry education (something that was important for our group given 5 of us are heading on to the avalanche ops L1 course in a few weeks).
Victor
Ski Touring Guest