Our Team

Owner

Owner of Great Northern Powder Guides, as well as operator, guide, cook, and janitor. Started skiing at the age of 3 in Steamboat Springs Colorado. Ski raced, ski jumped, and Speed Skied in the U.S. and in Europe.

Guest Services

Jay’s wife, Tarn and Dayne’s mama…Ky handles bookings and guest services (oh, and babysits Sway).

Head Operator / Mechanic

Pisten Bully operator extraordinaire as well as mechanic, and fabricator. Tarn brings years of running and maintaining heavy equipment to our team as well as snow road building. He is safe, brave, and competent in the backcountry. Tarn has grown up skiing and snowmobiling in the very terrain we can now share with the public .

HR Intern / Guide Trainee

Brandtyn, Tarn and Kasey’s youngest child – Jay and Ky’s Grandson, is the youngest member of the GNPG team! He is interning / training for not only HR duties, but also has a passion  and goals to be a guide. You will see his big smile most days in the co-pilot seat of one of the cats, or helping out around the office. Feel free to give this little man a big high five, fist bump, or wave when you’re headed out to the hill!

Office Manager

Kasey, Tarn’s wife and our office manager, was born and raised in Olney, Montana. She is a mama of four; two boys and two girls. Kasey loves the outdoors – from fishing, hunting, boating, dirt bike riding, camping, horseback riding, to cross – country skiing. She assists with all aspects of guest services and keeps our office running like a well oiled machine!

Guide

Ken started skiing in Lake Tahoe at the age of four and spent his early years ski bumming there as a lift-op at Squaw Valley. Ken started Ski Patrolling and continued his way in the ski industry in Tahoe. Ken guided for Pacific Crest Snowcats for ten years, he also worked Heli-guiding in Valdez at Alaska Backcountry Adventures.

Guide / Operator / Mechanic

T.J. has been with Great Northern Powder Guides from the beginning. From fabricating the cat cabins and building yurts to finding the best runs for our clients… he is always passionate about all aspects of the business. In his off time he travels the world competing and performing flyboard shows. He is an auto and marine mechanic by trade so if you need that boat to float or those brakes to stop…hes your man. But in winter you need that steep and deep to put a smile on your face…he’s your guide!

Guide

Calvin grew up in the mountainous state of Ohio. He was lucky enough to call Switzerland home for a few years when he was younger, and that’s where he learned how to ski and appreciate/respect the mountains. Calvin has been in Montana for a few years now and has enjoyed getting to ski the local ranges as well as the Canadian Rockies. In the last five summers he has traveled around the country guiding Whitewater trips.

Guide

Cole is among the few that were born and raised in Whitefish, MT. He grew up competing in local Slopestyle and Boardercross contests that later sprouted into traveling to USASA competitions all over the Northwest. On top of that, Cole has 15 years of backcountry snowboarding experience, and countless powder stashes on GNPG terrain in his repertoire. This will be his 4th season at GNPG. During the summer, Cole spends his time working as a professional rock climbing guide just outside of Whitefish.

Guide

Returning for his fourth season, Grant is a certified American Avalanche Association Professional, self proclaimed mapping and weather enthusiast, nationally ranked rally car driver, and works as a professional Biostatistician.  Grant effortlessly merges safety, snowpack, weather, and an intimate knowledge of terrain with his infectious addiction to having fun and adrenaline in his efforts to deliver one of the greatest day of riding ever to our guests.

Guide

Kenny has his Avalanche Pro-1 & W-EMT, ski patrolled and guided for over half a decade, and is working his way through AMGA Ski Guide path. His favorite part of guiding is sharing the beauty and joy that the mountains have to offer with others!

Guide

Kelson grew up in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, with Lost Trail Powder Mountain as his hometown hill. After a career in the Navy, he returned home to Big Sky Country. Kelson has spent multiple years abroad, most notably three years in Germany, where he explored the European Alps and worked extensively in Norway. He’s excited to bring his diverse outdoor experience to GNPG, marking his first season with the team.

Operator

Bill Dial is a 41 + year law enforcement officer. He retired in 2021. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and skier. He holds numerous certificates in first aid, CPR and is a former EMT. He and his wife Jo Ann have lived in Whitefish since 2001.

Guide

Hailey grew up in Somers, Montana, and has proudly stayed in the flathead for the majority of her life. She grew up in the mountains in and around this valley, and her love for them only grows the more intimately as she knows them. Hailey has been snowboarding for 16 years, and is pursuing the path to make it part of her profession as she steps into backcountry guiding.  When snow isn’t falling, Hailey owns and operates her Landscaping and Gardening business. She is a certified Master Gardener, passionately learning about and facilitating the growth of flora in the Flathead. 

Guide

Curtis is from Brattleboro, VT and he’s been working in the ski industry since he was 17. He spent the last five winters as a professional ski patroller across Vermont and Colorado and have guided groups through zipline canopy tours in Massachusetts the last three summers. Curtis’s favorite part of guiding is making adventure accessible. It’s his dream to become a certified mountain guide. But most importantly he has a Mustache, loves maple syrup, and skiing!

Yurt Host

Originally from the Midwest plains, Kate has found her passion in the wild. She has pursued her passion in hospitality and life in adventure by traveling between ski towns and national parks over the last few years. Her biggest passion in life is to help create unforgettable memories. 

Guide

Rob grew up in Idaho. He started skiing and snowboarding at the age of 10.  He served as an officer in the US Marine Corps and as a law enforcement officer for over 25 years. He has coached baseball for 35 years. Rob enjoys the great outdoors including golfing, skiing, hunting, boating, traveling, and dirt bikes. He and his wife have 4 children and have lived in the Flathead Valley since 2004.

Guide

Tony is a fourth generation Montanan; born and raised in Columbia Falls, with his home mountain being “Big Mountain.” A life spent in the backcountry provides experience and local knowledge to any trip.  When not guiding on the slopes, he guides fishing and hunting trips, sharing his passion for Montana’s outdoors with every guest.

Operator

Matt grew up chasing whitewater, powder, and critters.  Raised on the farm lands of Indiana, some of those things were easier to find than others.  A life time spent skiing and working with his hands, landed  him where he should be, with Great Northern Powder Guides.  When not working, he can be found anywhere with a beautiful view, or chasing his bird dog.

Yurt Host

Transplanted here from Pennsylvania in 2019, Denise is a retired nurse whose adventures in life led her to Montana for retirement. She enjoys skiing both downhill and cross country and spends time volunteering for the local food bank and the domestic violence program, and the the Abbie Shelter.

Official mascot

SWAY had a cameo in the Warren Miller’s “Ticket to Ride” AND was Ski Magazines “Mascot of the Year”