Lead Staff

Led by Nadia's infectious enthusiasm, passion, and high standards, DMM staff are well trained, highly qualified, charismatic, and committed to what they do. All lead instructors have a minimum of Wilderness EMT training, generous experience as an outdoor educator or guide, and clinical medical experience. Most importantly, they all have a passion for sharing that knowledge with others.

Nadia Kimmel

Executive Director

RN-BSN, WEMT, B.S. in Natural Resources Mgt., M.S. in Recreation

Is the driving force behind Desert Mountain Medicine. Frustrated by her initial classroom bound "wilderness medicine course", Nadia envisioned a more experiential wilderness medicine curriculum based in the field, drew up a business plan, and christened it Desert Mountain Medicine. Outside Magazine voted her one of "25 Goddesses Who Rule" in 2003 for her inspired vision in starting the business.

In 1990 Nadia left her hometown of Montreal, Canada for Crested Butte, CO where she was first introduced to the world of outdoor education. She eventually obtained her Masters degree in Recreation to teach outdoor education for numerous universities, colleges and private organizations. Her experience as field staff and as a wilderness medical provider has led her to provide International Wilderness Risk Management consulting for numerous adventure tourism businesses and university outdoor adventure programs.

Nadia’s incessant desire for knowledge has earned her a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Regis University in Denver, CO. She is currently an ER Nurse at St. Vincent’s General Hospital in Leadville, CO and a Nutritional Consultant with a focus on whole-food nutrition for endurance athletes. 

Nadia’s true passion lies in wilderness medicine as she has inspired countless Wilderness First Responders and Wilderness EMT’s through her company Desert Mountain and her dynamic teaching since 1996. 

During her free time Nadia enjoys riding bikes and laying down graceful telemark tracks somewhere in the mountains.

Eric Riley

Lead Instructor & River Rescue Coordinator

WEMT, B.S. in Recreation and Outdoor Leadership

Or "Riley", as he is known, is the River Rescue Coordinator for DMM. He currently manages OARS's Wyoming branch in Jackson, Wy. and is the founder of the Swiftwater Safety Institute. Riley teaches swiftwater rescue and wilderness medicine around the western U.S., Alaska and Central America and most recently conducted the first Panamanian 911 wilderness medicine and evacuation training hosted by EarthTrain in Panama City, Panama. When not traveling around the country in his vintage VW bus 'Stevie', Riley can generally be found in the rivers of the West, gainfully employing his former professional throwing arm rowing dories and managing OARS Wyoming. He possesses a gift for jerry-rigging anything mechanical and a wicked dry sense of humor.

Johann Aberger

Lead Instructor

WEMT, AMGA Rock Instructor, B.S. in Kinesiology, M.S. Social Justice

Is a lead instructor for DMM's WFR courses. He is a professor of Outdoor Education at Colorado Mountain College. He received his Masters in Social Justice from Prescott College in his spare time. An accomplished mountaineer and rock climber, Johann has left chalk marks and first ascents all over the western United States.

Mattie Guelinas

Lead Instructor

RN, WEMT, B.S. in Education

Is a lead instructor for DMM's WFR courses. Mattie works as an ER nurse in Tempe, AZ where she specializes in pediatric emergency care. In her spare time she is a backcountry guide for Scottsdale Community College's outdoor recreation program and an oarswoman for the Grand Canyon Youth nonprofit river program. Her love for experiential teaching and unique ability of delivering complex information simply is what makes her a fantastic teacher for DMM.

Paul Chivvis

Lead Instructor

MS in Adult & Organizational Leadership, BS Environmental Science

Originally a clam digger and welder from L.I.N.Y. Paul learned about the mountains as a youth in Maine then in the European Alps. He calls Coeur d'Alene home and runs North Idaho College's Outdoor Leadership certificate program. It includes instructor for WFR, Mountaineering, Avalanche education, Backcountry skiing, ACA Swiftwater Rescue, Whitewater guiding, Mt. biking Moab, etc. Good days include anything with his family, outdoor activities with friends and beer.

Matt Parker

Lead Instructor

WEMT, M.S. Recreation Administration

Originating from Atlanta, Georgia, Matt began his outdoor career leading trips, teaching for and managing part of the outdoor recreation program at Georgia Southern University. Since completing his Master's work and fleeing the heat and humidity of the south, Matt has stayed busy touring around the intermountain west. Matt has guided international trips to Northern India, Fiji and Australia, worked as a Senior Field Instructor for a top wilderness therapy program, guided sea kayak and river trips for O.A.R.S. and currently works as the Outdoor Programs Coordinator and Nordic Supervisor for the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado. Matt is also an active member of the Summit County Rescue Group. In his spare time, Matt can be found backcountry skiing, climbing, hiking, boating, brewing beer and seeing live music.

Deryn Peck

Assistant Instructor

WEMT

Growing up in the beautiful, and conveniently located, Napa Valley, Deryn was blessed with a family that took every opportunity to expose her to the incredible landscape California has to offer. She spent time backpacking the Lost Coast and Marble Mountains, skiing and snowboarding throughout Tahoe, and then discovering the incredible rivers along the Sierra Nevada’s.

After completing a B.A. Environmental Studies form Sonoma State University she worked as a Horticulturist for a private winery until her wanderlust became too strong and she began traveling. Volunteering in Futaleufu, Chile, she happened to be introduced to the world of whitewater where she immediately dove (not head first of course) into the sports of rafting and kayaking. Deryn now works as a River Guide for OARS taking every opportunity to introduce guests to California’s pristine rivers.

Shortly after becoming a Guide, Deryn began pursuing further medical knowledge and became a Wilderness EMT. She has used this training as a member of Bear Valley Mountain’s Ski Patrol and an instructor for Desert Mountain Medicine where she began teaching Wilderness First Responder courses in 2009. With a constant thirst for knowledge Deryn is actively pursuing Masters Degree in Nursing that she hopes to use in conjunction with her wilderness skills.

Trevor Fulton

Assistant Instructor

WFR, B.S. Environmental Science

Born and raised in North Idaho, Trevor has been a coordinator at the University of Idaho Outdoor Program since 2005. He teaches classes, leads trips and runs the UI Climbing Center. In addition to his role with the Outdoor Program, Trevor teaches climbing, skiing, mountain biking and wilderness medicine courses through the academic Movement Sciences department. Along with his role at DMM he is an instructor for the Swiftwater Safety Institute, a founding member of the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit and involved with outdoor access issues for non-profit organizations. When he isn't teaching, you'll find him mountain biking, backcountry skiing or running whitewater all while sporting a purple headband in and around the great state of Idaho.

Ryan Diehl

Assistant Instructor

B.S. in Education and Recreation
WEMT-B

Honed his skills as a river guide and ski-bum. Spent the better part of a decade professionally river guiding throughout the west, but primarily running the rapids of Idaho. Ski Patrolling, River Guiding, Snowcat Driving, Forest Service tours of duty and traveling have been featured in Ryan's itinerary lately. Assistant swiftwater rescue and WFR instructor for DMM for 3 years. Now serves as assistant coordinator, Utah State University Outdoor Recreation Program.

Dave Bastian

Assistant Instructor

WFR

Dave Bastian lives in Northern Utah and serves as the Program Coordinator for the Utah Conservation Corps at Utah State University. Prior to coming to the UCC, Dave was the Director of Operations at Save Our Canyons and the Membership and Outreach coordinator for the Utah Rivers Council. Dave is working on a degree in Conservation Leadership at Utah State and spends his free time backcountry skiing, hiking, climbing, mountain biking and playing the guitar and banjo.

Alan Kaufmann

Assistant Instructor

M.S. in Forestry, B.A. in Geology
WFR

Alan Kaufmann is the Training Education and Risk Management  Coordinator for the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC), a conservation corps based in Flagstaff, AZ.   After stints in MD, VA, MI, and CA, he attended Pomona College, earning a B.A. in Geology with minor concentrations in Ecology and Anthropology. He spent time in ID, CO, MN, SD, NM and VT before coming to Flagstaff in 1997 to earn a Master’s degree in Forestry from NAU. Alan’s career has been bipolar, flipping  between outdoor education and natural resource management. He has led over 100 wilderness trips (for Boy Scout high adventure bases, and a Wilderness Therapy program here in AZ). He has also worked on a wilderness trail crew, led an integrated pest management crew, and worked four seasons in fire management. When not at work, Alan pursues his interests in primitive survival skills, Taoist practice, Philipino martial arts, playing music, and reading.

Ryan Soderberg

Logistics / Staff Support

BS in IS

Has worked with DMM since 2007 providing the website / IT support duties and handling logistics amongst the staff members. Ryan has extensive experience promoting outdoor events both present and past. With an extensive background in trail running, mountain biking and skiing, following life's passions are always a priority.

 

David Sweet

Assistant Instructor

His climbing, skiing and mountaineering career debuted in the early 70's. David has worked as an outdoor instructor and guide at numerous institutions such as Outward Bound and Red Rocks Community College. This work has also included technical training for various branches of the military. David is certified as an AMGA Rock instructor and Single Pitch Instructor course provider. He is an AIARE qualified Level I and II avalanche course leader. Some of David's accomplishments include a new route on Mt. Logan, the highest peak in Canada, and an expedition to the Garwahl Himal of India.

Robert A. Stoldal

Assistant Instructor

WEMT

Robert or “Adam” currently resides in Logan Utah where he works as the Southern Utah Crew Coordinator for the Utah Conservation Corps. Adam has spent the last ten years working with different corps and land management agencies throughout the west. Adam spends his free time tinkering with power saws and crawling up various rock faces and descending into unnamed canyons in Utah.

Kip Davis

Assistant Instructor

Certified AMGA Rock Guide, Aspirant AMGA Alpine Guide, Trained AMGA Ski Guide, AIARE Level II, WFR

Kip graduated from the University of Oregon where he studied Sociology, Special Education, Adventure Education, and Wilderness Leadership.  In 1999, he headed to Leadville, CO to work for the Colorado Outward Bound School, eventually becoming the Course Director, Program Manager and Trainer.  After thirteen years of dedication to the school, Kip continues to be a technical trainer for the rock and mountaineering programs.

In 2004 Kip began teaching for Colorado Mountain College where he helped to develop the curriculum for CMC’s Mountaineering, Ice and Rock Climbing, Mountain and Canyon Orientation, Avalanche Level I and II, High Angle Rescue and Multi-pitch Climbing Management courses.

Kip began guiding for Colorado Mountain School in 2010. He brings with him over a decade of experience in technical mountain travel and outdoor-education instruction. He is a certified Rock Guide and Aspirant Alpine Guide through the American Mountain Guides Association.

When he is not teaching or guiding, Kip enjoys climbing and adventuring all over the world. He has explored the peaks of Europe, Canada, South America, and much of the United States. Kips favorite climbing areas continue to be Chamonix in France, and his backyard of Rocky Mountain National Park.  We are excited to have his expertise on board at Sawatch Backcountry Guides.

Chris Brothersen

Assistant Instructor

Jon Totten

Lead Instructor

Amber Zappia

Assistant Instructor

Stephen Szoradi

Assistant Instructor

WEMT