Our Guides

All our lead guides are exceptional individuals and trained professionals with many years of experience. All have traveled the world extensively and are some of the leading professionals in their fields. They have been there and know; routes, customs, languages, conditions, options, weather, first aid, and even how to make a gnarly storm turn into the best day of the trip! We lead all our own trips; we do not contract with local agents to lead our trips. This costs us more, but it assures you of a quality trip run by Americans, to the level of safety and success that you expect. Our directors continue to lead trips and explore new areas for future adventure travel experiences. Experience, technical training, passion for adventure and attitude are all qualities we demand of our guides. Please see our follow up information on current guides for the trip date you are planning. Our director Scott Woolums, is a current AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) certified Alpine guide.

Scott has one of the longest guiding resumes in the USA now. Only a handful of other guides in the USA or the world have his experience guiding in high mountains around the world. Scotts is owner, director and chief guide here at Adventures International Inc. Scott also is an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide.

-Experience leading over 120 expeditions to over 18,000 ft., Most of these to over 20,000 ft.!
-42 Expeditions to McKinley in Alaska, 30 summits, the current record!
-Three times to the summit of Mt. Everest 2002, 2003 and 2006! Via both the North and South Routes.
-29 Expeditions to Cerro Aconcagua
-Leader of over 26 Expeditions into the Nepal Himalaya
-Led 5 expeditions to 8000 Meter peaks in the Himalaya
-Multiple Expeditions to Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Patagonia, Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Mexico, Canadian Rockies, European Alps, Elbrus, Tien Shan, Pamirs, Baltoro, Kazakhstan, Greenland, Carstensz Pyramid, Australia, Little Switzerland, Morocco, Borneo, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Egypt, Sahara Desert, Atacama Desert, Northern China
-Technical Summits of Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Great Trango Tower, North Torre Del Paine, Mt. Huntington, Rooster Coomb, Kitchatna Spire, Mt. Kenya, Matterhorn,
-Over 25 years climbing around the world from Arapiles in Australia to Verdon in France; Chamonix, France to Little Switzerland in Alaska; Bugaboos, Canada to Carstensz Pyramid in Irian Jaya,

Heidi has been working with us leading Aconcagua Expeditions, Elbrus Expedition, Nepal Treks and Expeditions. It is exciting to be working with Heidi who brings a lot of experience to Adventures International. She has completed the AMGA Alpine guides course now and will be taking her AMGA Alpine Guides Exam this fall. She has been actively guiding in Nepal, Patagonia, Aconcagua and the Rockies. Super easy going and lots of energy to keep everyone's spirits high when the going gets tough! Look for Heidi to be taking a more active role in leading many of our trips in the near future!

Laurie is simply our most amazing guide and newest that we are working with right now. She comes from a long time adventure racing background. Has worked many seasons river guiding and also on Mt. Shasta. She works also as our fitness coach consultant and is always ready for a challenge. In 2006 she became the 19th American women to summit Everest via the North Ridge. She lives in Shasta, California and will be working with Scott and Adventures International a lot in the future. Visit Lauries web site for more information on her accomplishments. Most recently she has been presenting her Audio Visual program on the recent Everest climb throughout the Northwest. She is available for speaking engagements and to lead privately guide expeditions around the world.

Lisa Rust has worked as a professional mountain and rock-climbing guide since 1995. She has spent much of her time guiding for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. and has over 50 ascents of Mt. Rainier and numerous ascents of glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest. She has also guided 6 expeditions on Mt. McKinley. Internationally, Lisa has climbed and guided high mountains such as Aconcagua, Elbrus, Mt. Blanc, the Matterhorn, and trekking peaks in Nepal. In 2002 Lisa was a guide on Mt. Everest for the American Women's Expedition, their team reaching the south summit at 28,750ft.

Lisa also works as a middle school science teacher in Hood River, OR. She is a nationally certified EMT, has Level 2 Avalanche Training and Outdoor Emergency Care certification through the National Ski Patrol. When she's not climbing, Lisa enjoys mountain biking, telemark skiing, and her Husky/shepperd mix "Palu. Lisa is married to John Rust; between them they have a long term commitment to high guiding standards and professionalism mixed with a good natured attitude.

Lisa's Climbing Resume includes:

John is one of the most dynamic guides we have working with us; with his good humor, kind disposition and patience, he is a natural instructor. In addition to mountaineering, John is a professional rock climbing instructor and ski coach with an accomplished race history to his own credit.