About Wasatch Mountain Guides | Guiding Utah Since 2017

Wasatch Mountain Guides

In 2017, two veteran IFMGA American Mountain Guides, Willie Benegas and Todd Passey, decided to join their combined 50+ years of experience in order to form a local mountaineering service in Utah. A mix of a local's perspective with international experience brought comprehensive mountain guiding to Utah.

In 2021, Erik Fullmer joined the team to offer help with operations and WMG’s online presence. He also brought a lifelong runner’s and freeride skier’s perspective. Also joining were Winslow Passey and Joseph Hobby. They bring decades of guiding experience, both highly recognized in their discipline, and contribute unique skills for custom programs. From there the team grew, and we now offer guided mountain activities internationally. Once again, WMG relied on Todd and Willie’s longtime international experience to build quality trips and expeditions for our clients.

Whether in Utah rock climbing or exploring its playful backcountry powder, in the remote Arctic (Svalbard), in the rugged majestic mountains of Alaska, or exploring and skiing the volcanoes in Patagonia, Chile; WMG is here to offer high quality, fun, and helping you achieve your mountain goals.

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Life is your experiences, and we’re here to facilitate those

Our Partners, Accreditations, and Community

Recognized Provider - American Avalanche Association

WMG is an approved A3 Recognized Provider for all recreational avalanche courses (Level 1, Rescue, Level 2). This approval ensures that WMG curriculum meets the A3 Recreational Course Guidelines as well as vetting our Risk Management Plan, including managing and operating in appropriate terrain.

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Our avalanche education courses are offered in partnership with the American Avalanche Institute. The curriculum of AAI is essential to the success of our avalanche courses. We are proud to call them our partner.

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Thank you to DPS Skis for supporting our program with their skis. Rooted in the Wasatch, just like WMG, DPS Skis designs and builds high-performance, carbon-focused skis engineered for precision, power, and versatility in big mountain and backcountry terrain, with a commitment to innovation and craftsmanship.

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We are a proud sponsor of the Salt Lake Climber's Alliance and encourage Utah locals to support their mission, "to engage as an advocate to protect outdoor climbing access and as a steward to maintain sustainable climbing resources in the Wasatch and surrounding regions."

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We are proud to support the Juniper Fund, a cause close to us at WMG. For Todd, Winslow and Willie, Nepal is like a second home—after 20+ years guiding in the Himalayas, with a combined 16 summits of Everest, they have seen the risks Sherpas face. Supporting the Juniper Fund is our way of honoring their courage and giving back to their families.

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Thank you to Dynafit for our apparel. Dynafit specializes in lightweight, high-performance ski touring gear, including bindings, boots, and apparel, designed for speed and efficiency in the mountains.

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Thank you to Skimo Co for assisting our clients with quality ski touring rentals and products and for offering our full-time guides a generous discount. We encourage our clients to rent ski touring here.

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Many of our activities are permitted on public lands, including but not limited to, the UNITA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST, Bureau of Land Management land in Utah and Alaska, the Denali National Park and Preserve, and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

The Utah Avalanche Center is an invaluable and crucial resource for our community. We contribute to the UAC donation drives, add observations (including incidents) to the public observations and avalanche reports, and encourage Utah locals to donate to their organization and seek educational materials from their website. Please read the daily avalanche forecast.

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Wasatch Mountain Guides

Our Guides: Leaders in the Industry

Our AMGA/IFMGA-certified guides are the cornerstone of our adventures. With years of experience and a commitment to safety and excellence, they are not just guides but mentors, helping you grow and explore. Many guides and clients develop a longstanding relationship, becoming more than a guide and client, but also friends. We greatly appreciate these sustained relationships, which helps you grow as a skilled mountaineer and this rapport allows for trust in higher risk objectives.

To highlight the elite level of our guides, we reference that two of our guides, Willie Benegas and Joseph Hobby, have been recognized by the prestigious Piolets d’Or (Golden Piton) Honored Ascents. Todd Passey and Winslow Passey are known for their first descents in Antarctica, among other accomplishments. The knowledge and experience from these events are passed down to our up-and-coming guides, as well as to you, our guest and client.

Commitment to Equitable Pay

Supporting Our Guides with Fair Compensation

At Wasatch Mountain Guides, we are committed to providing equitable pay for our guides. We believe that fair compensation reflects our values and enhances the quality of our guiding services. Our dedication to our guides translates into an exceptional experience for you.

Fair compensation leads to passionate guides who are invested in providing the best possible adventure.

Wasatch Mountain Guides

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