Wilderness Outings | Instructors & Staff

Here is the real reason why Wilderness Outings courses are as great as they are — our staff! Each of them bring a wealth of personal and professional experience, and an enthusiasm for their subject matter that shines through every moment of your course. We are proud of each any every Wilderness Outings staffperson – they bring the course to life!

All Wilderness Outings staff are required to possess significant personal and professional experience to qualify, and must hold medical certifications at a minimum of Wilderness Advanced First Aid (or higher), as well as CPR certification.

Wilderness Outings staffs most rock climbing courses with American Mountain Guides Association certified instructors, per the conditions of commercial use permits.

Instructional Staff

Glen Van Peski, Ultralight Backpacking Program Coordinator
My passion is sharing ideas about getting outdoors with less and lighter stuff. Backpacking with 20 lbs. on your back is a whole different experience than with 50 lbs. on your back. Go towards the light...

Kier Stiteler — Kier developed an early thirst for adventure in the mountains of New Mexico where he began honing his climbing skills in college. He relocated to California in 1995 to pursue the big cliffs in Yosemite where he has scaled many Grade VI big walls as well as hundreds of long classic climbs all around the Golden State, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. He began guiding in 1997 and has worked for a few different guide services sharing his love for climbing as well as rigging and performing climbing stunts for several TV commercials and Reality Shows. He now splits his time between rock climbing, surfing, and his career in developing anti-cancer biotherapeutics at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA, but his one true love is still teaching and guiding rock climbs around California.

Lee White — After graduating Art Center College of Design in 1974, Lee started working as a full time professional photographer in 1975 and with Wilderness Outings in 1994. His work has been commissioned by national and international companies allowing him to shoot extensively throughout the US and in parts of Asia, Africa, England, Europe and South America. Lee has used all formats from 8X10 to 35 mm and now has a strong involvement with digital photography which is welcome in his classes.

Monique LeMay — Monique LeMay has been teaching rock climbing and back packing with Wilderness Outings for over seven years. As one of only a handful of female rock guides she has a unique perspective on the sport and understands how to teach techniques to a broad range of clients. Her bright smile and thrill to be a guide can get anyone excited to be outdoors!

Michael Habicht — Michael Habicht has been climbing and backpacking since discovering the great outdoors in college. He has spent the last eight years honing his skills across the Western States and keeps coming back to Southern California, a mecca for climbers and backpackers. He has been teaching for W.O. for 3 years and loves helping others discover the joys of a wilderness outing.

Steven Carre
Athena Littlefield
Michael Plencner
Josh Zilm
Al Toth
Matt Covill
Matt ‘Tristan’ Sieleman

Shannon Jacobs, Shannon has been leading outdoor adventures since1996. Shannon's background includes work for such organizations as Outward Bound, The Boojum Institute for Experiential Education and a myriad of other outdoor programs.Shannon has been working with Wilderness Outings since 2005 and concurrently works as a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in the treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as well as the use of Ecotherapy/Adventure-Based Therapies.

John DuGene — A retired Navy pilot, John has spent years in the outdoors including trips to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, several summits of Mt. Whitney, and hiking throughout the United States. As a pilot, he was accomplished at low-altitude navigation and aerial reconnaissance. He is currently teaching high school algebra. Recently he climbed the volcano El Pico de Orizaba (18,490 ft) in Mexico, and Mt. Aconcagua (22,840 ft) in Argentina – the highest summit in the world outside of the Himalayas. He loves all types of navigation and map work: whether airborne, sailing, or in the wilderness.

Josh Jackson — Josh Jackson has fervor for both outdoor recreation and teaching, and he has spent over a decade trying to marry his passions. Josh has worked as a climbing, river and mountain guide throughout the West and Alaska. He has his Bachelor’s degree in Adventure Education and Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College and a Master’s in Outdoor Experiential Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Josh is a Wilderness EMT who has been active in Search & Rescue. In addition to working as an Outward Bound instructor, climbing gym manager, wilderness therapy facilitator, field program manager and a Wilderness Medical Associates’ and America Mountain Guide Association instructor, he has served as adjunct faculty at colleges and universities, teaching such courses as expeditionary sea kayaking, white water rafting, rock climbing, back country skiing, ice climbing, surfing, map & compass, winter camping, wilderness leadership and wilderness first responder.

Stephanie Zito — Stephanie loves inspiring people to live and play in the outdoors. A former Peace Corps Volunteer, Stephanie has lived and traveled throughout Africa and India. Since 2004, she has guided backpacking, rock climbing, and teambuilding throughout the Western U.S. Having landed in San Diego, Stephanie now splits her time between the land and sea, working as a wellness consultant, teaching yoga, surfing, and climbing in the mountains and desert.

Administrative Staff

John Jacobs, Director of Program and Operations —John has an extensive history in the field of Outdoor and Adventure Education, including nearly 20 years as an instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates. John spent nine years with the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School as Instructor and eventually Program Director for the High Sierra Mountaineering and Rock Climbing program. John has worked with Wilderness Outings since 1989, primarily teaching rock climbing courses as well as instructing all of the Wilderness Medicine courses previously offered. He has worked extensively with the Boojum Institute, serving as Program Director, Board Member, and Risk Management Committee Member. In addition to his work with Wilderness Outings, John currently operates Adventure Risk Management, specializing in risk management-related training and consultation. John currently holds Wilderness EMT certification, as well as American Mountain Guides Association certification at the level of Single Pitch Instructor. John’s outdoor skills and experience are equally extensive — he has hiked the entire 2600 mile Pacific Crest Trail, and the John Muir Trail (twice). His climbing experience is diverse, and includes technical ascents of many peaks in the Sierra, Cascades, and Alaska, as well as extensive rock climbing experience from Yosemite’s Big Walls to Southern California’s classic climbing areas such as Joshua Tree and Tahquitz/Suicide Rocks.

Jeff Cooper, Program Consultant. Jeff Cooper was the Director of Wilderness Outings for over 13 years, when it was organized under Adventure 16, from 1989 to 2002. During that time, he grew the program to serve well over 15,000 clients, introducing them to the outdoors and the very fine cadre of instructors he had cultivated for over a decade.

Before that, Jeff worked for various other experiential education and outdoor programs, including a 12 year tenure with Outward Bound. He is a professional member and certified Top Rope Instructor with the American Mountain Guides Association, keeps his WFR & CPR current, and still enjoys teaching and guiding. With many big wall climbs, mountaineering ascents, sea kayak expeditions and cross-country ski traverses to his credit, his current interests find him surf kayaking, mountain biking, or canyoneering. And, of course, he always takes his cameras with him.

Cory Freyer, Navigation Program Coordinator
Cory Freyer hails from Colorado and has lived in the Los Angeles area for the last 23 years. She has backpacked extensively in the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado Rocky Mountains in summer and winter conditions. Her love of wild places has inspired her to trek in Nepal, Bhutan, Japan and Patagonia. Mountaineering is also a part of her repertoire with climbs of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta and Mt. Whitney. She has a particular passion for maps and navigation and has participated in several Orienteering competitions.

For the last 12 years she was the West Los Angeles coordinator for Adventure 16's Wilderness Outings Program where she also taught courses in Backpacking , Winter Camping and Map and Compass Navigation.

We are pleased to have her join Wilderness Outings as the Director of Navigational Skills where she continues to develop and teach Map & Compass courses as well as a course in navigating with GPS receivers.