Show Notes:

Julie Ann’s links:

• Instagram @groundingtruth
• Grounding Truth Website: groundingtruth.com
• Julie Ann is a member of the RAD team with Traverse Equipment https://www.traverseequipment.com/julieannholder
• Personal Instagram @julieann.holder

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. Happy Wednesday. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today our guest is Julie Ann Holder. She was highly recommended by a listener and fellow guide Ian. I was so glad to connect with her and had a wonderful conversation with her.

Julie Ann ‘Julz’ is a Backcountry Mentor, Ski Guide, and Avalanche Educator living in Bellingham, Washington. Two winters ago, she launched Grounding Truth Holistic Guiding: a process-oriented, women-focused, grassroots ski guiding business. As a guide, Julz embodies an attitude of curiosity, wonder, and reverence in wild places. She is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces within outdoor adventures that evoke feelings of radical acceptance and help cultivate more deeply felt experiences.

Julie Ann is truly special. Her love towards snow country and skiing is contagious and her dedication to Grounding Truth is admirable. I don’t consider myself that much of a winter person, but I was curious about why she loved it so much, so I asked her to describe winter for me. I was speechless and when I listened to her words again, I couldn’t help but close my eyes in order to feel the intense beauty. I typically listen to podcasts when I am driving. If you’re like me, please don’t close your eyes when you listen to this episode.

Things We Talked about:

• From Georgia rock to Washington snow
• Learn how to ski as an adult
• Learn to ski and teach ski at the same time
• Myth: Easy to learn hard to master?
• Benefits of learning a sport later in their lives
• How does Julie Ann start guiding?
• Big Sky MT where everything started
• Resort skiing versus backcountry skiing
• Trial and Errors
• Avalanche awareness / how to make decisions -> takes time
• As a guide, thinking about sustainability about a guide’s body
• Grounding Truth founded in 2021
• Light bulb moments triggering Julie Ann to start her mentorship program?
• Use modern powerful tools but also use senses to feel the surroundings to make decisions
• Need to see it in actions before loading more information on the plate
• Intentionally let the course run in an organic way
• Reciprocal relationship with the places
• Since the inception of Grounding Truth, what kind of adjustments did Julie Ann did?
• What were the keepers since the beginning of Grounding Truth?
• The beauty of winter
• Vision for the Grounding Truth program?

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, happy Wednesday. I'm your host Ting Ting from sunny and soon to be hot Las Vegas. Today our guest is another Vegas local, Irene Yee. The famed ladylockoff on Instagram.

Irene is a professional west coast based rock climbing and adventure photographer. She started rock climbing out of pure joy, picked up a camera soon after, and continues that journey on her instagram @ladylockoff. Her focus is to uplift women, BIPOC, and the LGBTQIA2S+ communities; choosing to highlight those pushing their own personal limits and finding inspiration in those with passion over muscle. She is internationally published, a @natgeoadventure contributor, and works with today's largest outdoor brands and non-profits.

I had so much joy chatting with Irene in her house. We talked about how she transformed herself from a shy figure, hidden in dark clothes, to a bold, assertive, yet inclusive personality. I learned how she first took photos as a hobby and then slowly but surely turned creative photography into her profession when she identified the community needed her visual work. After we covered the serious topics, we had a fun time sharing about what else there is to do in Vegas besides climbing! That's right, Vegas has more to offer. Now let's have fun with Irene Yee. The Lady Lockoff.

Irene's Links:

Website: www.ladylockoff.com

Social Media: @ladylockoff https://www.instagram.com/ladylockoff

Allie's links:

Instagram: @tahoeallie

Website: www.allieace.wordpress.com

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, happy Wednesday. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Our guest today is Allie Ace. We met in an SPI course. She told me that she had been an active listener of the show and resonated deeply with a few prior guests, especially Mia Tucholke. She mentioned that she had a very positive experience with her AMGA courses and wanted to encourage other aspirant female guides not to be afraid to take the first steps to become a guide.

Originally from the east coast, Allie learned to ski in the Poconos at the age of 3. In 2010, she moved to Tahoe to pursue bigger mountains and a full time career in the ski industry. She has traveled all over the country and the world to teach skiing and coach ski racing. Allie is a USSS Level 400 Alpine Coach, Coach Developer and Alpine Official, has her PSIA Alpine Level 3, Children’s Specialist 2, Freestyle Specialist 1, Resort & Divisional Trainer, and Snowboard Level 1. With her eye on steeper and deeper lines, Allie started backcountry guiding in 2020. She is an AIARE Course Instructor, has her Pro 1, and is an AMGA Apprentice Ski & Alpine Guide. Allie currently lives in Truckee, CA, works for Alpenglow Expeditions, NASTC and is the lead alpine trainer at Sugar Bowl Resort. She is working towards her avy Pro 2 and the PSIA National Team this season. When not skiing, Allie enjoys whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and yoga.

Allie is very passionate about continuing education and training. She is serious about being outstanding in her job and equipping her clients and students with current and relevant knowledge. I learned so much from her. We found there are many analogies between the ski and rock disciplines. Without further ado, let's dive in this episode with Allie Ace.

What We Talked About:

What We Talked About

From PA to CA

Taught ski racing and coaching in resorts

Headed to AK and got into backcountry skiing

How long did it take Allie to make the shift from resorts to mountains?

Allie used to have a dream to heli ski but when she skied in the mountains in AK, she realized she didn't need a helicopter

Allie had a great schedule when she was in AK, which allowed her to ski much on her own in the mountains

Moved back to Tahoe but the pandemic shut down resorts

Due to the pandemic the demand for guides for backcountry skiing increased dramatically

Would love to transition the ski racing kids to backcountry skiing

Think it's really cool to equip those kids with good decision making ability in the mountains

What are the steps Allie took to feel comfortable guiding in the backcountry?

Had great mentors in AK

Took AIARE and AMGA courses, did in house training and shadowed many trips and courses

Certification in ski industry?

Recreational track and pro track

How and why did Allie start her AMGA journey?

Allie had a very positive experience with the AMGA

What's next on Allie's plate?

How long is Allie's guiding season?

What do people do off-season?

Via Ferrata in Tahoe area

Proudest moment

One big take away?