August 15, 2025
Alaska season is coming fast, and we want to make sure you meet IMG Denali’s 2026 West Buttress Expedition Leaders! Spots are going fast- be sure to secure your spot on their rope teams before they run out!
Forrest Baldwin, May 12th Team Lead
Forrest has been guiding with IMG for eight seasons in Washington and Alaska. Prior to joining the IMG team, he worked as a USFS Hotshot based out of Missoula, Montana. In the winter, Forrest works as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort where he is an on-hill Supervisor and the primary trainer of Cudi, one of the mountain’s five avalanche search dogs. Forrest is a licensed EMT at both the national and state levels and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.
Brad Swanson, May 16th Team Lead
Although Brad is in his fifth year with IMG, he is rounding out his eleventh season working as a mountain guide across the American West with is true passion being in Washington’s North Cascades. Brad spends his winters working as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort. At Crystal, Brad leads the patrol’s technical rescue program and works as the Assistant Avalanche Forecaster. Brad maintains his Outdoor Emergency Care certification through the National Ski Patrol and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.
Timm Phillips, May 20th Team Lead
Timm is in his seventh season guiding for IMG in the Cascades, the Alaska Range, and internationally. Timm spends much of his winter season working as a ski guide in Japan and leading avalanche safety courses in California before making his yearly migration north. When not in the mountains, you can find him surfing waves around the world. Timm maintains his AAA Pro 2.
Max Bond, May 24th Team Lead
Max has been guiding with IMG for five out of his seven years as a mountain guide! Max has led five successful expeditions to Nepal’s highest peaks, two to the summit of Vinson in Antarctica, and two to the summit of Kilimanjaro on top of full-time Washington/Alaska seasons! Max is an AIARE Course Leader, and in his spare time he leads wilderness medicine courses and loves to tackle new split-boarding objectives! On top of his baseline certifications, Max holds an AAA Pro 2 certification.