About us

We’re a highly collaborative and supportive team that strives for excellency and connection with nature on every trip while protecting this magical place.

Our Mission

It is our goal on every tour to see as much wildlife as possible, view the best sites in the park, take you off the beaten path, take multiple secluded family friendly hikes, stop at all the cleanest bathrooms, and do it with as few crowds as possible.

Our Values

While exploring the park we follow the “leave no trace” principle, minimizing our impact to the environment. Ethical wildlife viewing, watching animals from a safe distance without interfering with their behaviour is the foundation of our tours.

Conservation

We proudly support projects in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that strive for coexistence between the local community and wildlife.

Our Team

Founder

Derek

Derek moved to Big Sky, Montana in the Summer of 2005 to pursue the dream of living in the mountains and skiing big mountains. Over the past several years he has led over 500 tours into Yellowstone National Park. Derek is a graduate of Montana State University in nearby Bozeman, Montana where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Natural Sciences. He was drawn to MSU for the opportunity to take courses specific to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Derek has a love for ecology and embraces the opportunity to discuss the parks intact ecology with anyone who will listen!

After college, Derek interned for an adventure eco-travel company based out of Boulder, Colorado. Since then he has led many trips all over the American West and Yellowstone National Park.

When Derek is not in Yellowstone you can find him snowboarding in Big Sky, exploring the deserts of the American Southwest, traveling, scuba diving in Costa Rica, or working on a TV set in Hollywood! Derek is still an active member of the Cinematographers Union and occasionally will leave Montana to work on television production. He has worked for NBC on the 2018 Winter Olympics, The Emmys, NFL Network, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and many more!

Guide

Andrea

Andrea came to Montana to pursue his dream of becoming a wildlife biologist. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem was the first place he visited and he returned as often as he could. He got his B.S. in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana in Missoula . As a student he worked as a field research assistant in the backcountry of Banff in Canada collecting data for one of the longest-running elk studies in the world and analyzed wolf kills.

He worked as a mountain lion tracker in Western Montana during the winter contributing to an eight year-long research project. The winter conditions were harsh, and the days were long but being in the presence of these magnificent cats made it well worth it.

Interpreting wildlife and their signs on the landscape while reconnecting with nature and being amazed by all the complexities, hoping that this wild piece of land will be preserved for the upcoming generations is why you will see him almost everyday in the park, even in his free time.

He loves hiking and backpacking through remote and wild mountains and never forgets his camera to capture his encounters with Montana’s Megafauna

Guide

Kevin

Kevin is a Bozeman-based guide whose personal and professional journey in wildlife ecology began in his home state of Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology at UW-Madison in 2013. His winding career path in conservation has seen him teaching students how to trap bats in the outback of Australia, guiding clients to experience bear country in Alaska, dissecting Zebrafish embryos in a university laboratory, and managing nature preserves in California and Colorado. Kevin now spends his days studying, exploring, and sharing the wonder of the natural landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In his free time he can be found hiking with his dog Violet, binoculars and a fly fishing rod in hand.

Guide

Carrie

After graduating she pursued a PhD in Economics, inspired by time she spent in South Africa. She operated a hostel in Cape Town and played semi-pro soccer in Austin, Texas before discovering her next love in life: skiing powder. Her home since 2010 has been Big Sky, Montana where access to the mountains and outdoors expanded her opportunities and rejuvenated her outdoor enthusiasm! For the last decade Carrie has been guiding trips all over the United States from ultra-deluxe to ultra-adventure. Before guiding for YAT, Carrie was an integral part of planning, designing scouting and running new trips for other companies. When she isn’t chasing powder or guiding people on life-changing adventures, she enjoys exploring the world and spending time with friends and family.

Guide

Sean

Sean grew up in New England spending summers off-the-grid along the remote coast of Maine where he developed a love for wild ecosystems from a young age. He followed his passions to Seattle University where he studied Environmental Studies and Ecosystem Biology throughout the various biomes of the Pacific Northwest. He has lived in the greater Yellowstone for 6 years, guiding mountain biking, river trips Yellowstone ecotours, and teaching skiing. In his free time, you can find Sean skiing, biking, Kayaking, and sailing near his home in Big Sky Montana. Often adventuring with camera in hand, you can see his photography at SeanMackinsonPhoto.com

Guide

Jeremy

I came to Montana when I received an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. As I developed a passion for nature and wildlife, I explored outdoor education and research opportunities throughout the Western United States, including endangered bird surveys in Oregon, wildlife education at the Oakland Zoo in California, and frog behavioral research in Montana. Along the way, I found new passions like hiking, camping, and fishing, and cultivated older passions, like archery. However, my favorite activity is sharing my experiences of the outfits with others who are curious and fascinated by the natural world.

Guide

Lara

I have a passion for wildlife research and conservation. That led me to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources from Rutgers University. Over the course of my career as a field technician, I’ve captured, collected samples from, and tracked Greater Sage Grouse and a variety of bat species. I’ve also set camera traps for carnivore research projects. I find the interplay of species and environmental pressures in this ecosystem to be captivating! One of my favorite hobbies is backpacking and recently thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. See you in Yellowstone!

Guide

Jessica

After graduating with a degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, she spent the past decade immersing herself in a broad range of wildlife projects. From researching California sea lions on the west coast to sea turtles on the east coast, she eventually found her way to the Rockies and spent a few seasons working primarily with mountain goats and American pikas in Glacier National Park. She recently obtained her masters degree in Environmental Journalism and is dedicated to making outdoor experiences accessible, inspiring, and some of the most unforgettable experiences. When she is not in the mountains, sharing her passion and knowledge of the Rockies, you can find her somewhere in the water.

Guide

Steve

Steve has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and has lived in Montana for 25 years. He is an avid WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER and loves to spend as much of his free time as possible photographing wildlife in Yellowstone especially Grizzly Bears! He spent the past two Septembers in Alaska photographing the coastal Grizzly Bears of Katmai National Park. Steve loves to get into Yellowstone as much as possible and talk about the ecology, grizzly bear populations, predator prey relationships within YNP, and especially photography!

You can view his photography at: Ecowildimages.com or

INSTAGRAM: ecowildimages