WHO WE ARE

Third Edge Heli is a boutique, highly exclusive heli-skiing operation designed for guests who value privacy, flexibility, and access. With just three guests per group, private helicopters, and fully inclusive service—from elite guides and private lodges to chef-prepared meals and personalized travel—every trip is built entirely around the people on board.
Our guides exceed international safety standards, and our lodge locations provide access to multiple mountain ranges, allowing us to adapt to conditions and keep guests skiing when others can’t. Most of our guests find us through word of mouth, and that discretion is intentional.

JEFF HOKE

OWNER of third edge heli

Jeff has been a heli-ski guide since 2003. Always chasing adventure, Jeff grew up exploring Alaska, where he fell in love with the technical and demanding nature of the world-famous Chugach Mountains.
A pioneer in accessing remote and challenging coastal mountain zones, Jeff has been instrumental in developing new, multi-sport adventures involving skiing, surfing, kite surfing, mountain biking, pack rafting, and fishing. He is a proven leader in establishing mountain safety protocols and tactics.
Up until his retirement this year, Jeff was a Captain in the Anchorage Fire Dept. where he specialized in advanced technical rescue. With the right tools and knowledge, Jeff views Alaska as a giant playground. He has spent a lifetime in Alaska and is uniquely qualified and eager to share adventures with his clients, both in Alaska and the world at large.

BRAD COSGROVE

OWNER of third edge heli

Brad has spent a lifetime sharing experiences in the outdoors. He grew up playing outside in the Pacific Northwest and started working in the outfitting and guiding industry as a kid. This led to falling in love with riding in the backcountry, and ski guiding became full-time winter work, early on.
He came to AK over 20 years ago chasing a ski dream and has worked with Third Edge Heli since its inception in AK, Canada, and Chile.
He lives full-time in Hope, Alaska with his wife and their two boys.

MARK MOLTHAN

OWNER of third edge heli

Mark Molthan is an owner of Third Edge Heli whose connection to the mountains runs deep. A lifelong heli-skier, Mark has spent years seeking remote terrain across Alaska and beyond—drawn not only to the challenge, but to the stillness, perspective, and clarity that only the mountains provide.
Shaped by years of experience in demanding environments, Mark understands the discipline, respect, and patience required to return to the mountains season after season. For him, heli-skiing isn’t about adrenaline alone—it’s about resilience, awareness, and the rare peace that comes from being fully present and truly unreachable.
Mark’s relationship with Third Edge is personal. The operation reflects the same values he’s carried into the mountains for decades: authenticity over hype, people over ego, and experiences that are earned—not manufactured.

BRET GILLELAND

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Bret has been involved in the heli-skiing world of Alaska for going on two decades. We couldn’t teach someone what Bret understands about this business. Her expertise can’t be put in a box. She knows where to find you fuel when you are in the remote reaches of the mountains as well as your favorite beverage when you step out of the helicopter.
Bret grew up one of four girls on a small farm in rural Georgia riding horses, fishing and hunting. Her southern roots shine through with her warm smile and hospitable notions. You can rest assured, with Bret on site, your needs will be fulfilled.
Bret has a passion for the mountains. Be it on her board or a horse, the mountains are always calling. Bret fills her free time hiking, harvesting, and riding horses in the mountains alongside her ride or die Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Nika. She promises to stay forever young.

TIFF SIMPSON

SALES, ADmin & logistics

Tiff acquired her deep love for the outdoors growing up in Northern California, hiking and camping with her family. While attending university in Idaho her interests began to turn toward more adrenaline-fueled activities, including mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, and backcountry snowboarding. After graduating with a BS in Biology and a minor in Outdoor Recreation Education she went on to spend over a decade as a whitewater kayaking guide/instructor, traveling between the states of CA, OR, WA, ID, WY and CO for work. Tiff is a WFR, ACA Whitewater Instructor, Swiftwater Rescue certified, and has completed her AIARE L2 avalanche training.
Tiff currently lives in Crested Butte, CO. In the summer you can find her shredding the legendary single track surrounding CB on her bike and traveling around the state of CO with her kayak, paddling whatever river is peaking at the moment. In the winter she’s an avid backcountry split boarder who occasionally dabbles in skiing just to keep herself humble. When she’s not playing outside she loves to cook, drink good tequila, dance really hard, debate politics, watch documentary films, and read. She has been working with Third Edge Heli since 2017.

STEVE HALL

GUIDE

Steve was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon and began skiing at the age of 5 in the Wasatch Mountains of Alta. He started working for Snowbird in 1989 on a work-release program as a senior in high school and moved up the canyon to Alta as a ski tech in 1991, while going to the University of Utah.
Steve started his avalanche/snow safety career in 1994 when he joined Alta Ski Patrol and holds a position there, to this day, on the early morning avalanche control team.
In 1999, Steve started his first mechanized ski guide job with a heli-ski company out of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, and in 2003 made his way to Valdez, Alaska, where he landed a guide position with Valdez Heli Camps. He gained valuable knowledge and experience with LCC and Valdez for over a decade, which led to his next transition.
In 2015, Steve found himself guiding out of the Ruby Mountains in Nevada throughout January and then heading back up to Alaska and guiding out of the Tordrillo Mountains through February, March and April. That’s when he met Greg Harms and started guiding with the Third Edge Heli crew. The rest is history!
Nowadays he starts his winter season at home in Utah, going next to Nevada, then finishing up in Alaska. He is a member of Heli Ski US and has a level I, II & III certification through the American Avalanche Institute (AAI). He is also certified with Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) through the National Ski Patrol. He has CPR & AED certifications through Red Cross.
When asked what he does in the off-season, Steve’s reply is, “What off-season”? He lives life full-throttle and resides in Utah with his wife, Shauna and yellow lab, Tread.

NICK LANGOWSKI

GUIDE

Nick, a seasoned heli ski guide, finds joy and fulfillment in the expansive outdoor winterscape of Alaska. Brought up in the peaks of Colorado, he honed his skills navigating through the contrasting terrains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. His boundless affection for nature resonates in his choice of hobbies, which primarily revolves around the adrenaline-boosting world of speedflying, skiing, and snow machining, supplemented by peaceful pastimes of hunting and fishing.
In 2010, he traded the rugged landscapes of home for Alaska’s icy expanse, intensifying his thirst for adventure and exploration. His courageous exploits, however, do not merely cater to personal thrill but echo a broader mission. As a heli ski guide, he escorts others through alpine landscapes, sharing the exhilarating joy and profound beauty of the wild outdoors. He lights the path for fellow adventurers, infusing enthusiasm and awe, showcasing the sheer magnificence of nature.
Nick’s relationship with the Third Edge family is an integral part of his adventurous journey. His spirit, tenacity and passion for the outdoors align seamlessly with the values that Third Edge upholds. He proudly embodies the Third Edge ethos, dedicating himself to a life of boundary-pushing exploration and encapsulating the spirit of adventure. As a proud member of the Third Edge family, Nick continues to narrate his thrilling story, inspiring others to connect with the beautiful dance between nature and adrenaline-fueled excitement.

ERIC LAYTON

GUIDE

Eric Layton became the first accredited splitboard guide through the American Mountain Guides Association in 2015. Eric’s knowledge and expertise for backcountry splitboarding and alpine climbing have led him to work as a guide for operations throughout the world.
He started his guiding career in Valdez, Alaska over 15 years ago. His year-round experience in the mountains and great attention to safety are only enhanced by his pure passion and joy for slaying powder. Eric is a world-class guide at the top of his game.
Splitting his time between the Sierra, Revelstoke, Alaska, and South America, guests are in good hands with Eric on any Third Edge adventure. He is a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and level 2 CAA certified, along with holding his US level 3 avalanche certification.
When he is not guiding, Eric spends time with his wife and two boys adventuring in the mountains and surfing as much as possible.

SCOTT NEWSOME

GUIDE

Scott Newsome was raised in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta in world renowned Lake Louise and earned his stripes as a Whistler-based big mountain pro snowboarder in the ’90s, filming several movie segments throughout Alaska and Canada. In 1998 Scott migrated back to the stacked peaks, unlimited touring, and deep snowfalls of the Canadian interior, Monashee, and Selkirk mountains where he started his young guiding career at Cat Powder, a Revelstoke-based cat-skiing operation owned by his uncle. Newsome’s long rise through the ACMG Guide ranks began in the skin track mecca of Rogers Pass and culminated nearly a decade later when he became the first Canadian to earn ACMG guide certification in 2005.
His current day job is VP/owner and Lead Guide for Eagle Pass Heli, a heli-skiing op with 270,000 acres of prime stacked tenure in the heart of the Monashee Mountains. While Newsome spends 160 days a season deep in the Monashees, he also has heli guided over 10 years in Haines and Valdez, Alaska during the spring. He has contributed to several media trips including Jeremy Jones’ film Deeper, and Travis Rice’s Art of Flight. Scott also guides for Third Edge Heli in the Chilean Andes.
When not guiding, Newsome teaches avalanche safety courses, spends time touring with his two boys, works with chainsaws, loves fishing, and roots for the Edmonton Oilers hockey team.

PETE OSTROSKI

GUIDE

Peter grew up in North Conway, New Hampshire, spending time recreating in the modest but rugged, White Mountains. He pursued alpine ski racing through college, which ultimately brought him to Alaska during US Nationals in 2009, and mountain bike racing in the Enduro World Series through 2021. Both sports created an adventure path for Peter to explore in the mountains throughout North America, and Europe.
His passion for exploring the Chugach backcountry, mainly by human power, began in 2011 when he moved to Girdwood, AK and worked in alpine ski racing. The fulfillment of fostering athletic achievements in the mountains on skis evolved into ski guiding after 10 years of coaching. Peter has his USHS Level 3 from working at Chugach Powder Guides, W-EMT and is excited to share his passion for skiing in Alaska with the Third Edge family.
In the summer months, Peter is still involved with the MTB scene, doing adventure trips, and promoting a 5-day Enduro Race in New England (Trans-New England). He now lives in Anchorage with his wife Terin and 18month old daughter Kyper.

HECTOR SILVA PERALTA

GUIDE

Hector grew up in the Andes in a small mountain town located in the Aconcagua valley close to Portillo Ski Resort, Chile.
Since a very young age he started skiing. “ I didn’t have a choice, I was chosen by this life in the mountains”.
After 20+ years of ski bumming and earning his master’s degree in architecture,
Hector decided to become a professional mountain guide in 2010 and since, has been committed to a full-time life in the mountains.
From big walls in Patagonia to the Cassin ridge on the south face of Denali, human powered first ski descents in the Andes Range, Hector has achieved impressive climbing and skiing experience worldwide.
From 2007-2015 , Hector spent his formative years in the Italian dolomites, gaining the essential foundations for becoming a guide. This journey has ultimately taken him to Canada and Alaska for professional training, becoming the first ACMG certified guide in South America.
Alongside his guiding career, he is working towards developing avalanche awareness projects that will positively impact communities in the Andes Range. He holds a CAA Operations level 2 certification as well as being a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and professional member of the American Avalanche Association.
Hector is based in Chile and has been working as a Guide for Third Edge Heli since 2018. He is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish.

BRIAN SIENOWSKI

GUIDE

Brian began his career in the ski business in 2002 as a lift operator at the Yellowstone Club in Montana. Two seasons later he joined the ski patrol at the club where he worked for 7 season. During that time Brian ski toured obsessively throughout southwest Montana and eventually started to sneak away in the spring to head to Alaska and explore the outstanding skiing the mountains had to offer. In 2012 Brian began working for Chugach Powder Guides and worked his way up from a snowcat guide to a lead Heli guide and forecaster. He also spent some time working at the Tordrillo Mountain lodge and heli skied with friends in Haines and Valdez. Brian loves to ski, especially in the backcountry. In the early winter before heading to Alaska Brian resides in Montana and skis at Bridger bowl and in the backcountry of southwest Montana as much as possible, while also spending quality time with his wife and young daughter. Brian holds a level 3 certification from the American Avalanche Institute, is a member of the American Avalanche Association and an EMT. During the summer months Brian guides flyfishing in southwest Montana and in Yellowstone National Park.

JESSE WEEKS

GUIDE

Prior to landing in the ski hills of Little Cottonwood Canyon in ’96-’97, Jesse could be found at the young age of 8 years old, in the iconic mountains of the Pacific Northwest, first in line at resorts like Bluewood, Brundage, and Willamette Pass.
Fast forward to today and Jesse will tell you not much has changed; he still has a passion for skiing, but he usually doesn’t need to wait in lift lines anymore! He is an amazing guide and finds ways to make the most intense situations carefree and just plain fun.
Jesse is a heli-ski guide, river guide, ski patroller, leisure professional, true fun hog, and NEW dad in 2021! Whether he’s on the slopes in Alta, on a patch of sand along the Colorado River, in a five-star hotel in Chile, or a bunk bed in Valdez, his dreams and experiences take a variety of shapes each year. His guests love to be along for the ride.

MIKE WELCH

GUIDE

Mike Welch started his ski career working as a ski patroller at Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage, Alaska (294 vertical feet).Working outside and on skis was too much of a draw and Mike took the slippery slide into a lifetime in the ski industry. Mike has patrolled at Arctic Valley Ski Area (1214’) and Alyeska Resort (2500’) in Alaska and Alta Ski Area in Utah (2538’). Bigger mountains called. Mike put in over a decade and a half at Chugach Powder Guides, moving from following guide to lead guide to snow safety director.
Mike now splits time between his own company, Sundog Ski Guides (as many vertical as you can hike) and Third Edge Heli (UNLIMITED vertical feet). Contrary to how it may seem, Mike is not about counting vert, but rather he likes really long runs and big mountains. His ski patrol roots bring a work ethic and grit that shows, Mike is not afraid to get dirty to make sure you have an amazing time out in the mountains.

DAVE THORNE

HEAD CHEF

Delicious Dave (Thorne) is a catering and traveling chef based out of Anchorage, Alaska. He specializes in locally grown produce, seafood, and meat. A native of Anchorage, Delicious Dave was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. He has spent his career living and cooking around the world, shaping his cooking techniques. From Glacier Bay to Carnegie Hall to Adelaide Australia, Delicious Dave is passionate about serving and eating local food.
Delicious Dave cooked as a personal chef for Neil Young for three years, and as traveling chef for Justin Timberlake, Jack Johnson, Kings of Leon, Cirque de Sole, The Fray, Keith Urban and many more. His most inspiring cooking job was as head chef for the Jack Johnson tour, where he purchased and prepared meals from local farmers markets at each tour stop. Delicious Dave’s most recent claim to fame was cooking a private dinner for President Obama on his 2015 visit to Alaska.

NAMON FILE

CHEF

Namon is a chef with over 20 years of experience in fine dining, with roots stretching from the German Alps to Napa Valley and Mexico. He has toured across the U.S. and Canada cooking for musicians, and splits his seasons fishing for Dungeness crab and eel in California and sockeye salmon in Alaska. Based in Northern California, he lives aboard the sailboat Orla Wren with his wife, Jess, and their dog, Oyster. Together, Namon and Jess blend his culinary craft with her background in Eastern medicine, sharing a passion for travel, cultural exploration, and building meaningful connections within the communities they visit.

JONATHAN FOLLETT

CHEF

Jonathan Follett began his culinary efforts in Nashville, TN. Born to English parents in the UK, he immigrated at the age of ten and began cooking for friends and family as a young teen. Moving to New Orleans, after a short stint in Saint Lucia, he attended Tulane University. Working at the flagship restaurant of a highly rated chef, Jonathan’s desire to cook and eat eclipsed his business school study.
Several sous chefs were chosen to travel and work for the executive chef’s mentor in Germany. Moving with his then-girlfriend to the German countryside allowed Jonathan to thoroughly learn the pastry kitchen (as the pastry chef had just quit to go paragliding.)
Upon moving back to New Orleans, Jonathan became a bread baker and then a cellarman and lab tech for a brewery. After a few years of brewing and knife repair work, he returned to the kitchen at another award-winning restaurant in his neighborhood.
Jonathan currently lives with his wife in Sonoma, CA surrounded by vineyards and dairy farms. When not eating cheese on hikes, Jonathan is a tour catering chef to some of the most prominent musical acts in the U.S and Canada.

MICAH MILLER

CHEF

Raised in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico, Chef Micah has been cooking all over Alaska for the past 20 years. He boasts a knowledge of cuisine from across the globe, but specializes in blending flavors from the American Southwest (think smoke and spice) and the Pacific Northwest (seafood, game, and bountiful local produce). From fine dining to family style, to a luxurious picnic on a remote Alaskan beach, Chef Micah is excited to delight you with his culinary offerings. Oh, and keep an eye out on the slopes, his shredding skills are almost as good as his cooking!

RANDEE CURRY

LODGE HOST

Randee grew up in Arkansas, where she developed a love for the outdoors through swimming, hiking, and camping. While in college, working at a bakery sparked a newfound passion for baking and hospitality. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration, with an emphasis on food and beverage, she channeled her skills into the burgeoning food scene in Little Rock. Randee spent the next decade with a local restaurant group, helping to open new establishments, manage kitchens, and train staff.
Seeking a change from the fast-paced world of restaurant management, she transitioned to a baking-focused role at another local eatery, where her creativity truly flourished. Some of her signature recipes continue to be featured on menus today.
In 2022, craving a new adventure, Randee moved to Crested Butte, Colorado, where she became the banquet chef at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Between preparing meals for weddings and large conferences, she embraced the mountain lifestyle, enjoying skiing, hiking, and all that the area has to offer. After two years, she set off for another exciting chapter and relocated to Palmer, Alaska.
When she’s not working, Randee enjoys skiing, biking, crocheting, tackling puzzles, and experimenting with new cookie recipes.

MIAH KELLER

LODGE HOST

This is Miah’s first year with Third Edge Heli and she is stoked to be joining the team! Miah was born in Alaska, but moved to the Philippines when she was 8 and lived there for 10 years. She would visit family in Alaska every couple years, and it was on these trips that she fell in love with her home state all over again. As a result, this is where she decided to call home once she graduated high school in 2020. In the Philippines she enjoyed scuba diving, free diving, and playing in the warm ocean, but moving to Alaska required a slight change of hobbies. She learned to ski and loves it, but she’s still building her confidence on the slopes. She enjoys backpacking, salmon fishing, kayaking, and jumping in lakes. Miah is a potter and finds a way to throw no matter where she lives. She also paints, makes block prints and dabbles in wood burning.
Miah’s dad Zach is a helicopter pilot, who (fun fact) flies for Third Edge, and she loves going on flights with him whenever she gets the chance.
Miah worked at a local coffee shop for almost three years and it is one of her favorite things to create delicious drinks for people to enjoy.

ABBIE RIGGAN

LODGE HOST

New to Third Edge in 2026, Abbie is a born-and-raised Alaskan with extensive experience in the outdoor industry. She has spent most of her career working in trail construction and maintenance during the summer months, and teaching skiing at her home resort during the winters as a certified instructor.
Abbie loves skiing and is excited to see more of the heli-skiing side of the industry. She is passionate about the outdoors and sharing Alaska’s natural spaces and experiences with others.
When she’s not working or skiing, Abbie enjoys biking, traveling, knitting, reading, and spending time adventuring with friends and family.

SHIA ULMAN

LODGE HOST

Shia was born in Wisconsin and moved to Alaska when she was a little girl. Her parents introduced her to camping, running, four wheeling and suffering in the outdoors and she’s been addicted ever since. She’s bike packed through parts of South America, hiked the Appalachian trail, put out fires around the US and Canada but nothing can stop her from seeing the Third Edge family every winter.