NDF Team Members

Director of Mount Shasta Avalanche Center. A Northern California native who grew up in Graeagle, CA, Nick Meyers was appointed the USFS Mt. Shasta Lead Climbing Ranger and Avalanche Forecaster in 2010.  His career on Mount Shasta began as a summer internship back in 2002 while attending Feather River and Western State College for a degree in Recreation Leadership and Business.  Nick’s mountain sense and technical skills have developed and evolved much from his own personal climbing and ski missions.  Nick has scaled the Dolomites, skied Colorado’s 14ers and motorcycled the deserts and mountains of the Western United States on his dirt bike. He has surfed up and down Baja and sailed throughout the San Juan Islands and Desolation Sound. If it has to do with adventure and adrenaline, you'll see Nick there.  His adventurous spirit and fearless leadership commands a team of four rangers in the high stress and high-risk operations of Search and Rescue on Mount Shasta.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    As the Director of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center, Nick is issuing avalanche forecasts and teaching awareness and companion rescue courses for the winter months. This year marks Nick's 23rd year of employment with the US Forest Service on Mt. Shasta, the longest standing ranger in the history of the program. Needless to say, he loves his job and the Shasta community. One of Nick's biggest claims to fame is somehow landing his mug on the front cover of Popular Mechanics (March 2015). From that, a couple articles ensued, including a lot of reality TV show phone calls. Copy and paste the links below to check them out and learn more about Nick!

http://www.fs.fed.us/faces-of-the-forest-service/meet-nick-meyers

http://blogs.usda.gov/2015/05/07/lead-climbing-ranger-thrives-on-his-job/#more-58299

 Deputy Director- Avalanche Forecaster
Northwest Avalanche Center.  

Dallas has over a decade of experience in avalanche forecasting, snow safety, and avalanche education. He worked as a professional observer for Northwest Avalanche Center, the professional training coordinator for the American Avalanche Association, an Instructor Trainer for the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the avalanche forecaster for Mt Rose Ski Tahoe. His academic roots include a Bachelors in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Hydrology from the University of Nevada where Dallas focused on soil physics, debris flows, and wilderness ecology. He is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association and the American Mountain Guide Association.

Dallas has worked at Norhtwest Avalanche Center in several roles since 2013; avalanche awareness instructor, professional observer, and avalanche specialist. In 2020, Dallas began serving as NWAC’s Deputy Director. As part of this role, he works closely with NWAC’s educational program, mountain weather forecasting, and continues to write avalanche forecasts and perform field work for the Snoqualmie and West South zones.
Dallas loves talking to folks about snow. Whether it’s writing an avalanche forecast, interacting with a backcountry traveler, or teaching an avalanche awareness course, Dallas finds joy in seeing others safely experience the mountains during the winter.

When he isn’t working, you’ll find Dallas cooking at home, taking a long run, or seeking out warm sunny rock climbing.

 I grew up in Maine where learned to nordic and alpine ski. I enjoyed ski racing from a young age until I found out about the backcountry. Soon enough at the age of 17 my curiosity lead me into an avalanche on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. Shook, yet still curious, I moved to Utah to study outdoor recreation, geology, and of course, free skiing. There, I was able to take a few avalanche classes which is what I needed to continue my pursuit of free skiing. Through those avalanche classes I was able to learn a lot about the snow. Enough to make me feel pretty stupid for getting myself in that avalanche on Mt. Washington. After years of practicing in the backcountry of the rocky mountains, I followed my long time dream to be a ski patroller. Searching for a place to start, I stumbled upon Bear Valley. Now on my fourth season patrolling here, I find new knowledge and experiences in the sierra mountains that continue to develop my ability to make good decisions in the backcountry. Now, my goal is to let my passion for skiing take me to the wildest of places.

 Nolan grew up in the community of Bear Valley California. Along with his little sister April, the two were brought by Parents Vicky and Tim Johnson in the hamlet of Tamarack California. Nolan grew up visiting the resort as frequently you would imagine a local kid would. Nolan Eventually joined the Devo teams and moved on to the Race Teams up through the J3 Level. Through high school Nolan worked various jobs around the resort, eventually becoming a terrain park attendant helping build and conceptualize the resorts terrain parks for several seasons to come. After graduating from Bret Harte High School Nolan started school at UNR and became involved with the Schools freeride ski and snowboard team. Nolan eventually worked his way up to the media officer position. After moving home in 2018 Nolan started his career in the fire service as a trainee with the Ebbetts Pass Fire District. Shortly after Nolan started working on Trail Crew with Bear Valley Ski Patrol and after his Trail Crew season Nolan attained his Red Coat where he has been working as a full time Patroller since then. Nolan has become an NDF Avalanche Educator in the summer of 2023. In the Summers, Nolan works for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) as a Firefighter 1 in the Tuolumne Calaveras Unit. On Nolans free time you can find him skiing the resort or spending time in the backcountry with his close friends whether that is on the skin track or on snowmobile.
 

  Sarah grew up ski racing with Sugar Bowl Ski Team and spent much of her childhood exploring the backcountry with her family. Since then, Sarah has always felt happiest in the outdoors.  Her pursuit of exploration has sent her on many adventures around the world. Her favorites were Juneau, where she studied outdoor recreation at the University of Alaska Southeast, and the Chilean side of Patagonia, where she participated in a sea kayaking and mountaineering NOLS semester. Sarah currently works as a professional ski patrol with Bear Valley alongside her teammates and friends. She is also a Wilderness EMT, backpacking guide, summer camp director, Leave No Trace Instructor, licensed blaster for avalanche control, and dedicated cat mom. She is passionate about introducing kids to backcountry recreation in a safe, intentional way that helps to foster a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.  

 Education and Certifications       Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Science A.I.A.R.E. Avalanche courses level 1, 2 and 3 A.I.A.R.E Avalanche Instructor Wilderness Medical Associates – Wilderness First Responder Rope Works – Advanced Crevasse Rescue American Red Cross CPR and BLS. Guide training in Juneau, AK – 2013 Mountain weather Experience. 30 Years of Snowboarding. 16 Years Snowboarding/Heliskiing in Chugach Mountain Range of Alaska. 11 Years Helinski guiding for Points North Heli Adventures 

Originally from Port Townsend, WA, Casey grew up and went to college in the Northwest, but has since lived just about everywhere west of Colorado in the search for snow and adventure. During college Casey got into backcountry skiing and climbing mountains,  passions that have endured to this day. After a pretty bad scare in the Utah backcountry one day, he decided it was time to actually learn how to do things safely. Now, a decade+ later, Casey enjoys sharing his love of the mountains through guiding on Mt Shasta,  as well as helping to teach others how to safely travel and recreate on the gorgeous, snow-covered slopes of sunny California and beyond. When not guiding on the mountains or rivers, working on the wildfires, or patrolling the slopes of the Mt Shasta Ski Park,  you'll likely find Casey attempting to harvest as much corn snow as possible or planning a trip to the next volcano.

 Tasha Thomas is a year-round outdoor adventure enthusiast. She works for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District as a Physical Education Specialist. During the summers, she coaches Mountain Biking workshops and camps for LTCC. She also is a Professional Mountain bike racer, racing in both enduro and downhill disciplines. She has been an outdoor enthusiast her entire life and began fulfilling her love for the outdoors in the Adirondacks and White Mountains on the eastern coast of the states. Her passion for rock climbing, mountain biking and exploring the larger mountain ranges lead her to the Sierra Nevadas over 12 years ago where she decided to settle in South Lake Tahoe. Her desire to be out in the bigger terrain has molded her to become passionate about Avalanche Awareness and educating others around her. Tasha is AIARE Pro Level 1 certified and will become a certified instructor this winter. She has invested the time an energy into becoming an avalanche professional through many courses and training. She is a Polaris Team Ambassador and her top choice of winter excitement to satisfy the adrenaline is on her snowmobile which undoubtedly involves entering terrain with risk. Tasha has a strong mission to uphold safety for those around her as well as herself and is adamant about avalanche education. She is an Ambassador of Fun and has a strong love for snow science. She is extremely devoted to avalanche awareness for all group users of the backcountry, especially in the motorized sector. 

I am 20 years old and I was born in Sacramento, CA and moved to Arnold, CA at the age of 10. I had never snowboarded before, but it quickly became a part of me after moving close to Bear Valley Ski Resort. I spent all my free time in the winter at the ski area making memories with my friends on the freestyle team, and later went on to work in the terrain parks. I currently reside in Santa Cruz, CA where I work and am going to school for a degree in Radiology along with Welding, but my roots will always be in Arnold/Bear Valley. I am always eager to pickup any new activity that I can that involves being outdoors, I enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, surfing, dirt biking, fish by and of course still get up to the mountains as much as I can to snowboard!

 Michelle Harvey lives in Markleeville with her husband/best friend, Joey.  She bought her first season pass at Mammoth Mountain in 1996 and has made a lifestyle out of these passes ever since.  Michelle is an avid snowboarder who likes riding her snowmobile for backcountry access.  She always has her avalanche safety gear with her.  She also loves her downhill mountain bike.  Michelle believes the mountains restore her soul.  For the past 17 years, Michelle has worked in the animal field, more recently with captive bears, tigers and elephants. She is hopeful that we can bring an end to unnecessary suffering and cruelty to animals.  

My name is Stanimira Karadocheva everybody knows me as Sunny - snowboarder and adventurer. As a snowboard rider I am leading Wildberries Crew girls to safe  extreme sports.  We try to spent most of our time in the mountains. Being in the mountains and riding the extreme terrain  we should all be educated and acknowledge the danger.  We would like to support avalanche educational programs and spread the word to keep everyone safe.