About Mountain Ops

MountainOps CEO: Grant Kaye

Driven by Mountains, Obsessed with Maps

Grant Kaye is a geospatial systems builder, designer, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of hands-on experience developing GIS, mapping, and operational technology for the mountain guiding industry.

As GIS Manager for Points North Heli-Adventures since 2010, he has led the creation of custom mapping, weather, and field data systems used in daily aviation and backcountry skiing operations.

Grant holds advanced academic training in the geosciences, with M.S. and Ph.D.-level credentials in Geology and Hazard and Disaster Management (respectively), bringing a rare blend of scientific rigor and practical problem-solving to every project.

Through MountainOps, he applies that experience to build modern software tools for ski areas, heli-ski operators, guides, and mountain operations teams that need reliable, purpose-built systems in demanding environments.

Outside of software and mountain operations, Grant is the founder of Terra Ligna, where he creates handcrafted topographic wood maps and furniture inspired by landscapes and geology.

Grant is also a founder of the Truckee Roundhouse, a community makerspace and 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on creative access, technical education, and entrepreneurship.

Based in the Truckee-Tahoe region, he enjoys skiing, mountain travel, photography, and building projects that connect craftsmanship, technology, and the outdoors.‍ ‍

Consultants

Aaron Dahill

Aaron Is an AMGA / IFMGA certified Mountain Guide based out of Jackson, WY. Aaron guides for Exum Mountain Guides, The American Avalanche Institute and High Mountain Heli. When Aaron is not working as a mountain guide you can find him adventuring in the mountains, desert, on the river or in the ocean.

Guide / Forecaster

    • American Avalanche Institute: Avalanche Education Lead Instructor- 2009 to present.

    • Exum Mountain Guides and School of Mountaineering: Mountain Guide- 2010 to present

    • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol: Ski Patroller - 2010 to 2014

    • Points North Heli Adventures: Heli Ski Guide and Avalanche Forecaster 2014- 2024

    • High Mountain Heli: Heli Ski Guide- 2022 to present

Guide / Forecaster

Jake Skeen

Jake's affinity for skiing and spending time in wild mountains has taken him around the globe. He is a year-round IFMGA mountain guide and calls Jackson, WY home. Jake's favorite places to ski include the Chugach, Tetons, Alps, Andes and Cascades. He is a life-long student of the snow and enjoys working as an avalanche forecaster in addition to guiding. Skiing for Jake is all about the shared laughs and high fives at the top of peaks or the bottom of powder runs.

    • Assistant Snow Safety Manager, Points North

    • IFMGA Mountain Guide

    • AIARE Avalanche Course Leader

    • Ski patrol/avalanche forecaster 2018-2023

    • Exum mountain guide 2021-present

Tino VIllanueva

Though he still calls the Pacific Northwest home, Tino is more often found skiing in the Chugach of Alaska, climbing in the the Alps of Chamonix and participating in high altitude in the greater ranges of Asia. While he spends much of his time guiding and climbing abroad, after his first taste of AK skiing in 2009, Tino has returned to the Chugach every season. In his off time, Tino scours the globe for unclimbed peaks and unskied lines to add to an ever-growing list of objectives.

Guide / Forecaster

    • IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide

    • American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Ski Guide, Alpine Guide, and Rock Guide

    • American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Level 3 Avalanche Certified

    • AIARE Level 1 and Level 2 Course Leader

    • American Avalanche Association Professional Member

    • Wilderness First Responder

    • Leave No Trace Trainer

    • B.S., Human Physiology, University of Oregon

    • Mountain Guiding since 2005, guiding all mediums of mountain travel: Ski, Alpine and Rock

    • Selected guiding experience: Denali and Ruth Gorge, Alaska Range; Mt Logan, St. Elias Range; Aconcagua, Argentina; Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Iliniza, Ecuador; Mt. Elbrus Ski Descent, Caucasus, Russia; Pik Lenin (23,406 ft), Pamir Range, Kyrgyzstan; Mt. Kenya (17,057 ft)

    • Lead Guide, Mountain Madness, Washington Cascades and Abroad (2008-present)

    • Lead Ski Guide, Cascade Powder Cats (2009-present)

    • Avalanche Forecaster, Tailgate Alaska and World Freeride Championship (2012-2013)

    • Heli-Ski Guide, Valdez Heli-Camps; (2011)

    • Professional Ski Patrol, Crystal Mountain, WA (2006-2008)

    • Senior Guide, Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (2005-2007)

    • Mountain Guide, American Alpine Institute (2008)

    • Heli Guide and Assistant Snow Safety Manager, Points North Heli-Adventures (2014-present)

Artin Matousian

Artin brings over two decades of experience in enterprise IT, high-powered computing, and visual effects industries. He has successfully led and executed multiple projects to migrate, upgrade, and re-architect the IT infrastructure and systems for multiple companies.

Developer

    • Enterprise IT Leadership & Strategy: IT Roadmaps, Digital Transformation, Corporate IT Planning

    • Manufacturing Epicor BisTrack, Epicor WMS, MiTek Application Suite

    • Cloud & Infrastructure: Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Active Directory, Virtualization (Hyper-V, VMware)

    • Cybersecurity & Compliance: CrowdStrike Falcon, MFA, DR Planning, OS Patching, Security Policy Enforcement

    • Networking & IT Governance: Ubiquiti UniFi, SDN, VPN, MPLS, IT SOP Development

    • Process Automation & Monitoring: BASH, Python, PowerShell

    • Business Continuity & M&A IT Integration: Disaster Recovery, IT Support Models, SOP Standardization

    • Help Desk & Vendor Management: Zoho Desk, IT Support Training, Software Licensing, Compliance

    • Building Security Communication: Surveillance Systems, VoIP Telephony, Access Control