BILL BARKER

Bill is one of Australia's best know skiers.  Over the years he has featured on many magazine covers, sponsor's adds, in documentaries and written numerous articles on new destinations, avalanche safety and backcountry skiing. When not guiding in Gulmarg he is the assistant director of the ski patrol at Mt Hotham, Australia. 

His passion for backcountry skiing and out-of-the-way places drew him to Gulmarg where he now calls home for the northern winters. During his time there, Bill has formed great friendships with the locals and is well respected in the community. There is no one better to introduce you to the magic of Gulmarg.    

While winter in the mountains takes up a major part of his life, any spare time between seasons is spent surfing or rock climbing, either at home on the south coast of NSW or on an extended mission elsewhere. It is also not uncommon to find Bill on the dance floor (doing what he thinks is dancing) at a party or music festival.

MARK (The Professor) BROWN

Born in New Zealand and spending much of his youth in the mountains, Mark's original passions were mountaineering and rock climbing and it wasn't until later in life that he really caught the skiing and snowboarding bug. 

A professor of criminology by trade, he moved to Australia to lecture at Melbourne Uni and go climbing during the prolonged holiday breaks.  While in Australia (of all places) Mark renewed his love of winter in the hills and he has now retired from his other life and spends his time between Kashmir, France and New Zealand.

Mark is a guide with Methen Heli Ski during the southern hemisphere winters and bases himself in Chamonix for the rest of the year.  He first visited Gulmarg in 2006, spending the season exploring the outer reaches of the area while on another extended (and last) sabbatical.

"The Professor" is a great asset to the Bill's Trips team, not only for his obvious mountain skills and knowledge but also for his ability to hold an in depth and informed conversation on just about any topic you choose.  We are not sure if he really knows that much, or if he just has the knack of making himself sound like he knows what he is on about.

SAM DUNLOP

Sam grew up in the small town of Merrijig at the base of Mt Buller in Australia.  He skied freestyle and nordic as a kid before swapping to tele's when plastic boots became available.  He has years of ski touring experience and is a world class tele skier who has achieved podium finishes in big mountain free ski events in NZ and the US. Sam also ran a very popular high-end telemark clinic in the Craigieburn range of New Zealand.  He has now mellowed (a little) and prefers to spend his time exploring new areas, hunting powder and introducing others to the lure of back-country skiing. 

Before guiding, Sam was a qualified alpine instructor and patrolled for over 10 years, working at resorts in Australia, the U.S and New Zealand (where he now lives). 

Sam is one of those guys who are always there when you need a hand.  If you've had a yard sale and your bits are strewn all over the hill, he will be there to pick up the pieces and then casually blame the snow, the visibility or the mountain for you.

When not in the mountains, you will probably find Sam practicing bizarre yoga techniques or fine tuning his kick boxing skills between writing a thesis on new agriculture methods, reading something weird or having a few beers with his mates.

DAVID (Borat) MARCHI

When Dave isn't guiding in Gulmarg, he is most likely guiding somewhere else on the planet.  He is a senior guide with Chugach Powder Guides in Alaska and has led skiing and mountaineering trips all over the world including Mt Denali, Patagonia the Himalaya and Antarctica.  David also spent the winter of 2006 in Gulmarg, passing on his years of experience to the newly formed ski patrol team and formed a great connection with the locals.

Growing up in Mt Shasta, California, David ski raced at college before becoming an instructor and then race coach with the US ski team. His combined guiding and solid teaching skills gives him the ability to challenge, yet inspire confidence in those he skis with.

David now lives in Oregon and when not away on guiding jobs or ski mountaineering for pleasure, he spends the rest of the year guiding cycle trips either on road or in the mountains. 

David is an awesome guide / guy to hang out with, especially when he is sporting his "Borat" style moustache and talking with a slight Kazakhstani accent.

WALI MOHAMMED LONE

Wali is a Gulmarg local who knows the surrounding mountains like the back of his hand.  Growing up in the area and working as a summer trekking guide from a young age has given Wali an understanding of the area that very few other people have. Wali is a registered guide with the Gulmarg Tourism Department, has solid mountain skills and is a great, easy going guy to have as part of our team.

Wali works with us as an assistant guide for the winter. He fills the role of tail guide, helps co-ordinate local transport and is instrumental in contacting the relevant parties if ever a mountain rescue is needed.