Our Guides - Superb leadership is our hallmark

Our leaders are seasoned expedition guides trained in wilderness first aid, who care deeply about the areas in which they guide. While safety is their first and foremost priority, their aim is to ensure that everyone has a trip of a lifetime. As wildlife biologists and naturalists, they provide a unique element of natural history interpretation and cultural education for each trip. Whitney & Smith is committed to environmental education and the teaching of outdoor skills and with our small group sizes we are able to travel with a real theme of intimacy amongst nature.

Merlin Lipshitz

Merlin Lipshitz guides our Heart of Patagonia backpacking trips. Born in Patagonia and living in El Chalten with his wife Marina and son Simon, Merlin has been climbing and guiding mountain trips over the last 10 years. He summited Fitz Roy twice! He is a certified UIAGM Mountain Guide and is considered one of the Patagonia’s top guides. Merlin is fluent in English and Spanish and rated # 1 for his humour, knowledge and storytelling.

Robson Gmoser

Robson Gmoser is an experienced wilderness guide who holds a degree in Ecology and is a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. He has paddled along the entire west coast of British Columbia and has guided for Whitney & Smith in Gwaii Haanas, on Ellesmere Island, in Greenland and in Patagonia. Robson is perhaps best known for his infectious laughter and positive demeanor.

Scott Hutchison

Scott Hutchison is a professional expedition guide with a degree in Outdoor Education. Over the past decade, Scott has been guiding on the Canadian west coast, in Belize, in Arctic Canada and in Greenland. Scott began guiding for Whitney & Smith in Patagonia in 1995 and has been leading trips for us in the High Arctic on an annual basis since 1998.

Dave Quinn

Dave Quinn is a wildlife biologist with a degree in Animal Science and Wildlife Ecology. He has spent several years working with endangered and threatened species. Dave is also a freelance writer and photographer. His enthusiasm for wild places is infectious, and he has a keen interest in Arctic natural history. He began guiding for us in the Arctic in 1998.

Bob Saunders

Bob Saunders, an aquatic biologist, has completed a number of remarkable expeditions, not the least of which was a six-month traverse of Baffin Island (profiled in the October, 1996 issue of National Geographic magazine). In 1995, Bob worked with us on a biological study in Foxe Basin, and he has been guiding on our Ellesmere, Greenland and Banks Island trips since 1997.

Charlie van Straubenzee

Charlie van Straubenzee holds an horours degree in Outdoor Recreation and has guided expeditions from Tonga to Antarctica and South Georgia and on Ellesmere, Iceland and Greenland. Charlie has a passion for photography, story telling and his humour is contagious. Charlie has worked wiith Whitney & Smith since 2001.

Dave Weir

Dave Weir is an experienced expedition leader whose paddling travels have taken him along the west coast of Alaska and down the Sea of Cortes along the entire length of Baja California. As a professional instructor, he has trained and certified sea kayak guides since 1988. Dave joined our leadership staff in 1999, guiding on our Ellesmere and Greenland trips.

Jane Whitney

Jane Whitney is the resourceful co-founder of Whitney & Smith. A naturalist and seasoned wilderness guide, Jane has spent 15 years guiding sea kayak expeditions on Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands, as well as in Patagonia. Experienced in expedition travel, she has led several private expeditions in the Canadian High Arctic, in NW Greenland and on the coast of southern Chile.

Kelly Comishin

Kelly Comishin is a professional outdoor educator who loves sharing her passion for wild places. Holding a degree in geography and outdoor recreation Kelly teaches tourism management programs, loves to work with youth groups, and has conducted a number biological field studies including work on Mountain caribou and Swift fox. Kelly has guided for us in the Arctic, Patagonia, and on Canada's West Coast since 2000.

Dave Wan

Dave Wan holds a Masters Degree in Outdoor Education and has worked professionally in the Adventure Tourism industry in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Greenland, and the USA. Dave has been the coordinator and director of outdoor leadership programs with a focus on technical skills and leadership. HIs 20 years of kayaking and mountaineering have taken him throughout North America, the Himalayas, the Karakorum, and other parts of the world. Dave has been leading expeditions for us in the High Arctic since 1997. He brings with him a wealth of experience and you will be sure to appreciate his warmth and humor.

Matthias Starzner

Matthias Starzner holds a science degree specializing in glaciology and geomorphology. A keen naturalist, Matthias calls any wild place home, and is eager for any adventure. Matthias is fluent in German and has been guiding and instructing in the mountains and on the water for most of his life. In the off season Matthias likes to travel to far off places to document human and environmental rights, working as a photographer and researcher. Matthias likes story telling and chocolate, and can usually be found looking for something inspiring.

Mike Farris

Mike Farris is a professional expedition guide with a degree in political science and outdoor education. Over the past decade, Mike has been guiding on the Canadian west coast. Mike joined us in 2005 guiding trips to Greenland, Ellesmere, Queen Charlotte islands and East Arm Great Slave Lake. Mike provides a safe, secure and fun environment for guests to learn about the wilderness in which they travel.

Xander Oldaker

Xander Oldaker, a seasoned leader who has has spent the last 20 years guiding expeditions from the Arctic to the Caribbean, and from Baja, Mexico to British Columbia. Xander is a keen and knowledgeable naturalist who has completed a number of remarkable expeditions including paddling from Port Hardy, British Columbia to Ketchican Alaska, the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and sailing with his family from Newfoundland to Greenland and across to Iceland, Faeroes and Norway. Xander joined our leadership staff in 2005, guiding our Ellesmere trips.