About Us

Gearys Guiding is owned and run by ACMG/IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide Alex Geary.

We strive to create positive and supportive experiences in the mountains. Sometimes this involves a relaxing mellow ski tour in the sunshine with friends and families. Other times this can be a long journey to a remote location with lots of uncertainty and challenges, testing our physical and emotional resilience. We love adventures and exploring lesser known areas as well as climbing and skiing classic routes.

The Guiding Team

Most trips and courses at Gearys Guiding are run by myself (Alex) and Madeleine Martin-Preney. We like to keep the team small so we can offer the highest quality service possible. We've been living in Revelstoke since 2010, which we chose because of the amazing ski touring and climbing in the surrounding mountains, combined with the small town vibe.

We have been guiding ski touring cumulatively for over 27 years, including over 10 years guiding together. We enjoy long aesthetic runs and loops with guests, while keeping the risks at a level that is comfortable for our entire group. We both have a background in teaching and instructing, so we like to share our thought processes and work as a team with everyone in our group to maximize our safety and enjoyment. Whether you like a short climb or two with mellow powder runs, climb over 2000 m, ski steep and technical lines, or ski from the summit of high altitude peaks, we like to do it all.

During summers, I do most of the guiding. However, Madeleine is increasingly taking on more responsibilities as she finishes off her Mountain Guide certification. Sometimes I hire other Mountain Guides to help on trips such as expeditions, or to help out returning guests when we're not available.

Alex Geary

I'm an ACMG/IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide based in Revelstoke since 2010.

I started my guiding career in 2006, cat-skiing in the Chilean Andes. I've been guiding climbing and ski touring full-time since 2010, including about 100 days of ski touring every season, comprised of teaching and guiding.

I mostly guide in Canada, but I love exploring and have also guided in Chile, New Zealand, Europe, Australia and Nepal. When I'm not guiding I'm usually spending time with family or skiing and climbing for fun.

Before guiding, I worked as a ski instructor and became certified by the ISIA (CSIA 3 equivalent), trained other instructors, coached racing (CSCF 2) and freeriding. I've also guided heli-skiing, worked as a Public Avalanche Forecaster, Ski Patrol Manager (including running an avalanche control program with explosives), and a Mountain Safety Specialist for the mining industry. I used to be a Mechanical Engineer before I committed to spending my life in the mountains, as I find guiding much more rewarding.

Madeleine Martin-Preney

Madeleine Martin-Preney is an ACMG Ski Guide, Hiking Guide and Apprentice Rock Guide. Madeleine grew up in the Selkirk Mountains in Nelson, BC, before moving to Revelstoke in 2009. She spends as much time as she can moving around in the mountains skiing, climbing, hiking and running. She has been part of many big adventures such as a kayak/ski trip from the Gulf Islands to the Whitemantle Range, and she was part of the first team ever to complete the full ski traverse of the Selkirk Mountains (520+km and 43,000+m elevation gain). She also has experience travelling in the mountains in India, The Yukon, European Alps, Andes, and many remote parts of Canada.

Madeleine’s strengths shine through when she's instructing, which she has developed from many years teaching avalanche and ski touring courses, trips for Outward Bound, youth education for Avalanche Canada, becoming certified as a Yoga Teacher, a Life Coach, and examining for the ACMG Training and Assessment Program (TAP).

Check out the film Mind Over Mountain to see Madeleine in action on the Bugaboos to Rogers Pass Traverse in 2021. We worked together on this film in conjunction with Sweetgrass Productions and Patagonia Films.

Philip Widmer

Philip is an ACMG/IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide based in Golden, BC. Philip grew up in Banff and competed in the Olympics for Canada before becoming a guide. His relaxed composure and positive attitude makes him a pleasure to spend time with in the mountains.

If you need a guide to show you around Revelstoke or further afield, or you have something you want to learn about the mountains, please let us know. We look forward to meeting you and another great adventure!