Staff

Mr. Alne served for 27 years with the Air Force’s elite Pararescue units. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 2005 and moved to Butte, Montana. He is a combat veteran of the first Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He has extensive experience operating with and training military Special Operations units. As the Director of Operations for a 150 man elite Special Tactics Squadron, he planned and executed several sensitive Joint Chief of Staff missions. He also served as the Pararescueman Functional Manager for the Air Force Education Command. He oversaw all training and helped develop much of the curriculum. He has 15 years of instructor experience specializing in emergency medicine, wilderness survival, mountaineering, rope rescue systems, navigation, and skydiving. He is also a Wilderness First Aid instructor and Level II Avalanche/Rescue qualified.

He is an avid skier, hiker, ATV and snowmobile rider, and spends a considerable amount of his free time in the outdoors. He participated in two Eco-Challenge adventure races (Argentina and Alaska), and completed summit climbs on Mt. McKinley, AK (2 times), Mt. Popo, Mexico (3 times), Mt. Blanc, France (5 times), Mt. Rainier, and The Matterhorn in Switzerland. Rod conducted research and testing with Dr. Peter Hackett, Colorado Altitude Training, on Mt. McKinley and helped develop treatment protocols for high altitude sicknesses and injuries. He also helped develop mountaineer rescue kits and cold weather clothing for USAF Pararescue/Special Tactics Teams.

Rod is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University and the Community College of the Air Force. He has a BS in Occupational Education and Training Methodology (Minor – Emergency Medicine) and AA in Survival and Rescue. Some of the more notable of the numerous military schools he has attended are the following: US Air Force Pararescue Recovery Specialist course, High Risk Survival, US Army Military Freefall Jumpmaster, Hostage Survival, Advanced Trauma Life Support, US Air Force Combat Survival, US Army Combat Diver, US Navy SEAL Dive Supervisor course, PADI Master Diver Instructor, US Air Force Water Survival, Montana Snowmobile Safety Education Instructor, and an American Avalanche Institute Certified Avalanche Safety Instructor.

Dr. Gus served a combined 22 years in the USAF. He first joined the USAF in 1976 and after six years of enlisted service he was commissioned. In 1986 he entered the Uniformed University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda Maryland and completed his medical training in 1990. He was selected for and received subsequent training as a Neurological Surgeon.

After an additional year of fellowship study in the US and Germany he became a Staff Neurosurgeon at the Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland AFB Texas. While at Wilford Hall, he was the Director of Neuro-Trauma and Critical Care Divisions, a Senior Instructor for the TRACs course, and the AFSOC Medical consultant for the USAF Pararescue/ Combat Controller Indoctrination Course.

In addition to his military duties, he was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas- San Antonio until his discharge in the spring of 2002. He co-authored the neuro-trauma chapter of the USAF Pararescue Medical Manual and collaborated on several other projects primarily in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and stabilization of brain and spinal injuries at the level of first responders, forward positions, transport, and hospital.

His other areas of interest and research have been, and continue, in altitude medicine, extreme environments lactic acid responses, training effectiveness, diagnostics and treatments.

Doc is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, casting flies and aiming rifles at large four-legged animals. He is also an accomplished horse team driver of horses and an outstanding chef. He along with Rod Alne are the owners and founders of The Peak Incorporated.

Pacific Northwest Spine

Mark retired from the Navy in August 2007 and started Base Camp Logistics Solutions, LLC (Consulting) in 2008. He began working with The Peak as a consultant shortly afterwards and has been The Peak’s Logistics/Operations Manager since January 2010.

Mark has 23 years of worldwide construction experience in the United States Navy Seabees, where he led new construction and rehabilitation efforts of war-damaged zones. He is a results-oriented operations management professional with demonstrated success managing construction projects, programs, and personnel while directly supporting disaster recovery, humanitarian assistance, and conflict management operations around the world. He is also an exceptional tactical logistician that planned, established, and operated several expeditionary base camps in Afghanistan and Iraq for the Navy SEALs. Mark is innovative, adaptable, and extremely comfortable in fast paced, high-stress environments.

Now living in his hometown of Butte, Montana, he is an active member of the community. He coaches amateur boxing for the local USA Boxing chapter and serves on the Butte Natural Resource Damage Restoration Council. Mark maintains close ties with the veteran community and closely follows veteran issues as a member of the VFW, American Legion, DAV, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Mark has an Associate of Arts in Technical Management from the University of Phoenix and Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a concentration in Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution from the American Military University.

When he’s not remodeling his home, he enjoys riding his motorcycles, ATV, and snowmobile, traveling, hunting, shooting, and enjoying life in beautiful Southwest Montana.

John Nugent retired as a Army Lieutenant Colonel with over 38 years as a commissioned officer. He also served 10 years in the Montana Army National Guard as a warrant officer, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant 4. John’s career in the Army saw him performing duties in the Regular Army, Army Reserves and National Guard. He has been a commander, staff officer and service school instructor. He is a graduate of the Armor School, The Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.

He has taught all levels of Military Schools from Basic Combat Training through the National Defense University. As Assistant Commandant for the 6228 USAR School, Nugent commanded all the USAR School instructors in Montana, both enlisted and officer career progression training.

He is a retired Director of Personnel and Labor Relations at Montana Tech and an Associate Professor of Business Management. Still teaching part-time, he currently has 2 classes in the evening program at the College – a course on the History of the Vietnam Wars and another on the history of the Korean War. Nugent spent 2 combat tours in Vietnam; one as a District Senior Adviser and one as the Operations/Intelligence Advisor to the Vietnamese 3rd Armored Cavalry Brigade. He uses that background to provide an insightful program for his students.

Nugent was instrumental in the establishment of the Montana Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a program for “At-Risk-Youth.” He still serves the Academy as the volunteer Executive Director of the Foundation.

A graduate of Boston College with a degree in Business Management, John also processes a graduate degree in Public Administration from The University of South Dakota.

Col. James Wright (USAF, Ret) is a surgeon, formerly the Group Surgeon for the 720th Special Tactics Group Air Force Special Operations Command. He has worked in trauma surgery for more than 30 years and has spearheaded efforts to improve resuscitation on the battlefield for severe blood loss as well as innovation in new hemostatic agents and traumatic brain injury. He has extensive experience training Pararescuemen and Special Operations team members in Combat Casualty Care.

Gene has been the Peak’s primary Rock and Ice Climbing Instructor from the beginning. He is an avid climber that lives and breathes to get “on the rock”. For the past six years, Gene has helped develop and refine the climbing and mountaineering skills of hundreds of Special Operations professionals. It doesn’t matter if it is a total blizzard or 100°, Gene’s infectious enthusiasm, patience, and total dedication to the student are the frequent subject of student comments.

Gene is a native of Butte, Montana and has spent most of his life recreating in the mountains of Southwest Montana. He started rock and ice climbing over 19 years ago and continues to advance his knowledge of the sport. He has logged hundreds of climbs in the 5.11-5.12 range including Devil’s Tower, Badlands, Cougar Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Snow Canyon, and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

During the winter months, he spends a considerable amount of time, and is considered an expert on, ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman Montana. Hyalite Canyon is noted for having the largest number of natural routes in the lower 48. Gene has climbed most of the approximately 140 routes including White Fang (WI 6-7). He also conducted the first ascent of the “Silver Cord” (Yellowstone Falls) in Yellowstone National Park.

Gene’s other passion is mountaineering. He has spent considerable amount of time in the Cascades, summited nine of the “Eleveners” in Utah, the North face of the Grand Teton, Middle Grand, and Exum Ridge. He has also climbed Mount Shasta, Granite Peak, and hundreds of summits in the Highlands South of Butte.

In addition to his duties as one of our primary climbing and mountaineering instructors, Gene also conducts Red Cross and ECSI Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and First Aid courses for The Peak.

Gordon Irwin has acquired over 35 years of experience in the mountains related to climbing, ski mountaineering, search, rescue and the challenges related to each of these risk potential situations. Much of this time, he was based in Banff as a leader, then manager of Canada’s elite mountain rescue service within Parks Canada’s National Park Warden Service. This group is the national representative to ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue), as well as the organization responsible for introducing helicopter sling rescue (HEC/short-haul) to Canada and North America. At retirement, he was senior examiner for certifying mountain rescue pilots. He is author of the Technical Rescue manual for Parks Canada, and oversaw the development of the Helicopter Rescue Manual as well as the Explosives Manual for avalanche control work.

In addition to countless alpine rescues in the mountainous National Parks of Canada, Gord has led rescues, rescue training, and accident investigation teams in all regions of Canada, including the St. Elias range in the Yukon, the Torngat Mountains of Labrador, and the granite peaks of the High Arctic islands. As part of international mutual aid agreements, this work has extended into areas of the United States.

His training as a peace officer (National Park Warden) at both RCMP Depot and the Canadian Police College, combined with years of working on teams within a large organization, have developed abilities for instructing, mentoring, risk assessment and problem solving. Training included peace officer, instructor, lead investigator and defensive techniques instructor.

As a mountaineer and internationally certified mountain guide, he has been on numerous climbing and ski mountaineering expeditions throughout North and South America, as well as Europe, New Zealand, and Asia.

Since retiring from Parks Canada, Gord has continued to work as a mountain guide, SAR instructor, incident investigator and avalanche specialist. His work includes all aspects of guiding including heli- and cat-skiing. Most recently, he has been developing specialized mountain training programs for the military and police across Canada.

Certifications

• Manager (retired), Parks Canada Warden Service: Mountain Safety Programs
• BSc. (Specialized) Physical Geography (glaciology and geomorphology)
• ACMG/UIAGM Internationally Certified Mountain Guide
• Canadian Avalanche Assoc. level 2, professional member
• Licensed blaster, Alberta and British Columbia
• PERS (Parks Emergency Responder) advanced wilderness first-aid

Mr. Eric Sachs retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2002 after 21 yrs. of active duty service. After initial schooling, he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. He spent his entire career in Alaska allowing him to gain years of experience in one of the most challenging regions in the world. During this time, he became one of the top experts in pararescue adverse terrain operations.

Mr. Sachs was one of the primary pararescue instructor/evaluators for all mission essential training. His climbing expeditions to Mt. McKinley included manning the 14K foot medical research camp. During these climbing patrols he routinely administered medical treatment to climbers, this allowed him to see and treat many of the emergencies associated with high altitude mountaineering .Doctors specializing in the research and treatment of H.A.P.E. (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), H.A.C.E. (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and frostbite would use this camp to better understand these problems first hand.

Other notable mountain operations were the WESC (World Extreme Ski Competition) an event that use to be held annually in Valdez, AK. For the first 8 years of this event Mr. Sachs was the acting high-angle rescue team leader along with 4 to 6 pararescue team members. For the following 2 yrs., he was appointed to the position of event safety director.

Mr. Sachs holds a level 4 avalanche certification from the Alaska Mountain Safety center as well as a level 1 certification from the CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association).

Benny has been one of The Peak’s primary mobility instructors from the beginning. Although listed as the primary Snowmobile Instructor for the Mobility Division, he works hand-in-hand with Randy Santifer providing expert instruction on all motorized forms of backcountry transportation. In addition to the work he does with The Peak, he also owns and manages Benny’s Power Toys in Butte, Montana. Benny’s is the place to go if you are getting your snowmobile ready to race or if you just need some fuel system and suspension calibrations, and high altitude clutching.

Benny’s enthusiasm for snowmobiling is infectious and his lifelong love of the sport is very evident. He has been the president of two snowmobile clubs and is heavily involved with the snowmobile safety program in Montana. He has been a Montana Snowmobile Safety Instructor for over 14 years and also certifies new instructors for the Montana Instructors Program. He conducts numerous Snowmobile Safety Certification classes for the community and has trained hundreds of the Peak’s clients. Since 2006, he has also been an American Avalanche Institute- Level One Avalanche Instructor.

When the snow melts, Benny shifts his focus to motorcycles and ATVs. Benny’s hard work as the President of the Mining City Trail Riders has fostered great working relationships with the USFS and BLM. His dedication to safe and responsible trail riding has kept many riding areas open.

If it has an engine, Randy has probably ridden it or owns it. Randy is our primary ATV/Motorcycle Safety Instructor and he, along with Benny Finnicum, have helped hundreds of The Peak’s clients to become safer, more proficient ATV/UTV, motorcycle, and snowmobile riders.

Randy is the Service Manager for the local Polaris, Honda, and KTM dealer, Redline Sports, in Butte, MT. He has over 25 years of experience in power sport industry and a factory certified technician for Honda, Polaris, Yamaha, and Skidoo.

He is the owner of ATV Safety of Butte and has been an ATV Safety Instructor for the ATV Safety Institute since 1993 and a Basic and Advanced Field Dirt Bike Instructor since 1996. Also in 1996, he became a Montana Snowmobile Safety Instructor. His students number in the thousands and come from all age groups. In addition to the general public, Randy provides instruction to members of the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and numerous large ranching operations. Randy has been one of our primary instructors from the beginning and has helped improve the mobility programs of numerous military special operations units.

Carl is an avid outdoorsman, member of the West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department, and a veteran guide. He is currently part owner and operator of the Glacier River School and Great Northern Resort in West Glacier Montana. He has been our primary Swiftwater Rescue and River Crossing instructor for almost four years and tailors all of his training to meet the needs of our clients.

Carl’s river experience is second-to-none. He is a Rescue 3 International - Independent Instructor, American Canoe Association - Raft Guide Instructor, Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Wilderness First Responder, PSIA Nordic Instructor, and Technical Rope Rescue Technician. Carl earned a B.S. in Recreation Management and Nature-Based Tourism from the University of Montana during which time he spent summers guiding on the Middle Fork of the Flathead. Carl then served as Recreation Manager for the “Paws up” 5-star Resort where he developed a broad-scale recreation department and designed a wide range of outdoor programs for resort guides. He also implemented a guide-training curriculum for each guest activity, from rafting to mountain biking to snowmobiling.

If he is not out exploring the planet, floating a river, or working at his resort, Carl can be found with his wife Kelsey and their dogs outside the spectacular Glacier National Park.

Dr. Borjesson-Newman received her undergraduate degrees in Human Biology and English with a minor in Business from Lewis-Clark State College. She got both her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Exercise Physiology at the University of Idaho where she completed research with athletes as well as special populations in pulmonary dynamics and acute physiological responses to exercise under diverse environment stress. Susan is the recipient of multiple grants and has taught at the University of Idaho, North Carolina A&T State University, and Washington State University where she received multiple awards for her teaching.

Dr. Borjesson-Newman’s professional objective is to complete practical research that focuses on exercise in austere environments amongst highly trained, special populations, while helping to increase the understanding of the human body and its ability to perform at a peak level. Susan has a unique approach to research as she refuses to be limited by the constraints of a laboratory environment and takes a hands-on approach to her research, thus you may often find her climbing mountains and joining teams in their training to more effectively identify problems and devise realistic solutions to enable implementation into real life settings.

Dr. Borjesson-Newman is active in both the Wilderness Medical Society and the American College of Sports Medicine. Susan is a certified instructor for Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Blood Bourne Pathogens, CPR, First Aid, AED, and multiple fitness organizations.

Dr. Borjesson-Newman’s personal interests include a passion for riding her Harley, water sports, backpacking/camping, hunting, fishing, and raising horses.