Guides

Ben Simms

Adventure Center Manager
Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
School: University of Georgia

Ben was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and attended the University of Georgia. After graduation, he moved to Estes Park, Co and became a mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking guide in Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding wilderness areas. There, he developed a deep desire to be in the mountains and nature and to share that appreciation with others. Later, he worked as a Landscape Architect in Boulder, where he designed parks, school grounds, and state parks. Ben’s desire to live a simple, authentic life in the mountains with good people kept pulling at him, so he and his wife, Addie, decided to pack up and move to Clark. In their free time, they love to do anything to get them outside along with their dog, Chief.

Shannan Balzer

Guide
Wilderness First Responder
Hometown: Placerville, CA
School: California Polytechnic State University

Shannon is constantly trying to get her hands on a new adventure. She is outside from sun up to sun down, rarely seen without her Jammy Pack (music playing fanny pack). She loves to travel! Shannon has been to over ten countries and visited every continent except Antarctica. She most recently came back from a six week trip backpacking through Ecuador where she hiked Cotopaxi- one of the world’s largest volcanoes at almost 20,000 ft! Fun Fact: Shannon loves Thai food!

Nathan Margason Safety Manager at Vista Verde Guest Ranch

Nate Margason

Safety Manager/Guide
CMC EMT Program
Hometown: Elgin, TX

Nate is officially our Safety Manager, but that is just the start of what he does at the ranch! When not fixing things or overseeing our fleet of 14 hot tubs, or guiding, or wrangling, he finds time to pursue his hobbies that include hiking, playing softball, dancing, and horseback riding. Nate really enjoys playing on Vista Verde’s intramural softball team during the summer and volleyball during the winter. For his first job, Nate was involved in restoring a 1939 Cadillac LaSalle. He is a volunteer with North Routt Fire Department as an EMT and Firefighter type 2. Finally, Nate married our own lovely Melissa in October 2016 in VVR’s Great Room!

Miller Anderson

Guide
Wilderness First Responder, CPR, AED
Hometown: Charleston SC
School: The Citadel Military College

Miller loves anything outdoors but is especially passionate for fly fishing. During the summer months, you’ll find him either guiding at work or still fishing while off of work! Miller has even traveled to Patagonia, Chile in pursuit of trout. One of his favorite trips was to Wisconsin with fellow VVR staff, Isaac and Zach, to check musky off his list of fish to catch on the fly- he was indeed successful in this pursuit. We are glad to have him back for yet another season at the ranch!

Mette Rousseau

Guide
First Aid, CPR, AED
Hometown:

Mette was born and raised in the beautiful PNW where she spent summers sailing the salty seas and winters sitting by a fire after a long day cross country skiing. In the past few years, Mette has studied in Guatemala, worked in Uganda, backpacked Europe, volunteered with Young Life, and clam farmed in the Salish Sea. Most recently, she lived in British Columbia managing a sea kayaking operation and mountain guiding for a wilderness ministry. She heard about Vista Verde while backpacking in New Zealand and is excited to explore the heights of the Rockies, the crispness of CO winters, and the depths of VVR community!

Greg Shepperly

Guide
First Aid, CPR, AED
Hometown: East Leroy, MI

Greg is joining us for his second season at VVR! He is taking a gap from school, and is excited to spend that time off by guiding in the great outdoors. Greg loves to hike, mountain bike, fly fish, climb, and snowboard. When he is giving his muscles a rest, Greg loves to play the guitar. He also really enjoys travelling. Fun fact: Greg has won multiple spicy food eating contests.

Harry Stanius

Guide
First Aid, CPR, AED
Hometown: Bemidji, MN
School: Bemidji State

Joining us for his third season at VVR, Harry just graduated in May and is excited to be back at VVR! Harry recently competed in national ballroom dancing competition, and loves dancing in his free time. The only thing he might love more than dancing is getting on the river, and his favorite fish is a Grayling. You can identify him on ranch by his incredibly thick Minnesota accent. We’re stoked to have Harry back!

Cawood Habenicht

Guide
First Aid, CPR, AED
Hometown: PA
School: Furman University

After 2 summer seasons, Cawood is joining us for her first winter season at VVR! She recently graduated from Furman University with a B.A. in Biology. She loves sharing her goofy and enthusiastic personality with kids and has a deep passion for animals- especially horses. Cawood has been a wrangler here for the past 2 summers but decided to trade in her saddle for skis this winter! Fun fact: Cawood can make accurate coyote AND dolphin sounds.

Alex Bell-Johnson

Guide

Wilderness First Responder

Hometown: Lafayette, CO

Alex is here for his first season at Vista! Before coming to the ranch he was working at an off the grid fishing resort in Oregon. Alex has skied and hiked all through the mountains of British Columbia, Japan, and Alaska. There is nothing he loves more than being outdoors. Fun Fact: Alex was a truck driver at age 18.

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Guides

Ben Simms

Shannan Balzer

Nate Margason

Miller Anderson

Mette Rousseau

Greg Shepperly

Harry Stanius

Cawood Habenicht

Alex Bell-Johnson

What Are You Waiting For?

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