Please welcome the first new class of TCSAR volunteers since 2015: Andrew Armington, Tobin Dennis, Ashley Didion, Anna DiSanto, Lexie Drechsel, Lauren Funaro, Ian Johnston, Dan Rogers, Steve Wurm, Brook Yeomans.
Each started out among a pool of 150 people who applied for 10 positions. They come to TCSAR from a wide range of backgrounds and with a multitude of skills. From now until the end of this year, they will go through extensive training to gain several certifications. As “provisional” SAR members, they will not be going out on rescue missions. That happens only after they’ve successfully completed all their training to become “operational,” a process that takes about a year.
It is a significant investment for the team and Foundation to bring on a new class, as training and outfitting must be funded through private donations. You can support the new class today by making a donation here.
From left to right: Ian Johnston, Andrew Armington, Ashley Didion, Tobin Dennis, Dan Rogers, Lexie Drechsel, Anna DiSanto, Lauren Funaro, Brook Yeomans, and Steve Wurm.
Get to Know the New Volunteers
Portraits by Morris Weintraub.
Andrew Armington
Age: 30
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I was born in Jackson, took a hiatus most of my life, and have been back for seven years.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My family! I have an amazing lady and two beautiful children.
What is your favorite skill?
Snowmobiling.
Favorite movie of all time?
Lord of the Rings.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Greensky Bluegrass.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
I was fortunate enough to get a new mountain bike last spring so that was an absolute blessing.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Snacks, always snacks.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me... waterskiing on Jackson Lake!
Tobin Dennis
Age: 37
Occupation: Emergency Room physician
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I was born and raised here.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
Matt Damon in Rounders.
What is your favorite skill?
Chainsaw.
Favorite movie book of all time?
Catch 22.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Blippi on repeat.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
Bunch bike.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Duct tape.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… camping with my family.
Ashley Didion
Age: 35
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Coffee or tea?
Both, I need and love both.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I’m from Washington D.C. and have lived in Jackson for five years.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My family. They taught me patience, to face your fears, and how to make the most of challenging times.
What is your favorite skill?
Being comfortable in water.
Favorite movie of all time?
The Princess Bride.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Toots & The Maytals, Black Pumas, Thao & Mirah.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
My backcountry boots and skis, comfy and get me where I want to be.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Gummy bears. I always feel ready to go if I have gummy bears with me.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me... somewhere in the park.
Anna DiSanto
Age: 31
Occupation: Environmental Consultant
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I am from Dover, Mass., and have been in Jackson for eight-plus years.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My friends and the mountains.
What is your favorite skill?
Map-making.
Favorite movie of all time?
Planet Earth.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Pop.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
Hand-warmers.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Chocolate-covered espresso beans.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… jumping in rivers with my dog.
Lexie Drechsel
Age: 31
Occupation: Physical Therapist
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I’m from Maine and have lived in Jackson for seven years.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
The mountains.
What is your favorite skill?
Skiing.
Favorite movie of all time?
The Shining.
What music have you been listening to lately?
The Bridgerton playlist on Spotify (haha).
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
My gravel grinder.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Hand-warmers.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… on my bike in the morning and SUPing in the afternoon.
Lauren Funaro
Age: 29
Occupation: ICU/ER tech at St. John's, guide
Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning, tea in the evening.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I grew up in Seattle and went to college in Bellingham. I moved to Jackson in 2015 “to ski for a winter.”
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
I am inspired by people who make decisions based on their talents, desires, visions; regardless of the path set out for them by others or perceived limits. International travel has also influenced me by observing how different cultures make a living, cooperate, and define family and happiness.
What is your favorite skill?
I enjoy problem solving through technical challenges in the mountains: how to best and most efficiently travel through technical terrain and how to protect it. I also enjoy studying foreign languages. I have studied Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Favorite movie of all time?
I like Alejandro Iñárritu films, including Amores Perros, Babel, The Revenant, Biutiful, 21 grams.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Between quarantine and a frustrating wrist injury that kept me out of the mountains last year, I decided to buy a DJ setup and learn how to DJ in my spare time, so I have been listening to a lot of electronically produced music. I also love the new Sturgill Simpson bluegrass album.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
I recently purchased a 2-person sleeping bag. As someone who always runs cold at night, I'm enjoying utilizing my adventure partner’s body heat to stay warm!
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Chapstick and a dry/clean pair of socks.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… sitting by an alpine lake, cooking dinner in the Jetboil after a long day of climbing.
Ian Johnston
Age: 30
Occupation: CPA
Coffee or tea?
Decaf coffee.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
My family moved to Jackson when I was 4 years old. I was lucky to be able to grow up in the valley. After high school, I spent seven years in the Midwest attending college and starting my career before moving back to Jackson in 2016.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My parents are probably the biggest. They taught me the importance of giving back in whatever way I can. Second would be the Teton Range. I never tire of being in those mountains. On skis or foot, time among those peaks is so therapeutic and awesome.
What is your favorite skill?
Ski mountaineering. Using the combination of steep skiing, mountaineering, route finding, climbing, and rope skills to put together the puzzle of an ascent and descent is so much fun.
Favorite movie of all time?
Lord of the Rings, probably Return of the King, but really any of the three.
What music have you been listening to lately?
I'm a big Pearl Jam fan—it has a permanent spot on my playlist.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
Definitely my Blizzard Zero G 95 skis: light on the skin track and solid on the way down.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Winter: Skin wax. Summer: Chapstick.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me... in my kayak or on a friend's porch with a cold beer in hand.
Dan Rogers
Age: 41
Occupation: Software Development
Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the mornings, tea in the evenings.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
The Baltimore area as a kid, but have done stints all over the place. I moved to Teton Valley about eight years ago.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My wife, my friends, and my family.
What is your favorite skill?
Knots. If you know a handful of the staples, you are ready for a lot out there. From rigging a boat, to setting up a hammock, to tying down a trailer, a well-dressed knot will make you at least look like you know what you are doing.
Favorite movie of all time?
Toss up between Rogue One, or The Big Lebowski.
What music have you been listening to lately?
The Steeldrivers, and Waylon Jennings in the car. I like to do mainly jazz while I'm working, which keeps my mind calm.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
A small R2 raft. Super versatile, can toss a friend in and paddle all the classics around here, or toss on an oar frame and go solo.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Headphones. I don't recommend using them all the time, but sometimes they are exactly what you need to make a couple of hours of mind-numbing slogging bearable.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… trying to do as much as I can. I've really been into trying to do traverses lately. Probably spend one or two days running, scrambling, or climbing in (or near) the park, then probably a leisurely float with the wife, friends, and dogs on Sunday, maybe followed by yard games or hanging out by the fire. If I could sneak a little whitewater in there somewhere as well that would likely be my perfect weekend.
Steve Wurm
Age: 32
Occupation: Firefighter EMT
Coffee or tea?
Coffee and lots of it.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I grew up in Tempe, Arizona, and have been in Jackson since 2013.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My younger brother, Mitch.
What is your favorite skill?
Fixing things.
Favorite movie of all time?
Top Gun.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Bluegrass.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
My ski boots.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
Leatherman.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me... near the water.
Brook Yeomans
Age: 42
Occupation: Teacher
Coffee or tea?
Both! Coffee to start the day, tea to finish.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Jackson?
I’m from Wisconsin originally but migrated down here from Montana in 2000.
Who or what is the biggest influence in your life?
My dad! Still is, the guy is a hard working ACE, whom I’m still trying to learn from.
What is your favorite skill?
I’m really thankful I can balance, at least most of the time, on a bike. It’s pretty fun.
Favorite movie of all time?
Real Genius, a full classic. Check it out if you haven’t.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Half the time I don't even know what Spotify is playing me, but if the sun is setting and I’m on the bike, it’ll be Ben Howard or Kurt Vile.
What piece of outdoor equipment brought you the most joy during the last year?
The bike.
What small non-essential item do you always carry in your backpack?
It used to be my kids’ socks; it was a good idea when they were babies. Now I won't go near them! Then, it was a tiny Max doll from Where the Wild Things Are to honor my late friend’s childhood favorite. Now, mostly sticking to essentials.
On a three-day weekend at the height of summer, you can find me… hopefully you can’t find me but if you do, it’ll be at a campfire with family and friends recalling good times and making new memories.