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FROM OUR LODGE IN THE MATANUSKA-SUSITNA VALLEY, ALASKA.
Shia was born in Wisconsin and moved to Alaska when she was a little girl. Her parents introduced her to camping, running, four wheeling and suffering in the outdoors and she’s been addicted ever since. She’s bike packed through parts of South America, hiked the Appalachian trail, put out fires around the US and Canada but nothing can stop her from seeing the Third Edge family every winter.
Randee grew up in Arkansas, where she developed a love for the outdoors through swimming, hiking, and camping. While in college, working at a bakery sparked a newfound passion for baking and hospitality. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration, with an emphasis on food and beverage, she channeled her skills into the burgeoning food scene in Little Rock. Randee spent the next decade with a local restaurant group, helping to open new establishments, manage kitchens, and train staff.
Seeking a change from the fast-paced world of restaurant management, she transitioned to a baking-focused role at another local eatery, where her creativity truly flourished. Some of her signature recipes continue to be featured on menus today.
In 2022, craving a new adventure, Randee moved to Crested Butte, Colorado, where she became the banquet chef at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Between preparing meals for weddings and large conferences, she embraced the mountain lifestyle, enjoying skiing, hiking, and all that the area has to offer. After two years, she set off for another exciting chapter and relocated to Palmer, Alaska.
When she’s not working, Randee enjoys skiing, biking, crocheting, tackling puzzles, and experimenting with new cookie recipes.
Raised in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico, Chef Micah has been cooking all over Alaska for the past 20 years. He boasts a knowledge of cuisine from across the globe, but specializes in blending flavors from the American Southwest (think smoke and spice) and the Pacific Northwest (seafood, game, and bountiful local produce). From fine dining to family style, to a luxurious picnic on a remote Alaskan beach, Chef Micah is excited to delight you with his culinary offerings. Oh, and keep an eye out on the slopes, his shredding skills are almost as good as his cooking!
Peter grew up in North Conway, New Hampshire, spending time recreating in the modest but rugged, White Mountains. He pursued alpine ski racing through college, which ultimately brought him to Alaska during US Nationals in 2009, and mountain bike racing in the Enduro World Series through 2021. Both sports created an adventure path for Peter to explore in the mountains throughout North America, and Europe.
His passion for exploring the Chugach backcountry, mainly by human power, began in 2011 when he moved to Girdwood, AK and worked in alpine ski racing. The fulfillment of fostering athletic achievements in the mountains on skis evolved into ski guiding after 10 years of coaching. Peter has his USHS Level 3 from working at Chugach Powder Guides, W-EMT and is excited to share his passion for skiing in Alaska with the Third Edge family.
In the summer months, Peter is still involved with the MTB scene, doing adventure trips, and promoting a 5-day Enduro Race in New England (Trans-New England). He now lives in Anchorage with his wife Terin and 18month old daughter Kyper.
This is Miah’s first year with Third Edge Heli and she is stoked to be joining the team! Miah was born in Alaska, but moved to the Philippines when she was 8 and lived there for 10 years. She would visit family in Alaska every couple years, and it was on these trips that she fell in love with her home state all over again. As a result, this is where she decided to call home once she graduated high school in 2020. In the Philippines she enjoyed scuba diving, free diving, and playing in the warm ocean, but moving to Alaska required a slight change of hobbies. She learned to ski and loves it, but she’s still building her confidence on the slopes. She enjoys backpacking, salmon fishing, kayaking, and jumping in lakes. Miah is a potter and finds a way to throw no matter where she lives. She also paints, makes block prints and dabbles in wood burning.
Miah’s dad Zach is a helicopter pilot, who (fun fact) flies for Third Edge, and she loves going on flights with him whenever she gets the chance.
Miah worked at a local coffee shop for almost three years and it is one of her favorite things to create delicious drinks for people to enjoy.
Cassie McCraw
Property Gate Keeper
When you show up and the lodge/properties look great, it’s Cassie and her team’s diligence behind the scenes, blood sweat and tears!!!
Manages both TEH properties in Alaska! Maintaining the relationship with our resident wildlife keeping the sheets white, the internet streaming, the heated helipad running, the grass green and much more!!
Cassie enjoys playing in the mountains and the ocean with her family and cooking delicious food!
Carrie found her love for cooking at a young age through baking for friends and family. Her experience broadened after attending Seattle Culinary Academy and moving on to work as a recipe developer for several test kitchens, catering organizations and restaurants in Seattle. After missing the familiarity of snowy mountains she moved on to work as a private chef in Steamboat Springs Colorado, Park City & Alta Utah. In the summer Carrie co-owns and operates a dried meals business with her brother, sourcing and working with local farms around Seattle and exploring the PNW through backpacking, biking and working with farmers.
Nick, a seasoned heli ski guide, finds joy and fulfillment in the expansive outdoor winterscape of Alaska. Brought up in the peaks of Colorado, he honed his skills navigating through the contrasting terrains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. His boundless affection for nature resonates in his choice of hobbies, which primarily revolves around the adrenaline-boosting world of speedflying, skiing, and snow machining, supplemented by peaceful pastimes of hunting and fishing.
In 2010, he traded the rugged landscapes of home for Alaska’s icy expanse, intensifying his thirst for adventure and exploration. His courageous exploits, however, do not merely cater to personal thrill but echo a broader mission. As a heli ski guide, he escorts others through alpine landscapes, sharing the exhilarating joy and profound beauty of the wild outdoors. He lights the path for fellow adventurers, infusing enthusiasm and awe, showcasing the sheer magnificence of nature.
Nick’s relationship with the Third Edge family is an integral part of his adventurous journey. His spirit, tenacity and passion for the outdoors align seamlessly with the values that Third Edge upholds. He proudly embodies the Third Edge ethos, dedicating himself to a life of boundary-pushing exploration and encapsulating the spirit of adventure. As a proud member of the Third Edge family, Nick continues to narrate his thrilling story, inspiring others to connect with the beautiful dance between nature and adrenaline-fueled excitement.
Mike Welch started his ski career working as a ski patroller at Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage, Alaska (294 vertical feet).Working outside and on skis was too much of a draw and Mike took the slippery slide into a lifetime in the ski industry. Mike has patrolled at Arctic Valley Ski Area (1214’) and Alyeska Resort (2500’) in Alaska and Alta Ski Area in Utah (2538’). Bigger mountains called. Mike put in over a decade and a half at Chugach Powder Guides, moving from following guide to lead guide to snow safety director.
Mike now splits time between his own company, Sundog Ski Guides (as many vertical as you can hike) and Third Edge Heli (UNLIMITED vertical feet). Contrary to how it may seem, Mike is not about counting vert, but rather he likes really long runs and big mountains. His ski patrol roots bring a work ethic and grit that shows, Mike is not afraid to get dirty to make sure you have an amazing time out in the mountains.