Guides

In 1995 Willie rose to fame when he obtained the first ascent of the 3,000-foot North Face of Pakistan’s Nameless Tower (“Book of Shadows” VII, 5.10+ A4 W14). He has since led over 20 Himalayan expeditions, including thirteen Everest summits, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, an attempt on the North face of Jannu, and the “The Crystal Snake” first ascent on Nuptse. This accomplishment made with his brother Damian in 2003 won them Climbing magazine’s Goldhen Piton Award. Willie has also set speed records in Africa on Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, made three attempts on the highly coveted Pakistani peak Latok 1, done first ascents on the big walls of Baffin Island and climbed dozens of Bolivian and Peruvian peaks.
Willie is a certified AMGA Rock and Alpine Guide. He is a fully certified IFMGA mountain guide and AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide, spending his winters as a ski patroller in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.

Willie is often asked the question, “Why do you climb?” His response echoes his philosophy on life: “A mountain adventure will carry over into the many facets of life, teaching you about yourself, your co-existence with nature, and respect for other people’s cultures.” , He has truly earned his place among the world’s mountaineering elite.

Guiding Experience, Certifications, and Honors

• Fully certified IFMGA mountaineering/ski guide
• 2011 Argentine Olympic Committee “Heroic Athlete Award” for rescue of abandoned climber on Everest
• 2010 AMGA Outstanding Guide of the Year
• 22 years of guiding experience and over 20 Himalaya expeditions
• AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
• AAIRE Level III Avalanche Certification
• Wilderness EMT
• Leave No Trace Certification
• National Ski Patrol Association- Snowbird Ski Patrol
• Golden Piton Award for the First Ascent of “Crystal Snake”, north face of Nuptse, Nepal, 2003

Notable Ascents

• Thirteen Everest Summits
• Over 50 ascents of Aconcagua, Argentina
• Aconcagua: world speed record ascent/descent, 23 ½ hs round trip, 54 miles, 13,500 ft. elevation gain, 2000
• 22 mountains in 21 days, Cordillera Real Bolivia, 2006
• Everest and Cho Oyu Summits in one season, 2005
• Cho Oyu and Makalu Summits in one season, 2014
• Everest and Lhotse Summits in one season, 2018
• Mount Manaslu Summit, 2017
• First ascent of “The Crystal Snake,” north face of Nuptse, Nepal, 2003
• Mt. Kenya: all massif towers in 16 hours, 2002
• Oshapalca: new route south face, “My Message,” 5.7 WI 4/5, 2,400 ft, 2000
• Mt. Cuerno: first ascent of south face (17,600 ft.), 5.7 WI 3, 4,640 ft. in 4.36 hs, 2000

Languages spoken: English and Spanish.

Growing up in Puerto Madryn on the Patagonian coast, Damian Benegas and his twin brother, Willie, had to be creative when it came to finding places to climb. According to Damian, “The chimney of Willie’s girlfriend’s house and the clay sea cliffs on the coast of Peninsula Valdes were the only vertical things we had.” But they persevered, and it wasn’t long before Damian had graduated from 20-foot chimneys to soaring 20,000-foot mountain peaks, making a name for himself in the Andes and the Himalaya, in both Nepal and Pakistan.

Not content to climb where others have, Damian prefers the challenge of opening new routes, claiming that seeing traces of other climbers on a mountain gives him “too many clues.” In the spring of 2003, he and Willie climbed a new route they named “The Crystal Snake” on the north face buttress of Nuptse in Nepal, a feat for which they received Climbing magazine’s Golden Piton Award.

In addition to big-mountain climbs, Damian excels in traditional and sport climbing, with numerous first ascents and speed climbs under his belt. His favorite place to climb is Yosemite, California, where he estimates he’s made over 85 ascents of El Capitan in the past ten years. Yet no matter how high he sets his sights, Damian always remains grounded, reminding himself and others to “keep having fun — what counts is the process, not the summit.”

Damian also specializes in filming mountain and outdoor adventures, more recently for ESPN.

Guiding Experience, Certifications, and Honors:

• 2011 Argentine Olympic Committee “Heroic Athlete Award” for rescue of abandoned climber on Everest
• Golden Piton Award for the First Ascent of “Crystal Snake”, north face of Nuptse, Nepal, 2003

Notable Ascents:

• Nuptse, “The Crystal Snake”: new route on the north face buttress; Climbing magazine’s Golden Piton Award for best climb, 2003
• Over 50 ascents of Aconcagua on nearly all faces, including a new route on the west face: “Flight of the Condor”, 2002
• First ascent of “Swept by the Wind,” Patagonia, 5.13a, 1,000ft.,2001
• Oshapalca: first ascent of sout face, “My Message,” 5.7 WI 4/5, 2,400 ft., 2000
• About 85 ascents of El Capitan in 10 years.
• About 18 ascents of Half Dome in 10 years.
• Summited Ama Dablam 4 times
• Attempt on the North Face of Jannu
• 5 Everest Summits
• 2 Cho Oyu Summits
• 2 Lhoste Summits
• About 30 ascents of 20,000 ft. mountains in the South American Andes
• First ascents of Piedra Parada, 1993-2001

Languages spoken: English and Spanish.

Georgie runs BBE’s expedition planning and logistics, as well as Everest Base Camp, down to the finest detail, to ensure the highest standards possible and maximize safety and chances of successful summits.

She adores skiing and fly fishing, and lives in the Pyrenees’s Val D’Aran. She is a USA certified NREMT-Paramedic and AHA Basic Life Support Instructor, and certified Emergency Technician in Spain.

Languages spoken: English and Spanish.

Kike started working on Aconcagua 16 years ago and since then has led 40 Aconcagua expeditions summiting 34 times! This impressive list includes summits by the South Face or French Route and the Polish Glaciar Route. In addition he holds an impressive list of other Andean summits.

Notable summits list

• Mount Everest - 6 summits
• Manaslu - 2 summits
• Lhotse - 1 summit
• Ama Dabalm - 1 summit
• Daulagiri - 1 summit

Certifications

• IFMGA Full Certified Guide

With literally countless climbs in the Andes in Ecudaor, Peru, Bolivia, in addition to the French and Swiss Alps, Dolomites, not to mention his 4 summits of Mount Everest, Jose Luis brings his extensive knowledge, expertise and passion for teaching to our team.

Certifications:

• IFMGA Certified Guide and Instructor
• Ecuadorian Mountain Guides Association Guide and Instructor
• Wilderness First Responder and AHA CPR
• Leave No Trace Master Educator

He has climbed and guided internationally for a number of years and been to 6000m over 30+ times, working as a Lead Guide on Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Denali, and many of the other high summits. In the summer he works as a Climbing Guide on Rainier, Baker, Adams, Shuksan, and many of the other peaks throughout Washington State. 

From Utah, he has also worked a number of seasons as a Ski Patroller at Snowbird Ski Resort and as a Ski Guide in the Wasatch, and holds a Level III Avalanche certification.  When Brian is not working, you can find him looking to find big lines to ski, or out climbing in the Utah desert.

Sofia has participated in numerous expeditions exploring the coast of Patagonia together with Pablo Passera. She regularly works with wildlife documentary film crews such as National Geographic and the BBC, both as a support diver and guide. She has worked as a volunteer for several research projects involving the Southern Right Whale. She worked the 2008 winter season as a trekking and sea kayak guide in Southern Greenland. She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and American Canoe Association (A.C.A) Coastal Kayaking Level 3.

Languages spoken: English and Spanish.

He is also a certified ski instructor and patroller. Pablo has completed studies as Professor of Physical Education, with a major in recreational and mountain activities. He regularly takes part in courses and workshops covering environmental education and nature interpretation. He has had the opportunity to travel to diverse locations within Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia and also to the Antarctic and Artic. He  worked the 2008-09 winter season as a sea kayak guide in Southern Greenland where he completed several expeditions. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and American Canoe Association (A.C.A) Instructor of Open Water Kayaking Level 4.

Languages spoken: English and Spanish.