People
Travis Feist
Professional Observer, Education Coordinator

Travis is SAC's Education Coordinator, and has been a SAC Field Observer since 2010. He came to SAC after 15 seasons of professional ski patrolling, guiding, and avalanche instruction in North America, and 6 seasons of ski guiding and avalanche instruction in Argentina. Travis also spent several North American seasons traveling to teach AIARE Instructor Training Classes and Level 3s, and continues to teach AIARE Pro 1 and Pro 2 classes for motorized users. When not working for SAC, he teaches for the Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership program at Lake Tahoe Community College. On powder days you're most likely to find Travis on a snowmobile, though he still skis and insists he enjoys it.

David Reichel
Executive Director, Professional Observer

As soon as possible after UC Berkeley, David moved to the mountains. He took his first avalanche course that winter in the Rockies, and he’s been exploring snow covered peaks ever since. Back home in the Sierra he has taught about a bazillion AIARE courses and splitboarded all over Tahoe. David also guides and instructs avalanche courses in Mt. Shasta and Argentina. In 2014, he founded the California Avalanche Workshop. When not outside, David’s professional experience includes: starting a charter school for at risk young adults, running a college outdoor program, directing a small nonprofit, and working to get more kids on bikes.

Jason Bilek
Professional Observer

After growing up in the mountain mecca of Illinois, Jason moved to Tahoe in 1995 to checkout the Sierra. He has been a heli guide in the Chugach since 2012 where he developed an appreciation for fast powder turns and the risks of backcountry travel. Jason also teached AIARE avalanche and rescue courses within the Tahoe region.