Ryan Koupal
Founder/Director

Having spent the last 3 winters on the ground in Kyrgyzstan, Ryan has a unique first-hand perspective on Central Asia and the potential for winter tourism development in the region. Ryan first encountered the Tien Shan Mountains in 1999, living with nomadic families along the China/Kyrgyz border as a student on an intercultural studies/immersion program with Where There Be Dragons. Ryan later worked as Dragons’ Executive Program Director (’06-’09), during which time he continued to foster a deep appreciation for the mountain cultures of Asia, all linking back to his first Kyrgyz yurt-stay. Following several self-coordinated international splitboarding expeditions combining his personal passions with his work, Ryan finally found the perfect balance of local enthusiasm, native resources, and endless backcountry potential in Kyrgyzstan – thus the inspiration for 40 Tribes, which he founded in 2010. These days, Ryan is back and forth between Boulder, Colorado, a beautiful Kyrgyz mountain village called Ichke Jergez, and the developing resort town of Karakol, where he bases himself while running 40 Tribes’ in-country operations. Ryan will tail guide alongside Ptor Spricenieks on our ’11-’12 season ski tours.

Ptor Spricenieks
Lead Guide

Ptor’s 22 years of ski mountaineering and global guiding experience, and passion for unthinkable ski adventures, makes him a perfect match for the 40 Tribes program. His work as a freeride alpinist, heli-ski guide and ski-tour guide has sent him on pioneering expeditions in the far reaches of Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bolivia, and has helped him develop a name as “one of the 48 most influential skiers of the last 35 years” (Powder Magazine). Ptor has held his CAA Level I Avalanche Certification since 1990, is certified in Advanced Wilderness First Aid and Advanced Outdoor Emergency Care, and has mentored with many famous guides like John Falkiner and Doug Coombs. In recent years, Ptor has been living between his native British Columbia, current hometown of La Grave, France, and Gulmarg, Kashmir, where he was working as avalanche forecaster and tour developer/guide for premiere ski descents in the surrounding valleys. With a wife and new son, Ptor seems to be settling into a nice life in the French Alps, but he will be the first to tell you that Kyrgyzstan/Central Asia is a place he plans to spend a lot more time. In his words: “40 Tribes is a perfect fit as a tranquil and undeveloped mountain scenario that will provide great skiing without an exploding scene for years to come. It’s how I prefer to ski.”

Recent Projects:

• Premiere ski descents on 20 day self-contained traverse, St Elias Mountains, Yukon – NW Face Mt. Vancouver (4813m), N Ridge Mac Arthur Peak (4300m)
• Clemenceau/Columbia Icefields traverse, Canadian Rockies, BC/Alberta – 18 day self-contained with 4 premiere ski descents en route
• Solo premiere attempt and ski descent from 6000m Gashot Peak (6800m), Nanga Parbat Himal, Pakistan
• Various premiere ski descents in Gulmarg area, Kashmir, India
• Trans-Himalaya winter ski traverse attempt via Zanskar
• Exploratory ski expedition to the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru including new descents of the Yerupaja Glacier and the East Face of Sarapo

Notable first descents:

• Canada – N Face Mt. Robson, N Face Mt. Forbes, W Face Mt. Monarch, N Face Mt. Loki, NW Face Mt. Vancouver
• France – S Face Pic Central Les Aiguilles D’Arves, Col des Pichettes
• India – N Face Norbu Peak
• Peru – W Ridge Mt. Tocllaraju, S Face Pumarinri
• Bolivia – S Face Cerro Korichuma, S Face Cerro Yaypuri

Greg Johnson
Avalanche Instructor/Guide

Greg has been living life in the mountains of the western United States and Canada for the past 18 years. He works as a snowboard guide and avalanche safety consultant holding accreditation with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). Greg started his professional career as a student of a world renowned avalanche research program at the University of Calgary and earned a MSc in Civil Engineering. He went on to work in the US for the US Forest Service and in Canada for the Canadian Avalanche Centre as an avalanche forecaster. During that time he spent a few summers as a climbing ranger with the US National Park Service. Greg also spends time instructing for the Canadian Avalanche Association. Greg is stoked to have the opportunity to travel throughout the USA, Canada, Japan, and Kyrgyzstan to work this winter.

Local Partners

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