Crossing Latitudes -Our Wonderful Staff

OUR STAFF
Close knit like a family, our staff is devoted to providing participants with a safe, exciting and memorable experience. Our leaders are certified in Wilderness First Aid. All are bilingual. Extensive training is required in back country travel, outdoor leadership, wilderness living, seamanship and water safety techniques.
	Åsa Hultman Pape Åsa grew up on a YMCA camp on the west coast of Sweden, along with her sister; Crossing Latitudes founder; Lena Conlan. Åsa has a degree in Physical Education and Swedish Language and worked in Swedish high schools for many years. When not out back country skiing Åsa can be seen helping out with administrative work for Crossing Latitudes in Bozeman. Åsa has worked with Tim and Lena since they started Crossing Latitudes in 1996. She has paddled in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, Honduras, Greece and Mexico. Åsa married Jay Pape in Bozeman in December 2007 and is now calling Montana her home. Åsa also teaches for WMI of NOLS both in Europe and the USA.
	Ulrika Hermansson Since her early days living on a farm in the southern part of Sweden, the outdoors has always been a natural part of Ulrika's life. Her first passion was working with kids and teenagers. After traveling in Australia, Ulrika decided to pursue an outdoor career and enrolled in outdoor education programs in both Sweden and New Zealand. "Ullis" lives in Åre and is surrounded by mountains, lakes and rivers.
	Patrik Hedljung After growing up in the forests and mountains of Sweden, Patrik left for Finland and a two year outdoor education program. This is where he got his first taste of sea kayaking. This experience inspired him to take two NOLS courses; a whitewater course in Utah, and an outdoor educator's course in British Columbia. He is now convinced that his new element is water, preferably along a beautiful and dramatic coastline. Patrik is also completing his degree in psychology and pedagogy and working with leadership and communication skills training. On our trips, you are most likely to find Patrik in the kitchen area, creating fantastic meals. Patrik works for the Swedish Boy Scots and Girls Guides Association in Sweden.
	Per Nordell Per is a Physical Education and English teacher by profession. After working some of the first Crossing Latitudes trips back in the mid 90's, Per took a job with the Swedish Tourism Association (STF). He has worked at the Storulvån Mountain Lodge and is a certified telemark instructor as well as an avalanche safety instructor. Nowadays Per works at one of the larger hotels in Åre heading up the recreation program. In 2007 Per and his wife Eva started Åre Kafferosteri where they roast and sell coffee. Within a year Per hopes to work full time for the business mixed with outdoor guiding of course.
	Pernilla Eggöy Being outdoors, caring for the environment and travelling are Pernillas' main passions. These interests have taken her to such diverse places as New Zealand; as an exchange student, South America and Spain as a student, gutting fish in Norway and studying in France. Inbetween all this she managed to squeeze in a year of studying outdoor skills and leadership. Pernilla also has a degree in environmental engineering. She has been involved with Crossing Latitudes since 1998 and is one of our main guides. Pernilla lives in Göteborg on the west coast of Sweden. This is where she cycle, run, swim and ski - Pernilla is an avid long distance racer.
	Fredrik Bistedt Fredrik grow up in the south part of Sweden but lives nowadays in Gothenburg together with his family, wife and two girls six and eight. The interest for outdoor activities began at early age in the Boy Scouts and has ever since grown stronger and stronger. Since Fredrik is raised by the sea, and today living in the sailing Mecca of Sweden, water is and have always been a big part of his life; sailing small dingy's to big sailing vessel and of course sea kayaking. Fredrik have a passion for leading younger kids both in the mountains, at sea and mountain biking around Gothenburg. Fredrik combines his vehicle engineering profession with outdoor guiding.
	Eeva Makela Eeva is a native of Finland. She grew up on a farm in an active outdoor family. Her passion for skiing and mountains have taken her to the French Alps, the US and Canada. She completed a masters degree in environmental sociology and worked for the Park and Forest Service in Finland. Eeva became involved with NOLS in 1999 and has worked as a Field Instructor in wilderness, horsepacking, skiing, snow boarding and sailing courses. In the winter Eeva works as a Professional Ski Instructor in Whistler BC and pursues a Ski Guide career with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Eeva also works in Finland as a teacher in an Adventure Education program at the Tornio Polytechnic School.
	Jens Melkeraaen Originally from southern Sweden, Jens is now living in Stockholm with his wife and their son William. Jens is a high school geography and religion teacher during the school year. In the summer he guides sea kayaking trips and expeditions. His outdoor and leadership skills are the result of an active life and an Adventure Tourism education in Nelson, New Zealand. Jens enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities such as windsurfing, sea and river kayaking and hiking. He has also been working as a raft guide in Sweden.
	Fredrik Norrsell Fredrik grew up on the coast of southern Sweden, before he moved north to ramble in the mountains and forest, while studying Chemistry and Biology. In 1988 he moved to Utah for a Masters Degree in Chemistry and started working as an Outdoor Educator. In 1994 he started working as a Field Instructor for NOLS, and has worked in Alaska, Yukon, Pacific NorthWest, Rockies, Baja, Patagonia and New Zealand. He works sea kayaking, hiking, winter, climbing and mountaineering courses. He has also taught telemark skiing, worked with Avalanche safety, as instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Institute, and as a Nature Photographer. www.norrsell.com
	Eva Nordell Eva grew up in the highlands of Småland in southern Sweden. Her interests include skiing, trekking and horseback riding. She studied tourism with an outdoor emphasis for a year before going to France to work at a horse center. Later Eva studied French, Physical Education with Outdoor Education as her main subjects. She taught high school Physical Education and French in the countryside of Åre, Sweden where she now lives with her husband Per Nordell who is also a CL-guide. Eva runs the daily operations of their company Åre Kafferosteri. For a good cup of coffee visit their web site: Åre Kafferosteri.
	Howie Nordström Howie’s interest in the outdoors started early while growing up in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Skiing, white-water and lake paddling, climbing, hiking, horseback riding and windsurfing are some of his pursuits. He has a degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics from UBC in Vancouver, BC. A 15-year career in competitive skydiving, as both international competitor and coach/trainer, was followed by freelancing as a Microsoft Trainer and professional photographer. Howie has taken many of the great photos you see on our web site. For more of Howie's work please visit: http://howienordstrom.com Howie devides his time between Sweden and the US.
	Daniela Merz Daniela grew up hiking and skiing in the Black Forest of Germany. She holds a PhD in Natural Science and leads a research group for environmental chemistry. She’s worked onboard a traditional Tall Ship, setting sails and taking care for the passengers, while sailing from African coasts to North Cape. You may find her skiing in Switzerland, backpacking in Iceland, canoeing in Yukon Territory or sea kayaking in Greenland. In 1999, she met Lena at NOLS during Sea Kayaking Course in Alaska. Since then, she explores Scandinavia on summer and winter expeditions and calls Crossing Latitudes her “second home.”
	Kellie Scholz While growing up in northern Australia, Kellie developed a passion for outdoor living, adventure activities and "getting dirty". She has taken this passion with her on numerous travels throughout North America, Europe and Australasia. Living and working in four different countries has given Kellie a special insight into personal and cultural differences, and a deeper understanding of people in general. Kellie currently live in Canada. She is a qualified wilderness guide and has guided trips in Canada, Norway, Sweden and Greece.
	Johanna Wadsley Johanna grew up in Australia, the Netherlands and England, but considers herself a Tasmanian at heart. After working as a percussionist in an orchestra for 8 years, Johanna changed careers while taking up rock climbing on a whim! She got involved with NOLS on a Semester program in the Rockies, a Waddington Mountaineering and a NOLS Mountain Instructor Course. Johanna was the Staff Development Manager at The London Castle Climbing Centre, one of the busiest in Europe, for over 5 years. Whilst at The Castle Johanna acquired a masters degree in Science, Culture and Environment and is now a full-time PhD student in Human Geography. For fun she plays timpani in The London City Orchestra.