Breaking Trails: How Yukon’s First Female Ski Guide Is Shaping The Future Of The Slopes

In the heart of the Yukon’s rugged backcountry, Breanne Johnson is carving a path few have dared to follow. As the territory’s first and only female ski guide, Breanne balances a full-time career in wildlife biology with the extreme demands of guiding in Canada’s harshest winter wilderness. Fresh from graduating the ACMG x Helly Hansen Mentorship Program, she’s on a mission to open more trails—both literally and figuratively—for women in the guiding world. We caught up with Breanne to talk avalanches, ambition, and what it really takes to chase your passion to the peaks. —Noa Nichol

You’re the first and only female ski guide in the Yukon—what does that title mean to you, and how has it shaped your approach to guiding in such a remote and rugged part of Canada?

The Yukon is wild and remote in many ways. It is also home to many strong and creative women, operating their own traplines, flying bush planes, building their own off-grid cabins, working in remote research camps, hiking, skiing, and paddling new routes through seldom travelled mountains. The Yukon can be a dauntingly rugged and wildly beautiful place, adding a layer of complexity to any endeavor that might already be difficult under normal circumstances. It attracts people with a pioneer spirit and a penchant for adventure. As the first and only female ski guide in the Yukon, I consider myself part of a bigger story in the north, a place where women are leading inspiring lives in many ways. To me, being a part of that story is a chance to encourage others to reach for something that might seem unattainable, whether that be a remote ski line, or some other personal goal. Attaining ACMG apprentice ski guide certification while living here was not easy, and I’m excited to share what that experience has brought me with others as I move towards guiding northern adventures and the unique challenges those offer. 

Your journey into guiding began after a close call with an avalanche. Can you walk us through that experience and how it became the catalyst for your commitment to avalanche safety and backcountry education?

This was early in my snow safety career. I was skiing recreationally with a large group and a friend was badly injured in the avalanche. We were very lucky as the debris was deep and the outcome could have been much worse. Up until that point I approached my learning about the snow and mountains with a general curiosity. This event changed that. Genuine fear offered me the opportunity to back away from the mountains as others might have. I chose a different path though: I dove headfirst into learning as much as I possibly could about snow and avalanche safety, and how to teach and share that information with others. It became apparent to me that if I wanted to keep looking to the mountains for inspiration and adventure, then I owed them a deep respect and commitment to learning. To me it was obvious that this was not something I could do half-way, as the hazards were too real and my passion for the mountains too great. I sought out more and more education, experience, and opportunities, which turned into more than a decade of rewarding experiences instructing avalanche courses, leading outdoor education programs, mitigating the avalanche risk to the public along highways and railways, and guiding. Looking back, my fear was balanced by a healthy thirst for knowledge and understanding, and I am so glad I chose to feed that.

Balancing a full-time career as a biological technician with guiding on your “days off” is no small feat. What motivates you to maintain this dual path, and how do the two roles complement each other?

There is much overlap between these two careers, yet they also provide a lot of diversity in my life in terms of experiences and challenges. Both require a high level of skill and competency in mountain travel and safety in the outdoors. Although one is science focused and one is outdoor industry focused, both careers benefit from skills developed in the other. Through my job as a Fish and Wildlife Technician, I can contribute towards ensuring that the wild areas I like to guide and spend time in are conserved and managed in a way that will allow them to exist long into the future. As a guide, I get to experience these wild areas and share in the joy that they bring to people. This full-circle approach brings a certain satisfaction and a deeper level of understanding of the mountain ecosystems I spend time in. This is a level of understanding that I can share with those I guide, which also really adds to the overall experience.

The ACMG X Helly Hansen Mentorship Program played a key role in your development as a guide. What did the experience offer you that traditional training programs might not have?

The Helly Hansen program offered the opportunity to learn from highly experienced guides in a professional setting without the pressure of a traditional course or training program. Typically an experience like that is expensive and takes the form of a course or exam where the stress is high and the outcome is highly important. With the Helly Hansen program, these factors were removed, allowing me to really focus on the learning process. 

You’ve described education as access. How do you think mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities like this can help break down barriers for more women and underrepresented groups in the outdoor industry?

I think women and others from underrepresented groups who want to be a part of the outdoor industry, often just need the encouragement to take that first step. Early in my career there were a few key people who I remember to this day. These people encouraged me and believed in me (and I dearly hope they know who they are if they read this). They made more of a difference to me than they will ever know. Don’t ever doubt the significance of a word of encouragement or a small act showing you believe in someone’s ability. That is often all it takes to remove the lingering doubt that holds people back in these underrepresented groups. It is hard to make the leap in your mind and envision yourself as a successful guide when you don’t see others like yourself guiding, or don’t come from a background where guiding was even known to exist as a career. Hands on learning opportunities and mentorship is extremely important in making a difference at all stages of a career like guiding, but can be especially impactful to women and underrepresented groups. The more one learns, the more confidence one gains to continue along that same path of learning. If they can’t see others like them doing it before them, the next best thing is to see themselves trying and succeeding (even in small ways), and this is where mentorship is key. 

What were some of the biggest takeaways from training under seasoned ACMG guides, and how have you applied those lessons to your own guiding practice?

Many technical skills are learned in the process of becoming a guide, but the skills that serve me on a daily basis are the ones learned in golden moments of clarity from people much more experienced than myself. One that comes to mind is the reminder to “slow down and take your time.” This may seem simple and obvious, but when you’re guiding there is a lot of pressure to be the expert and know what to do in any given moment right away. It turns out a lot of this pressure is self-imposed, and the reality is that the mountains have been here for millennia and can wait another few minutes for you to figure out the best and safest approach. Usually the people I’m guiding also appreciate a moment to truly enjoy and absorb the incredible place that they are in. Slowing down when needed is always a benefit, rarely a problem, and like many lessons learnt from guiding: a great approach that is applicable to everyday life as well! 

Technical apparel is a major part of performing safely and comfortably in extreme environments. How has being equipped with top-tier Helly Hansen gear impacted your confidence and ability in the field?

Having good quality and reliable gear is extremely important while guiding. The Helly Hansen gear I was provided with for the mentorship program was both of these things. I didn’t need to worry about warmth, waterproofness, breathability, or comfort. The gear performed well in all of these ways. I could focus on the learning process and refining my skills within the unique experience that the program offered.

Looking ahead, what changes would you like to see in the guiding world—particularly in northern and remote areas like the Yukon—to support more diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in mountain leadership?

It would be incredible if educational courses and mentorship programs like the Helly Hansen program were offered in northern and remote areas. For me, a large part of the challenge in obtaining guiding certification living in the north was the significant travel involved in order to attend courses and exams. Programs such as these are traditionally offered in ski town mecca’s. Unsurprisingly, the Hally Hansen program was no exception, taking place in Revelstoke, BC. Bringing courses and programs to the North would dramatically increase accessibility to learning and would make a huge difference to those living in remote areas wanting to become involved in mountain leadership. As I move forward with my guiding career I hope to increase accessibility in creative ways, like offering mentorship based guided ski adventures to those who might have great ideas but want someone with a high level of experience to help them make it happen. I’ve had many people, often women, approach me over the years I worked to obtain my ACMG certification, asking if I could instruct crevasse rescue to them and their group of friends, or help them plan a trip across a remote icefield. There is a lot of creativity within the community and a natural urge to push the boundaries of adventure in the north. I hope to facilitate that by “leading from behind” and facilitating opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups to advance their skills and explore their capacity within mountain leadership. There is a certain magic in women learning from women, and the potential for fun and adventure along the way is huge.