Joshua Valentine
Owner and CEO/Guide/Writer and Director
Josh is a lifelong outdoor athlete, survival instructor, guide, motivational speaker, writer, and adventure film maker who's life has long been governed by his personal motto, "The adventure begins when the plan ends." His passions include mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, and whitewater kayaking, though by his own admission anything to do with the wild will grab his attention immediately.
Josh works as a freelance guide and instructor, most often for the Juggernaut Fitness Adventure Series and as the lead survival instructor at the Catskills, New York branch of the Bear Grylls Survival Academy.
Josh's writing has appeared in various publications, including Canoe and Kayak Magazine, Seattle Backpacker's Magazine, Survival Cache, and WTSHTF Blog, and his adventure film background includes working as a journey guide for an episode of NBC's "Running Wild with Bear Grylls", and co-creating, co-filming, and leading the expedition for the adventure documentary "Hope on the Horizon." He holds certifications and training as a Wilderness First Responder, in Swift Water Rescue, Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue, and Avalanche Level 1.
While his love for the wild has taken him around the globe, Josh retains a strong passion for the wilds of his native Northeast, home to his earliest and most defining adventures. Josh has navigated a canoe from the highest source of the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty, and is 19 peaks shy of having climbed the 115 highest mountains in the Northeastern United States.
Kirk Leslie
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Owner and COO/Photographer
Kirk is an adventure seeker in every aspect of his life. His "work hard, play hard" lifestyle has brought him many successes allowing for endless backcountry journeys. His resume includes a direttissima of the 48 White Mountain 4000 Footers, and an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike in 2014, and he is currently moving towards climbing all 52 Colorado 14ers. When not seeking new business opportunities, taking college classes, or disappearing into the backcountry, Kirk can be found spending time with his wife Dena and two dogs Bella and Scarlett. He currently resides in Colorado as a PE Teacher and Coach where he continues to ascend, not only mountains, but in his fulfilling life. |
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Vic Ventura
Lead Photographer/Audio/Lead Post Production/Equipment Manager
Vic is a previously sponsored snowboarder, backcountry snowboarding specialist, downhill mountain biking enthusiast, big wave surf hunter, and cave diving free diver. Graduating from Western Connecticut University with a Bachelors Degree in Communications, and an Associates Degree in Film Production from Raritan Valley Community College, Vic quickly found a natural synergy in documenting his extreme adventures in the midst of experiencing them.
Throughout his career Vic has helmed several short documentary-style films for various clients, and worked as the lead editor and camera operator on numerous corporate productions, as well as a video and photo content generator for various outdoor brands.
Vic is a previously sponsored snowboarder, backcountry snowboarding specialist, downhill mountain biking enthusiast, big wave surf hunter, and cave diving free diver. Graduating from Western Connecticut University with a Bachelors Degree in Communications, and an Associates Degree in Film Production from Raritan Valley Community College, Vic quickly found a natural synergy in documenting his extreme adventures in the midst of experiencing them.
Throughout his career Vic has helmed several short documentary-style films for various clients, and worked as the lead editor and camera operator on numerous corporate productions, as well as a video and photo content generator for various outdoor brands.
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Jake St. Pierre
Safety Guide/Assistant Photographer
Jake is an expedition leader, certified personal trainer, gym owner, and lead survival instructor in upstate New York at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy. His adventure film resume includes working as a location scout and safety guide for NBC on their popular show Running Wild with Bear Grylls, and Jake has also worked for film directors Tony and Ridley Scott in Hollywood, CA. He holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and kickboxing instructor, and holds a black belt in Kempo Karate.
Jake started his gym Juggernaut Fitness in 2011, as a side job to a career in Law Enforcement to help fellow officers get in shape and pass the physical fitness tests required for employment. Things took off from there. Jake quit his job in Law Enforcement after receiving an invitation to go to Mt Everest and Lhotse as a member of the American Climber Science Program in 2014. He was chosen for the climbing team to assist with climate change research at the top of the world. After 5 visits to Nepal, Jake now guide teams on treks and climbs in the Himalaya, on top of running a busy gym and teaching the public to survive in the wild. The outdoors are Jake's passion, and he loves helping people step out of their comfort zones to do something they might not think they could do.
Jake is an expedition leader, certified personal trainer, gym owner, and lead survival instructor in upstate New York at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy. His adventure film resume includes working as a location scout and safety guide for NBC on their popular show Running Wild with Bear Grylls, and Jake has also worked for film directors Tony and Ridley Scott in Hollywood, CA. He holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and kickboxing instructor, and holds a black belt in Kempo Karate.
Jake started his gym Juggernaut Fitness in 2011, as a side job to a career in Law Enforcement to help fellow officers get in shape and pass the physical fitness tests required for employment. Things took off from there. Jake quit his job in Law Enforcement after receiving an invitation to go to Mt Everest and Lhotse as a member of the American Climber Science Program in 2014. He was chosen for the climbing team to assist with climate change research at the top of the world. After 5 visits to Nepal, Jake now guide teams on treks and climbs in the Himalaya, on top of running a busy gym and teaching the public to survive in the wild. The outdoors are Jake's passion, and he loves helping people step out of their comfort zones to do something they might not think they could do.
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Jake Valentine
Musical Composition and Production
Jake Valentine has been a musician for over seventeen years, his musical training began on the guitar at the age of nine and since then has expanded to include singing, bass guitar, and piano. Jake’s formal music training for the first eight years was of a Jazz and Blues origin, and as he progressed he eventually sought private classical training and also attended William Paterson University for Classical education. He has been composing original works throughout the entirety of his musical career, most recently 2015 writing and recording an original six song EP in 2015, in addition to filming and editing several music videos of his original compositions. Having always had an interest in film, combining music with imagery and stories very quickly became a natural fit for Jake, who enjoys the ability to create sounds that enhance and expand the experience of the viewer.
Jake Valentine has been a musician for over seventeen years, his musical training began on the guitar at the age of nine and since then has expanded to include singing, bass guitar, and piano. Jake’s formal music training for the first eight years was of a Jazz and Blues origin, and as he progressed he eventually sought private classical training and also attended William Paterson University for Classical education. He has been composing original works throughout the entirety of his musical career, most recently 2015 writing and recording an original six song EP in 2015, in addition to filming and editing several music videos of his original compositions. Having always had an interest in film, combining music with imagery and stories very quickly became a natural fit for Jake, who enjoys the ability to create sounds that enhance and expand the experience of the viewer.
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