About the people at Sawatch Backcountry

Heather and Rob moved to Leadville in 1997 from State College, Pennsylvania. They quickly fell in love with the town, the landscape and the incredible access to recreation. Ten years later, in July, 2007 they opened Sawatch Backcountry in downtown Leadville to provide clothing, gear, and equipment for the many outdoor activities the region has to offer.

Heather Glyde, Owner - Heather spent 12 years in the outdoor business before opening Sawatch Backcountry and thrives on the energy and interactions with the folks she has run across over the years. She has had tele on the brain since the first time she saw a wobbly telemark skier at Tussey Mountain, PA in the 80’s. Tele has come a long way since then, but at its core it still comes down to the fact that it is just freakin’ fun! Heather also loves hiking, and running rivers and riding powder with husband Rob. She has loved winter and mountains as long as she can recall.

Rob Sickler, Owner - Robert is a fount of knowledge on all things rafting...  Whether you are purchasing your first oar rig or planning a Cataract trip...Rob can help you decide which set up would suit you best, tell you the ins and outs of all the accompanying gear options, educate you on river ethics and teach you how to prep food for 12 people for 10 days and still have cocktail ice left at the end;) Rob also keeps the physical aspects of Sawatch running smoothly and keeps Heather sane.


Geoff Guthrie - If you are looking for great places to hike, bike or ski during your visit to Leadville, come and pick Geoff’s brain.  A certified map geek, he will happily breakout the maps and help you pick a route to suit your needs.  When Geoff isn’t at Sawatch keeping things organized or managing his menagerie (2 dogs, 2 cats and chickens….yeah…chickens) he can be found pedaling all over the Arkansas Valley , exploring with wife Marika or skiing Leadville’s eastside with canine sidekicks Lulu and Banjo.

Christine Dishman - If tele turns are your style, talk to Christine.  Christine exemplifies the smooth and beautiful of telemark and sports the grin to prove she’s feelin’ it.  Christine has patrolled at Hilltop, Alaska and Sunlight and Ski Cooper, Colorado.  When she’s not making turns or keeping us in line at Sawatch, Christine is an instructor at Ski Cooper and is pursuing a nursing degree.




Matt Barrett - Matt, a motivated skier, has racked up more miles on AT gear than most people twice his tender age. He can help you figure out the pros and cons of various gear combinations and is super- enthusiastic whether you are just starting out or have years under your belt.  During our brief but incredibly sweet summer Matt is also constantly out exploring our trails via bicycle and can help you figure out where to spend your time in the Arkansas Valley.



Kip Davis - Kip moonlights for Sawatch when he isn’t working hard as a climbing instructor for Outward Bound or the Colorado Mountain College.  We wish he was here more but love the experience and enthusiasm he brings when he is around.  Kip spends a lot of time out of country, most recently in Chamonix and is the go-to source for local ice and rock.  He also helps guide our gear choices to suit the needs of CMC.