Pat Tabor is the founding member of all Swan Mountain Outfitters companies, including Wilderness Guide School. Pat is now enjoying retirement, though he is still serving as a guide school guest instructor, teaching career development. His extensive experience in business, strategy, and marketing, gives our students career training that is not offered at any other guide school. Furthermore, Pat has created a very successful outfitting and guiding business which serves as both a model and inspiration to many of our students. He holds a Bachelor of Science, and a Masters in Business Administration degree, and was an executive in the corporate world for over 25 years before creating a group of outdoor recreation companies. Pat has taught at community colleges and universities, and has designed curriculum for specialty workshops on a variety of topics. Pat is a Wilderness EMT and is a Fellow in the Wilderness Medical Society. He is the Past President of the Professional Wilderness Outfitters Association, current President of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, and is serving on the Montana Board of Outfitters as appointed by the Governor.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Founding member, Guest Instructor,  Customer Service, Career Development, Wilderness First Aid.

Patrick Tabor has been employed with Swan Mountain Outfitters since 2008, and started on the ground floor in the Swan Division working in every company role. He has been the Swan Division manager since 2012, and is currently transitioning into company ownership. Patrick is charged with oversight of Wilderness Guide School, and it’s curriculum development, as well as all operations from the Swan Valley location. He is a leader in the company’s management team, and has lead responsibility for all of Swan Mountain Outfitters guide service divisions for over a decade. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation management from the University of Montana, and holds a current outfitters license. In his free time, he loves to hunt, fish, hike, and teach his children the raw traditions of becoming outdoors men and women. Patrick’s calming nature, and his passion for everything backcountry, gives our students an approachable resource, filled with knowledge of the outdoor recreation industry.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Owner and Outfitter, Business Management, Wrangler School, Packer’s School, Fishing & Riding Instructor

Larry Keyes earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in outdoor education and exercise science. He has conducted a wide variety of outdoor programs and classes for three universities, two colleges and several outdoor educational companies for over 30 years. He owned and operated Bear Tracker Outfitters, the Wilderness Medical & Survival Academy and Bridger Institute, which offer state of the art instruction in an array of outdoor subjects. He has lectured at a number of Wilderness Medicine and Search & Rescue conferences around the country. Larry has used his expertise in horse packing, animal tracking, hunting, wilderness survival, wilderness medicine and wild animal encounters to conduct outfitter/guides schools in three western states for the past 15 years.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Curriculum design and Program production, all areas of instruction, expert in wilderness medicine, packing, and tracking

Carl Motes-Conners is a professional whitewater guide and Rescue 3 International Water Instructor. He has been training professionals in the outdoor industry for seven years. Carl manages Great Northern Guides, overseeing fishing and whitewater rafting tours, and is also the head instructor of The Glacier River School in West Glacier, Montana. Carl works closely with many other local outfitting businesses, agencies and US military to train their personnel in technical swiftwater rescue. Certifications include: Rescue 3 International Instructor: Water, Technical Rope Rescue: Technician Level, PSIA Nordic Instructor: Level I, and a BS from the University of Montana in Nature Based Tourism.

Areas of Expertise: River Training

Jim Ford is a certified Equine Dentist with a practice that covers multiple states in the west.  He is an expert at equine health and behavioral care.  Jim resides in Wyoming but frequently travels to Montana to serve his clients and instruct at Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Lead Instructor EquineCare