JBY

Missoula, MT

I'm Marc Peruzzi, founder of JBY — the Jewel Basin Yurt — where I guide backcountry skiing in the mountains around Missoula, Montana. A full IFMGA Mountain Guide with 25 years of backcountry skiing experience, I bring the highest level of professional certification to every trip I lead. My guiding philosophy centers on a conditions-over-position approach: I match clients to terrain they're truly suited for, prioritizing smart decision-making over chasing lines that might be beyond their comfort zone or safety threshold. The Jewel Basin itself offers remarkable versatility: through an area known as the Notch, guests can access true alpine terrain when conditions allow, or drop into lower-angle old-growth forest when avalanche danger calls for a more conservative day — meaning there's always a great option, no matter what the mountains serve up. I also guide clients out the backcountry gates at Montana Snowbowl, located in the Rattlesnake Range just outside Missoula. When it comes to gear, I'm an affiliate partner with Blizzard Tecnica and ski on the Blizzard Zero G 108 — the right width for Montana's variable snowpack, offering enough flotation for crusty layers without being overkill — paired with Tecnica Zero G Pro Tour 130 boots. I also use Arcteryx avalanche airbags for myself and all my guests, because client safety isn't something I compromise on.