Guides Overview

Old Faithful Tours’ 5 guides are all Jackson Hole locals who have been with us for several years and take great pride in their job. Our guides have extensive training and local knowledge of Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding areas. Our guides take pride in making sure that you have a fun, safe and educational tour.

Guides’ Bios

Tom Toolson

Tom was born in Billings, Montana, in 1951. Born in Montana and raised in Jackson Hole, he has spent a lifetime exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks as well as the surrounding forest and wilderness. More than 30 years as a hunting and fishing outfitter has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Tom has been a snowmobile guide in Yellowstone for over 20 years.

Almost 35 years as a volunteer fireman has given Tom deep training in emergency situations, and he is a certified medical trainee.

Jon Toolson

Jon is a fifth-generation Jackson Hole native who was born here in 1974. Jon’s first professional guiding license was issued in 1993, when he started guiding summer and fall trips in the area. Jon started guiding snowmobile trips into Yellowstone in the winter of 1995–1996. He started guiding overnight trips the second year and still loves guiding today. “In all these years,” he says, “I don’t believe I have gone on two trips that were the exact same. I really enjoy reading and learning new things about Yellowstone and its changes from day to day and year to year to pass on to my clients to make sure they leave their Yellowstone vacation with more knowledge than they came with.”

Joseph Meeks

Joe has spent the past 14 years guiding in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. He is a fifth-generation Jackson native who was born here in 1981. Joe’s parents, Noel and Tammie Meeks, started Old Faithful Snowmobile Tours in 1987. Having grown up around the snowmobile industry, guiding was an easy decision for Joe. “From my great grandmother entering Yellowstone in a sleigh in the early 1900s,” says Joe, “to my parents operating a snowmobile business, I feel lucky to be able to share my knowledge of this amazing place.”

Thomas Watsabaugh

Thomas grew up in western Wyoming as a fourth generation resident in the greater Yellowstone area, after being born in Jackson in 1987. Thomas earned a double major in college: education and physical geography. With both of these degrees, he is able to communicate with and educate his visitors in a variety of ways so that he can help them see the richer level of detail that is available in Yellowstone. Thomas has worked for Jon Toolson for the summer, fall and winter business for the past 10 years. “I enjoy working for Old Faithful Snowmobile Tours because it is locally owned and operated,” says Thomas.

Tony Mayer

Tony was born in 1976 in Jackson, Wyoming, and his family has been in the Jackson area for four generations. Tony started working with outfitters at the age of 19, and has worked at different times for outfitters in all seasons: snowmobile trips in the winter months, horseback pack trips in the summer months, and big game hunts in the fall. He has 14 years of experience guiding snowmobiles inside and outside of the Park.

“Given my deep respect for Yellowstone, I strive to give my guests the best experience and hope to send them home with a deeper understanding of all aspects of the workings and natural features of the Park. My hope as a native to the area is to educate and share one of our most valuable treasures, Yellowstone National Park,” says Tony.