Leadership and Administrative Staff
Jason D. Martin, Executive Director
AAI Tenured Guide, AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program Provider, Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council
Jason oversees the day-to-day operations at AAI. He joined the Institute as a guide in the year 2000 and moved into an administrative position in 2008. He took over as director of the organization in 2019. In addition to his work at AAI, Jason currently serves on the Mt. Erie Climbing Committee for the city of Anacortes and volunteers for the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council as a volunteer rescuer and previously, as the president of the organization's Board. He served as the technical director for the annual Red Rock Rendezvous climbing festival and served on both the Board of Directors for the American Mountain Guides Association and the Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council. Jason has guided in Red Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, the Cascades, the Sierra, the Alaska Range, in Canada's Coast Range and in the Andes of Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Jason is a playwright, film critic and outdoor adventure writer. He co-authored 'Washington Ice: A Climbing Guide' and 'Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual," and authored 'Fun Climbs Red Rocks: Topropes and Moderates,' 'Best Climbs: Red Rocks,' and 'Rock Climbing and Bouldering in the Chuckanut Mountains.' AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide, Leave No Trace Master Educator, Rope Rescue Technician, and International Technical Rescue Association Level 3 Rope Instructor.
Dunham Gooding, President Emeritus
Past President of the American Mountain Guides Association
Past President of the Outdoor Industry Association, Past US Representative to the IFMGA
Since founding the Institute in 1975, Dunham has taught courses and guided expeditions in the Cascades, Canada, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Patagonia. Dunham has climbed extensively throughout North and South America, with new routes in the Cascades and first ascents in Bolivia and Alaska. As US representative to the UIAGM, he was instrumental in gaining admittance of AMGA to that international body. Over the years, Dunham has served on wilderness management and wilderness policy task forces in this country and in Chile, as chairman of the American Climbing Sports Group, chairman of the National Summit Committee on Mountain Rescue, president of the American Mountain Guides Association, and president of the Outdoor Industry Association.
Guy Cotter, Director of Adventure Consultants
IFMGA Certified Guide
Four-Time Mt. Everest Summiteer
While he handles a wide range of responsibilities as director of Adventure Consultants in New Zealand, our southern hemisphere alliance partner, Guy very much enjoys his extensive work as a mountain guide. An IFMGA certified guide, Guy has 30 years of experience and has led over twenty-three major expeditions around the globe including four ascents of Mt Everest. His recent exploits include Everest, Makalu, new routes on Mt Aspiring and the Balfour Face of Mount Tasman in NZ, an Antarctic Peninsula Expedition and riding a horse to Mustang in Nepal. He first climbed Mt. Everest in 1992, completed the Seven Summits in 2005, and was happy to lead his fifth Vinson Massif Expedition in 2006.
Mike Powers, Director of Staff Development and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and IFMGA Certified Guide
Past Technical Director of the AMGA
Michael oversees the training and continuing education of climbing, mountaineering and ski guides at the Institute and manages the annual three-week guide training program. He has led programs in the Cascades, Ouray, Joshua Tree, Red Rock, Alaska, Canada, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, and Switzerland. He is an IFMGA certified guide and has completed numerous rock and ice routes at a high standard in Switzerland, New Zealand, Nepal, Alaska, and the western U.S. He has also served as chairman of the AMGA Technical Committee and director of America's national guide certification program. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Tom Kirby, Assistant Director for IT & Marketing and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Tom manages information technology for the Institute and guides in the Cascades, Alaska, and the Southwest. Tom has been climbing since 1980, first on crags in Virginia and New Hampshire, then eventually all over the western U.S., including Colorado, the Tetons, and the Cascades. He has worked in a variety of jobs in education, publishing, software development, and the outdoor industry. He holds a BA in English, the only language he speaks fluently - though he speaks some Spanish as well.
James Pierson, Assistant Director for Operations
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician and Certified Personal Protective Equipment Competent Person
James works with climbers on trip selection and preparation for our Cascade Programs. Although he was born in Kansas, he was bit by the Mountain Bug when he went to high school just south of Jackson Hole, WY. After college and working in Colorado as a snowboarding instructor, he moved to the Olympia area, joined the Mountaineers and started climbing. Since then he has climbed throughout Washington, Oregon, Eastern Sierra and Red Rocks, as well as ice climbing trips to Colorado, Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta. James also enjoys skiing in the winter, kiteboarding in the summer and speaks a little German on the side.
Krista Eytchison, Program Coordinator, Bookkeeper and Backpacking Instructor
A native of Washington state, Krista has logged numerous ascents in the North Cascades, Red Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, and in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. She is an avid outdoorswoman and a former elementary art teacher. She is a graduate of liberal arts from Western Washington University and arts education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking, snowshoeing, climbing, arts, crafts, yoga, tap dancing, road trips, and exploring the outdoors with her family. She has coordinated AAI’s programs in the desert Southwest, the Sierra Nevada, Asia and the European Alps and instructs Leave No Trace, snowshoeing and backpacking programs. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Erin-Leigh Hardy, Vocational School & Permitting Manager, and J.E.D.I. Coordinator
Erin-Leigh's backcountry experience started in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at the ripe young age of 6-months-old (with the assistance of their father). Since Erin-Leigh's first outing, they have been constantly active in the outdoor community. With a B.S. in Natural Resources Management, Erin-Leigh has worked as a guide, ridge runner and outdoor educator in the White Mountain National Forest and Acadia National Park, as well as having worked as an Environmental Scientist throughout rural Alaska. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Tali Levin, Alaska and Seven Summits Manager and Guide
Tali manages our Alaska Range programs and expeditions, along with the Seven Summits. Tali found her passion for mountain climbing on the glaciers of Mt. Rainier, and she honed her technical skills north of the border, dividing her time between granite splitters in Squamish, skiing pow in Whistler, and traveling to spend time climbing ice in the Canadian Rockies, alpine rock the Bugaboos, big walls in Yosemite, desert rock in Utah and Nevada, and more. Now based in Bellingham, Tali is passionate about providing high quality mountain education and guiding. She holds an Interdisciplinary BA in Gender, Social, and Environmental Justice in Outdoor Recreation from Western Washington University. Guides in Washington, Alaska, Nevada, and Canada. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Piper McCarthy, Satellite Programs Manager
Piper manages all of our programs in Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, and S. America. Being a Colorado native, she loves to get outside whenever she can to rock climb, mountaineer, snowboard, or hike. Piper graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and is very passionate about conservation and education.
Lacey Scottum, Pacific Northwest Programs Coordinator
Lacey has been drawn to the outdoors since she was little. She loves trail running, rock climbing, mountaineering, splitboarding, backpacking, and kayaking. In 2019, Lacey was the recipient of the Trail Sisters Adventure Grant. She attempted the FKT of the Superior Hiking Trail, a 310-mi trail in northern MN. Her endeavor got cut short due to a good ole stress fracture, but it was an amazing life experience nonetheless. In 2020, Lacey and her family moved to Washington just to be closer to the mountains, their veritable playground. There isn’t a day off that they aren’t having some adventure in the wilderness. She loves being a part of AAI and being able to use her passion for the outdoors to help others achieve their adventure goals.
Elias Jordan, Programs Assistant & Guide
AAI Tenured Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
ITRA Level III Rope Rescue Instructor
Elias helps manage our satellite programs in the Desert Southwest, the Sierra Nevada range, South America, & Colorado. He began climbing while attending the University of Arizona for Astrophysics. Elias also guides programs for AAI throughout the US and internationally, he is an accomplished mountain runner, a volunteer firefighter, an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, LNT Master Educator, National Registry EMT, a wilderness medical instructor, and an ITRA Level 3 Rope Rescue Instructor.
Lisa Greif, Travel Coordinator
Arranging travel itineraries for AAI climbers on both domestic and international programs occupies most of Lisa's time, but she also works with the hotels and transportation providers in the foreign countries where AAI operates, and makes travel arrangements for the Institute's staff members. She has extensive experience in the airline industry and has past experience working for an international tour operator. Her formal training is in tourism and travel administration.
Alan Oram, D.O., Medical and High Altitude Advisor
Board Certified Doctor of Emergency Medicine
IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Alan is a board certified Emergency Medicine Physician and serves as medical advisor to the American Alpine Institute. In addition to practicing emergency medicine, Alan is an AMGA certified Rock, Alpine and Ski Guide. Alan has climbed and skied throughout North America including multiple trips to the Alaska range, extensive ski touring in Canada and skiing and climbing in Europe. He works in Jackson, Wyoming and provides medical advice to mountain guides as well as serving as the medical advisor to the American Mountain Guides Association. He has special interest in mountain medicine as it relates to altitude and the value of providing guides with up-to-date information and on providing medical care in remote environments.
Frank James, M.D, Advisor in Travel Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Public Health
A specialist in travel medicine, infectious diseases, and public health, noted for his research in vaccine preventable diseases. Frank has run an international travel clinic for many years and served as health officer and director of a county health department in Washington. He is the editor of the widely acclaimed book The Medical Consequences of Nuclear War and directed a Kellogg Foundation grant and demonstration project on improving community health through sports. He is an avid climber, skier, snowboarder, and mountain biker.
Eric B. Larson, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Advisor
Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Washington
Executive Director and Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Health Research Institute
Oversees AAI's research in high altitude physiology and response to high altitude illness and serves as the Institute's lead medical advisor. He is the author of Mountain Illness: Medical Problems of Altitude and Exposure. Eric is executive director of Group Health Center for Health Studies; on the Board of Regents, American College of Physicians; member of the Institute of Medicine. He is an accomplished ski mountaineer and climber with ascents throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Shop Staff
Adam Zukowski, Equipment Shop Manager
Adam has been with AAI since 2022, outfitting program participants and recommending gear for all sorts of adventures. Outside of the shop Adam can usually be found somewhere in the North Cascades tied to a rope or attached to some skis. He is a Washington native that is reluctant to go elsewhere due to his love of bushwhacking and Devil's Club. His educational background is in Chemistry and Business Management from Western Washington University. Come into the shop and he will be happy to chat gear for as long as you can handle!
Mike Madsen, Assistant Shop Manager
Mike grew up on the flat plains of South Dakota. After a 2011 Himalayan Mountaineering course by NOLS Mike was hooked! He attended Black Hills State University majoring in mass communications. Mike says, “I was raised in the farmlands of South Dakota and braised in the rains of the Cascade Mountains of Washington. He is a member and still active in The American Alpine Club, Trout Unlimited, Access Fund and Black Hills Climbers Coalition. When not climbing Mike enjoys spending time with family, fishing, coffee, food, and mountaineering literature.
Tom Anastasio, Senior Equipment Specialist & Fleet Manager
Tom has been with AAI since 2012, outfitting clients for climbs and managing the Institute's fleet of vans. His previous eight-year stint with a large national outfitter gave him a wealth of gear knowledge that he uses to help outfit clients for courses. An avid backpacker and mountaineer, Tom has summited Mount Baker with AAI five times out of six attempts. Outside of AAI, Tom is a professional bassist, performing and recording in many musical styles.
Instructors and Guides
Joel Anderson, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Joel grew up in central Idaho, where he learned to love and appreciate the outdoors while spending his first summers in a fire lookout tower. Now, he spends most of his summers working with helicopters as a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service. Joel gained a passion for teaching by working as a ski and snowboard instructor for 15 years. At the age of 23, climbing entered his life and he quickly became passionate about all aspects, including rock, ice, and alpine climbing. Joel began guiding while working for a gap year academy where he took young adults backcountry skiing and climbing. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Jaime Avila, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. Jaime has successfully guided expeditions in every country of the Andes, including ascents of Aconcagua, multiple peaks in Bolivia, Alpamayo and Huascaran in Peru, several other lesser-known peaks in the Andes, and numerous ascents of all the peaks of Ecuador. His guiding has also taken him to Denali, and his personal climbing to a successful ascent of Ama Dablam, Manaslu, Cho Oyu. As well as an attempt on Everest in 2016. Speaks English and Spanish.
Isaac Bernstein, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Ice Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Canada. Isaac has spent much of his late teen years and early adulthood exploring the mountains of the United States. Isaac went to school in Johnson, Vermont and studied Outdoor Education and Wilderness Leadership. During the last few years of college he began his journey in the guiding/instructing world. Isaac has spent time living, climbing and guiding in Colorado, Utah, California, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington as well as his home base regions in the North East - the White Mountains, the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. Isaac is most passionate about sharing the mountain environment with his guests, not only to guide them but to teach them as well. His passion for teaching and for the mountains pair together perfectly for the profession of mountain guiding. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Noah Besen, Instructor and Guide
ACMG Certified Rock Guide
Guides in Washington, Nevada and California. Noah grew up in Massachusetts and learned his love of the outdoors and all things wild on the icey mountains of New Hampshire. His first passion was ski racing, but that blossomed into rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. After he moved west Noah got his start rock guiding in Squamish B.C. and now travels the world looking for new and wild walls to climb. He also loves to share his knowledge and passion for all things climbing, empowering people to have new and life changing experiences. Leave No Trace Trainer.
George Bieker, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician
Guides in Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Alaska, Arkansas, Canada and Africa. George was born and raised down south in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has been guiding since 2010 and climbing since 2008. He holds a Masters in Higher Education and a Bachelors in Outdoor Recreation. Passions include; climbing, teaching, cosmology, writing, and health & wellness. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Sam Boyce, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Rope Rescue Technician
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Sam is a Washington local. He grew up backpacking and scrambling in the Cascades. He has climbed extensively in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and in the Desert Southwest. A prolific first ascentionist, he spends his free time aid soloing big chossy towers and skiing deep powder. Sam is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Rope Rescue Technician and a Leave No Trace Trainer.
Dustin Byrne, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, Alaska and Canada. Dustin has climbed extensively in the Cascades, Alaska, and the Sierra. In his off time he enjoys climbing, skiing, and writing. Dustin is a is a Level I AIARE instructor, a Leave No Trace Master Educator and an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide.
Jason Camacho, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Before starting his career as a guide, Jason served in 1st Ranger Battalion and earned a BS in Petroleum Engineering. After completing his military service and graduating from college graduating, he and his his wife spent three years climbing and skiing full-time together in the Cascades, the Tetons, the Sierras, and in Chamonix. When he’s not in the mountains; he likes Dungeons and Dragons, Nintendo, and reading authors like Cormac McCarthy, Alan Watts, and Phillip K. Dick. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Emily Cavanagh, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Emily has worked in outdoor education since 2015 and has a deep appreciation for the transformative power of wild places. She works predominantly in snow covered, alpine or glaciated environments, whether in boots, snowshoes or on skis. She is passionate about the empowering potential of expeditions, as folks gain competence and confidence through skill building and hands on experience with risk assessment and decision making, and are therefore more equipped to handle a variety of challenges in everyday life. Emily is originally from New York state but has been a nomad since graduating from Vermont’s Middlebury College as a ‘Feb’ in early 2015. Some of her favorite life highlights include bike touring the length of New Zealand, instructing a 30 day course on the Chilean Patagonia Northern Ice Field and milking goats for a season in Taos, New Mexico. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Lani Chapko, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Guides in Washington, Nevada, California, Colorado and Canada. Lani was born and raised in Seattle with the Cascades as a backdrop. She can usually be found climbing between the Cascades, Sierras and the Desert Southwest. Her love for travel and experiencing new terrain has taken her to places such as Nepal and Ecuador. She has a degree in engineering and loves "nerding out" about climbing systems and gear. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Thomas Chapman, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado and Canada. Hailing from the flatlands of Florida, Thomas started his climbing career on southeastern stone in North Carolina and Tennessee. Building up his skills for climbing in the western U.S and abroad. He began guiding for summer camps in western NC and for his university outing program in Sewanee, Tennessee. He has since moved west to climb, ski, and guide on bigger and grander adventures. In addition to working as a climbing guide, Thomas also works as a ski instructor for people with disabilities in the winter months. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Abraham Chuquirmaca, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Abraham has been a member of ASEGUIM -- the Ecuadorian guide association -- since 2003 and serves as a senior member and leader on Ecuador's national mountain rescue team. Abraham grew up in a small village in the shadow of Antisana and is steeped in Andean culture. He enjoys sharing this culture with those that he climbs with. Speaks English and Spanish.
Chad Cochran, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide, AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
Rope Rescue Technician
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska, Bolivia and China. Originally from the Eastern United States, Chad has climbed and guided throughout the lower 48 as well as traveling south to explore Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. He holds a degree in Recreation and Parks Management. Chad is a Leave No Trace Master Educator, an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide, and a Rope Rescue Technician.
Jared Drapala, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide
AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
Guides in Washington, California, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska and Canada. Jared is originally from Upstate New York and was introduced to climbing in the Adirondacks. He continued to pursue rock and ice climbing while in college in Vermont. He also led climbing trips while in college for the school's Outing Club. His personal climbing has taken him to Alaska, the Tetons, Wind Rivers, the Sierra, and various parts of the Southwest. He has a degree in Economics. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Ross Erickson, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Canada. Growing up in the vast plains of Illinois, Ross had dreams of being high in the mountains. He wanted to have everything on his back, scaling walls of stone with grand views and nights under the stars. He made that dream a reality through the Boy Scouts. He quickly gained skills and a love for stewardship. In 2010, he moved to Denver and immersed himself in the mountains. Since then he's thru hiked multiple trails, climbed ice, alpine rock, desert towers, and vertically camped on the big walls of Yosemite. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Tamsin Fitzgerald, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Originally from New Zealand, Tammy is a keen skier, climber and boater. After completing a Masters in Entrepreneurship, Tammy took off to guide her way around the world - working and living in China, Australia, Hong Kong, USA, NZ, Thailand, India and the Virgin Islands. In the winter, Tammy works as a certified ski instructor in Colorado. Fun Facts: Tammy joined the New Zealand Army at 18 to help pay for college, and if she’s not adventuring or working, Tamsin is probably eating. Loves snacks, hates raisins. PSIA Certified Ski Instructor, Leave No Trace Trainer
Alexander Fletcher, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician
Guides in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, and Washington. Alex grew up in the south and started climbing in Arkansas before moving west to join the Marine Corps. A long-standing desire to pursue colder climates and higher elevations brought Alex to summit peaks in the Sierra, Cascade, Sawtooth, Bugaboo, and Teton mountain ranges. Alex has climbed in nine U.S. states as well as in Mexico, Canada, Thailand, and Spain. Alex is a Certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Leave No Trace Trainer, and Rope Rescue Technician.
Alejandra Garces, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
ITRA Level 1 Rope Rescue Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Ecuador and Canada. Alejandra grew up climbing from a young age with her family in Ecuador and with her wonderful parents. A graduate of Texas Christian University, she holds a degree in Latin American Ethnohistory and Archaeology. Alejandra has been guiding since 2011 and enjoys climbing rock, ice, mixed, and alpine. She has enjoyed trekking, canyoning, and exploring the mountains throughout the US and the South American Andes since the late 90’s. Her passion is to facilitate learning and create a healthy and safe environment to experience the vertical world in. She aims to help others realize their potential and accomplish the endeavors they hope to experience. In her free time, she also loves to cook, go dancing, sing/make music with friends, freedive, and research Agriculture and Archaeology. AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Rock Guide, Certified Single Pitch Instructor, ITRA Level 1 Rope Rescue Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Level 1, Leave No Trace Trainer. Bi-lingual in Spanish and English.
Ben Gardner, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and IFMGA Certified Guide
AIARE Avalanche Instructor, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program Provider
Guides in Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Alaska and Canada. Ben began his career as a climbing guide in Durango, Colorado in 2004. Since then he has worked throughout the US. Ben spent seven years working for Outward Bound in North Carolina, the Florida Everglades, and Patagonia. As an instructor and climbing specialist he ran wilderness courses ranging from 2 to 72 days in length. In 2008, Ben became the Chief Climbing Instructor at the North Carolina School and for three years, he directed all aspects of the climbing and high ropes programs, including all technical training for staff. He currently spends the summers guiding in the Cascades, the spring and fall climbing rock throughout the West, and his winters ice climbing and skiing in Colorado. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Ramiro Garrido, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Ramiro has been climbing since he was eleven and made many ascents of most all the mountains in Ecuador. He has also enjoyed climbing and guiding in Peru and Bolivia and on Aconcagua. He loves to share his two main passions in life, mountaineering and outdoor video filming.
Adam Gellman, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington and Canada. Adam grew up in the urban sprawl of New York City but escaped to the woods of the Northeast as soon as he could. There he found his love for teaching climbing as well as the gritty New England sport of ice climbing. After spending a few seasons bouncing back and forth between the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska and the Green Mountains of Vermont, Adam moved to the Cascades to continue to work as a guide and educator. When he is not in the mountains, he enjoys playing folk music and woodcarving. Emergency Medical Technician. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Higinio "Quino" Gonzalez, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Guides in the Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Alaska. Previously he also guided in Antarctica, Chile, Peru, and Pakistan. Quino summited Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I in Pakistan and has climbed extensively in Canada, Alaska, Patagonia, the Himalayas, and the United States. He guides in rock, alpine, and ski terrain and specializes in technical ice and mixed ascents. Quino has an academic background in journalism and a graduate degree in political science. Additionally, he is a certified translator. Speaks Spanish and French.
Will Gordon, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide
AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
Guides in Washington, Alaska, Canada, Colorado, Nevada and California. Will grew up climbing on the run-out granite slabs in the Southeast. Since then, he has climbed and guided throughout the Lower 48, Alaska and Canada. He has lived at least partly in Colorado for the past decade and continues to choose quality over quantity when it comes to snow. In the winters he is a ski patroller at Breckenridge Ski Resort. BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado. AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide, Leave No Trace Trainer, Outdoor Emergency Care and EMT.
Katie Griffith, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Katie has made the mountain environment her classroom since 2011. Whether supporting nervous sixth graders as they learn how to rappel, skiing with veterans in Utah, or working through terrain management decisions with high school leaders, Katie loves facilitating experiences in the mountains that stretch comfort zones and encourage growth. The Cascades are her backyard climbing destination of choice, especially long alpine routes in the North Cascades; but she's always scheming trips to climb in Squamish, Smith Rock, or the Desert Southwest. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Ryan Harris, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Canada. Ryan grew up in the front range of Colorado, and spent that time snowboarding, climbing, and exploring the mountains at his front door. This quickly turned into a passion for the outdoors which led him to seek out professional certification specifically in rock climbing and avalanche education. You can find Ryan at any of the climbing areas in the front range and further, such as Eldorado Canyon, Boulder Banyon, and the famous Rocky Mountain National Park. In Ryan's eyes the best part of guiding is seeing people turn their interest in outdoor recreation into a passion, and loves to be the person to help that process. Leave No Trace Trainer
Tavish Hansen, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Washington born and raised, Tavish fell in love with climbing at Smith Rock, Index, Leavenworth, and the mountains of the Cascades in high school, going on to find a passion for teaching climbing skills and sharing experiences in the mountains with others. He is now chasing the dream of guiding and climbing full time, following good weather between the Pacific Northwest and Desert Southwest.
Angela Henderson, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician and AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in the Washington, California, Nevada, and Canada. Originally from Southeast Alaska, Angela spent several years climbing and teaching outdoor education throughout California and Colorado for Outward Bound and other schools. She has also spent the winters traveling internationally to climbing destinations in South America, Southeast Asia, and Mexico. She holds a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Spanish. Leave No Trace Trainer and Rope Rescue Technician.
Julie Ann Holder, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington. From the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Julie Ann first discovered her passion for the outdoors in scaling the sandstone cliffs of the Southeastern U.S. She has since sharpened her climbing and instructing skills on rock, snow, and glaciers, from as far north as Alaska to the far southern border of the Peruvian Andes. Julie Ann’s playful enthusiasm and focused determination are immediately evident in her infectious smile and boundless motivation, regardless of the situation. Currently based out of Bozeman, Montana, she spends her winters ski patrolling the steep chutes and rocky flanks of Big Sky’s Lone Mountain. BA in Outdoor Experiential Education. AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness EMT, AAA Avalanche Level One. Speaks Spanish and English. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Cameron Hygate, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska and Canada. Cameron grew up in Southern California but traded sunny beaches and warm temperatures for the cold rugged mountains of Alaska. He began his climbing career on small sea cliffs just outside Juneau Alaska and quickly took those fundamental skills to larger venues such as the Mendenhall Towers, Harding Icefield, Chugach Mountains, and Hayes Range. In addition to a deep love for snow, ice, and the cold, Cameron also has a great affinity for desert rock climbing in Nevada and Utah. Cameron is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, NREMT certified EMT-B, and Leave No Trace Trainer.
Wesley Jones, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Wesley is from Bloomington, Indiana and moved out to the Pacific Northwest in 2013 after studying geological sciences at Indiana University. He has been a raft and fly fishing guide since 2011. Wesley currently works as a pro snowboard patroller for Mt Bachelor in Bend, Oregon. Wesley has spent years traveling the west pursuing his passion for Splitboarding and climbing in alpine environments. NREMT. No Trace Trainer.
Parker Kempf, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in North Carolina, California, Washington. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Parker has spent the last 14 years of his life climbing rock, ice and snow all over the world. He has taken the AMGA SPI, Rock Guide, and Ice Instructor courses with plans to further his training in all disciplines. He enjoys epically long runs, big link-ups, and cragging with his crusher wife Julia and his 2 Chihuahuas, Zoe and Sam. If you are ever low on stoke, he has plenty to go around.
Andrew Krause, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada and Canada. Andrew hails from the great frozen Northeast. He grew up as a competitive runner and climber then quickly fell in love with many outdoor pursuits. After guiding in New England for 8 years he made his way to the West coast in search of new mountains and experiences. Andrew has a passion for education and the simplicity of outdoor pursuits. Leave No Trace Trainer.
David Lapidus, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. David is from Chicago and lives there with wife and cat when not guiding and instructing. David has climbed throughout the United States and Canada on alpine, water ice, and rock terrain. He is passionate about working with aspirant climbers from all backgrounds towards their respective climbing journeys and goals. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Jess Lewis, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado and Canada. Jess grew up in the mountains of Colorado where she spent her days adventuring with her family. Her romps through the Mountain West and descents of western rivers sparked in her the desire to guide from an early age. Jess has guided on four continents including Antarctica and she spent three years living and working in Patagonia working in that magical and wild landscape. She calls Colorado home and loves guiding there but will happily travel to more distant regions. Her desire as a guide is to share with others the world that she knows and inspire them to discover their own strength and courage. Her favorite medium is rock but she can happily walk uphill in the snow for hours because nothing beats those high mountain sunrises. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Suzanna Lourie, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, Colorado and Canada. Suzanna discovered her love of “big” mountains working as a travel writer exploring remote regions of the Himalaya and Patagonian Andes. She eventually moved to Colorado and changed careers to work as a wilderness guide in the Four Corners region. Inspired by the landscape, Suzanna dove headfirst into more technical pursuits like alpine climbing, mountain running and backcountry skiing. She hasn’t looked back since. When she’s not in the Cascades, Suzanna is based in Ouray, Colorado, where she tries to climb as much ice as possible and enjoys scrambling above 13k around her home. Suzanna is passionate about empowering others to reach their mountaineering goals. She is a certified yoga teacher and aspires to guide on some of the highest peaks in the world. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Kiera Magrane, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Kiera was lucky to have grown up skiing and climbing in the Washington Cascades. She began her backcountry pursuits in college while studying environmental science and engineering, and her passion for the outdoors and connecting others with the natural world led her to guiding. In her free time, you can still find her romping around in the mountains, making coffee, or trying not to crash her bike. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Ian McEleney, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
Guides in California, Nevada, Washington and Alaska. Ian has climbed throughout the United States including rock, water ice, alpine, and big wall ascents. Ian was a member of the team that made the first complete winter ascent of the Palisades Traverse in the Sierra. His academic training is in Elementary Education and History. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Tad McCrea, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada, Alaska, and Canada. Tad's passion for adventure has taken him throughout the Cascades, Sierra, Wind River, and Bugaboo Ranges. In the winter he pursues ice and mixed climbing in southwestern Colorado as well as the splitter sandstone towers of the desert Southwest. An accomplished athlete, Tad was a varsity rower and national champion at the University of Washington where he studied geography. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Kevin McGarity, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician, AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado, California, Utah, Nevada and Canada. Kevin began his career as a climber and a skier in 2010. He practiced both arts in the mountains surrounding Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He holds a BA in History from Ohio Dominican University. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Jim Mediatore, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Rock Instructor
Rope Rescue Technician, AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska and Canada. Jim began to climb in 1992, and since then the sport has taken him all over the US and beyond- to the Alps, Alaska, Patagonia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and Norway. Additionally, Jim works as a field safety officer for the US Antarctic program. He is an MIT-trained biologist with a passion for travel, teaching, Scrabble, and finding new ways to tease his nephews. AMGA certified Rock Instructor, Rope Rescue Technician, Leave No Trace Master Educator and International Technical Rescue Association Level 3 Rope Instructor. Speaks Spanish.
Steve Moffat, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in New Zealand, Argentina, and Nepal. Steve has many years of experience guiding in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, Canada, the Andes, and Nepal, and he is an IFMGA guide. In his broad Himalayan experience he has climbed as both expedition guide and expedition leader. He has enjoyed leading climbs of 20,000-foot peaks like Island Peak and Cholu East as well as more challenging ascents such as 22,402-foot Ama Dablam. In 2006 he guided and summitted on our Everest expedition. Between expeditions, Steve enjoys a busy schedule of guiding New Zealand ascents, instructional courses, ice climbing trips, and ski tours.
Mike Morris, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada, and Canada. Mike has spent an awesome amount of time climbing and skiing in California, Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Mexico. In his free time Mike enjoys a meditation practice, service work, getting rowdy in the hills, laughing and talking about himself in the third person. Mike is living with the intention of compassion and loving kindness. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Henry Moya, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Henry is a UIAGM/IFMGA certified mountain guide and has been an instructor for the Ecuadorian Mountaineering Federation (EPAM). His extensive climbing background includes all of the mountains of Ecuador (including some unusual routes) and several other 6,000 meter peaks throughout South America, including expeditions to the highest peaks of Peru and Bolivia. Henry has also completed courses with the National French School of Guides (ENSA).
Felix Mtui, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Africa. Growing up in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, Felix started guiding on the mountain in 1989 and has fashioned superb leadership skills. He has a warm heart, great sense of humor, and is always eager to see people achieve their dreams.
Cliff Palmer, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Professor of Biology, Skagit Valley College
Guides in Washington. Cliff has been a professional alpine guide and outdoor educator since 1994. He has guided trips in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Switzerland. Cliff is a certified AIARE Level I and Level II avalanche instructor. Cliff holds a masters degree in biology. Speaks Spanish and French.
Ian Peterson, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Colorado, Utah, and Canada. Ian grew up on the East Coast, where he remained for college before making the move west full time. His academic and professional background in education and environmental studies drives his passion for supporting each individual's progression into the mountains, and he works tirelessly to build deep connections between individuals and the landscapes they move through. When not guiding, he can be found pursuing ski mountaineering objectives, reading, and cooking tasty meals. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Taylor Peterson, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington and Canada. His climbing career started partway through a stint as a roboticist and put an end to his circus days as a trapeze artist. He aspires to continue to learn, grow, and share great experiences in the mountains. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Mike Pond, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada, California, Colorado, Alaska, Argentina, and Bolivia. Mike grew up in New York State, where he learned to climb and ski in the Adirondack Mountains. He has a degree in Expeditionary Studies and Spanish. Mike's passion for rock, ice, and alpine climbing has taken him to the Canadian Rockies, the Cascaes, the Colorado Rockies, and the desert Southwest.
Kyle Pratt, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada and Canada. Kyle has climbed and skied extensively throughout the western US with an emphasis on long, challenging days in the alpine. Prior to becoming a guide, Kyle worked as an econometrics researcher and finds a similar outlet for creative problem solving while moving through the mountains.
Juan Manuel Raselli, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Patagonia and on Aconcagua. Juan has been guiding since 2002 and has climbed and guided extensively in the Andes, including significant ascents in Peru and Argentina. He has numerous ascents in Patagonia that include Fitzroy, Saint Exupery, Raphael, and Guillaumet, and he has also climbed in Spain, Italy, France, and Austria and rock climbed in Brazil.
Aaron Richards, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in Washington, California, Nevada and Canada. Before joining AAI, Aaron spent many years guiding and climbing in California's Sierra Nevada, where he completed significant link-ups of big alpine rock routes. He has also skied and climbed in Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Alaska. Aaron grew up in Oregon, has a degree in botany, and has played professional ultimate Frisbee. He’s an AMGA certified rock guide, and an AIARE level I instructor.
Dave Richards, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Board of Directors, Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council
Guides in Washington, Nevada and Canada. Originally from North Idaho, Dave grew up hiking, skiing, and playing in the mountains of Idaho and Montana. Dave has climbed in many locations across the US and Canada, from the granite of Maine to the sandstone of the southwest. With a passion for teaching and helping new climbers, Dave has taught community oriented climbing programs since 1999 and spent several years coaching a youth climbing team. With an accomplished resume as a sound engineer for film, tv, and music, Dave loves splitting his time between sound work and the mountains, whether that's climbing, hiking, or ski touring. EMT and National Ski Patrol Member. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Michael Riley, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Mike began his outdoor education and guiding careers a decade ago, and he has worked for NOLS, Prescott College's adventure education program, and multiple guide services in the Southwestern United States. His climbing adventures have taken him across the Western United States and to the Ecuadorian Andes, with ascents in the Cascades, Rockies, Tetons, Sierra, and across the desert Southwest. His academic background is in adventure education. When not climbing, Mike is pursuing a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah. Leave no Trace Master Educator.
Richard Riquelme, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and National Level Guide, Association of Chilean Mountain Guides
AIARE Avalanche Instructor, Rope Rescue Technician, and AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Richard's climbing and skiing has taken him throughout Chile, Peru, and Argentina as well as to the US, Canada, and Europe. He has extensive experience in search and rescue operations. He has been guiding professionally since 1993 and for AAI since 2006. He is proficient in German and a native speaker of Spanish. AIARE Level 1 & 2 Avalanche Lead Instructor, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and International Technical Rescue Association Level 3 Rope Instructor.
Mike Roberts, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in Alaska, New Zealand, Argentina, Antarctica, and the Himalaya. Mike is an IFMGA guide and has summitted Mount Everest and led expeditions to Aconcagua, Denali (11 ascents), Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Gasherbrum I & II in Pakistan, Cho Oyu in Tibet and Muztagh Ata in Western China. He has also managed to fit in 14 seasons mountain and ski guiding in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, 10 seasons in Antarctica as a Field Leader / Guide to the USA Antarctic Program, has worked as a professional ski patroller / avalanche forecaster and is a qualified physiotherapist.
Gloria Roe, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, Alaska and Canada. Gloria hails from Kodiak, Alaska. She spent her childhood fostering a love for the outdoors; combing the beaches for whatever treasures she could find (or catch) and running loose around the mountains that surrounded her house. This love for the outdoors continued to grow and eventually led her to college at the University of Montana. It was in Missoula that she discovered the glories of rock climbing and the never-ending mountain adventures of the West. Working as an instructor for her university's outdoor program she gained an affinity for teaching and guiding and has since been working as a professional mountain guide and ski patroller. During her career she has spent time in Southeast Alaska, developed an intimate relationship with Rainier, climbed to the top of Denali, enjoyed the craggy peaks of the North Cascades, skied as much as possible in Northwest Montana, and traveled to Argentina and Nepal for mountain adventures. There’s nothing she loves more then sharing time in the mountains with friends new and old. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Lor Sabourin, Instructor and Guide
Rock Warrior's Way Trainer
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Assistant Rock Guide
Guides in Nevada and California. Lor fell in love with climbing at a gym in Detroit when they were twelve years old. As a young climber, they split their time between competitive climbing and exploring sandstone crags in the Southeast. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management, they began working in the climbing industry as a guide, gym manager, and coach. Lor attended their first Warrior’s Way clinic as a teenager, and quickly realized that the Warrior's Way philosophy extended beyond the world of rock climbing. Now a Warrior's Way Trainer, they also hold credentials as AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, AMGA Assistant Rock Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and Rope Rescue Technician. They love to practice yoga and play the fiddle.
Jose Salazar, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Jose grew up in Ecuador with an involvement in Scouts and mountaineering clubs that made environmental conservation and climbing his dual passions for most of his life. He received guide training both Ecuador and in Germany, and now with thirteen years of experience, he currently guides in Germany June–September and in Ecuador the rest of the year. Jose has found great reward in climbing all of Ecuador's mountains by diverse routes as well as the most significant peaks in Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. He enjoys teaching a lot and guiding in multi-cultural environments. Speaks English, German, and Spanish.
Nathan Sandidge, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Guides in Washington, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Canada Nathan was born and raised in Colorado, but didn't find his passion for climbing until going to college in Western New York. He cut his teeth in the New River Gorge, and eventually moved back to Colorado to Perdue bigger mountains and more technical terrain. When not working, you can find him trail running, making videos, and exploring the dry tooling crags. He has a BS in mechanical engineering and is always down to nerd out about climbing systems, airplanes, calculus, and of course, gear! Leave No Trace Trainer.
Romel Sandoval, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Romel has been involved in outdoor sports in Ecuador for most of his life, and he has been working as a mountain guide for since the year 2000. An ASEGUIM certified mountain guide, he also holds a degree in environmental engineering. Romel's extensive climbing background includes all of the major mountains of Ecuador, as well as several 6,000-meter peaks in the rest of the Andes. His deep knowledge of the mountains and culture of Ecuador makes him an especially enjoyable trip leader.
Benno Schlauri, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Benno is a Swiss guide who has been living and guiding in Ecuador since 1994. He climbed extensively in the Alps throughout his teenage and early adult life. Since his arrival in Ecuador, he has continuously been guiding in most of the Andean countries. Benno is an instructor for the Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides. Speaks Spanish, English, French, and German.
Hali Scroggins, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Originally from West Tennessee, Hali never saw a snowy peak till she was 19 years old on a ski trip to Colorado. Upon returning, she packed up her things and moved to Park City, Utah where she immersed herself in all things ski related by working in the industry for 7 years. Seeking new challenges and a fresh focus, she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 which inspired her move to the PNW. Over the years her excitement for the natural world and climbing big mountains led her to pursue guiding as a career. Hali believes the mountains are a sacred space, with endless lessons to teach us. She is especially passionate about helping aspiring mountain enthusiasts learn new skills to move beyond what they thought was possible. Hali enjoys moving through the mountains in various ways, whether it be on skis, long alpine rock routes or mountain biking. During the winter season she ski patrols at Stevens Pass. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Mark Sedon, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in New Zealand, Nepal, China, Argentina, and Antarctica. Mark is another of our senior Kiwi guides based in Wanaka, New Zealand. He is an IFMGA guide who has traveled the world extensively, with ski seasons in Utah, Europe, Japan, and Canada; kite surfing time in Vietnam, Hawaii, Australia, and Ecuador; and big wall climbing trips in Yosemite, Zion, and Australia. Mark has led and guided several successful expeditions to Nepal and China including Everest, Cho Oyu, two trips to Ama Dablam, Lobuche East, Island Peak, and Mera Peak. He has also guided Carstensz and the volcanoes in Ecuador, Aconcagua, Denali, and an Antarctic Peninsula yacht-based ski and climbing expedition.
Jacob Sellinger, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington, California and Canada. Jake grew up skiing the icy slopes and small hills of North Carolina. After learning to rock climb with the American Alpine Club, Jake moved to the Lake Tahoe area to explore the bigger mountains. He has been splitboarding and alpine climbing up and down the Sierra, with ascents and descents through the PNW, Montana, Utah, and Colorado. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Kyle Sholinder, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Kyle started as a gear specialist in AAI's shop, and made the transition to guide in 2022. He has romped around the Olympics and Cascades since he was no taller than an avy shovel. While he is always finding new ways to enjoy the mountains and outdoors in general, he finds his most personal fulfillment when he’s trekking across a glacier, or spending all day on an alpine rock route. He is always looking for new kinds of rock to grab whether it’s the granite of Washington or the sandstone of Utah, but Kyle’s truest passion comes when he combines his love of the outdoors with his career in public school teaching. Being a K-12 music teacher, Kyle loves to put his experience in education to good use by inviting others into the world outside their homes. While he loves to spend a night at home playing a board game with his friend, or going out on the lake with his dog, you can find him constantly chasing new journeys and finding joy in sharing them with those around him. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Kevin Shon, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. Kevin comes to AAI with a strong background in teaching, having managed university outdoor leadership programs for several years and worked for the North Carolina Outward Bound School. Kevin has been guiding since 2009, and climbing since the late 90s. He is passionate about mountaincraft and mobility as well as helping people increase their potential in the mountains. Other interests include: playing music, mind/body health and wellness, spending time with old friends in Patagonia, and other international travel. Although originally from the Washington D.C area, Kevin now calls Deming, Washington home. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Lauren Smith, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Canada. Lauren grew up with the Cascades as her backdrop, which inspired her to start climbing in High School. When she's not honing in her skills in the Cascades, she can be found in Squamish, Moab, and chasing alpine ice. She is passionate about creating experiences with others in the mountains and pursuing guiding full time. She splits her year between Washington, climbing ice in Bozeman, and climbing rock in the Southwest.
Estalin Suarez, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
ASEGUIM Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Estalin is an internationally recognized IFMGA mountain guide and has been a member of the ASEGUIM since 2009. He has climbed all the mountains in Ecuador, including the seldom climbed south summit of Antisana. He has led expeditions to the Andes of Peru, where he has guided two of the most famous peaks there, Huascaran and Alpamayo, as well as other 6,000 meter summits. He has a vast knowledge of Ecuador’s culture, history, flora, and fauna, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge on all those subjects with those who climb with him.
Eli Spitulnik, Instructor and Guide
From Northern California, Eli cut his teeth climbing big walls in Yosemite Valley and alpine rock routes in the High Sierras. Eli's enthusiasm for alpine climbing brought him to the Pacific Northwest to climb on the snowy and icy mountains of the Cascades. When Eli is not studying philosophy and mathematics at Western Washington University, he can likely be found at his favourite climbing areas such as Squamish, the Bugaboos, the North Cascades, and Yosemite. Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Andy Stephen, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Guides in Washington, Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, Canada and in South America. Andy grew up skiing in New England, and has climbed extensively in the American West. He loves sharing his passion for climbing and the mountains with others. Leave No Trace Trainer, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Certified Rock Guide.
Fredy Tipan, Instructor and Guide
IFMGA Certified Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Fredy serves as Director of the School of Mountain Guides in Ecuador. He is a dedicated teacher but also loves the adventure of expedition climbing. He was born near Antisana and started hiking and climbing in childhood. In his adult life he has climbed and guided extensively in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina and was Ecuador's third guide to become internationally certified by IFMGA following his training at ENSA in the French Alps.
Char Tomlinson, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington and Canada. Char grew up in the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and got her start climbing early on classic east coast crags like Seneca Rocks. After making the move to California to pursue outdoor education, she started climbing in the Sierra and has never looked back. She is a graduate from UC Berkeley Geography where she studied mapping, geomorphology and geographic theory, with a keen interest in topography and anticolonial mapping practices. When she’s not in the alpine, you might find her doing silly dynamic boulder problems, climbing the tallest trees she can find, or playing hacky sack. Her favorite climbing areas are Tuolumne, Joshua Tree, Yosemite Valley, and the Dolomites. Leave No Trace Trainer.
David Trujillo, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
David Trujillo, is a member of ASEGUIM has been guiding mountaineering expeditions for 15 years. His passion has not only driven him to climb the highest mountains in Ecuador, but has motivated his numerous guiding expeditions to Peru and Bolivia. A world traveler, David has also climbed several peaks in Europe and has ice climbed in Colorado. His numerous passions include mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing and back-country skiing. "When David is guiding expeditions, he isn't in the mountains," explains a client. "But the mountains are in him."
Alasdair Turner, Instructor and Guide
AAI Tenured Guide and AMGA Certified Rock Guide
AIARE Avalanche Instructor
Guides in Washington, Nevada, Alaska, Canada and Bolivia. A Scotsman by birth, Alasdair has climbed in the Washington Cascades since the late nineties where, among his long list of achievements, he notched the first winter ascent of the Serpentine Arete on Dragontail Peak. Alasdair has ventured onto big walls and into mountain ranges outside Washington as well, making difficult ascents throughout Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, California, and Utah. His academic degree is in Chemistry.
Franklin Varela, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Franklin has been a member of the ASEGUIM since 2005, and he serves as director of its rescue team, GRA (Grupo de Rescate ASEGUIM). He has climbed all of Ecuador’s major peaks (most by multiple routes), and he has extensive experience throughout the Andes. Amongst his most important ascents in Peru are Alpamayo, Pirámide de Garcilazo, Huascaran, and the Sphinx, the country’s largest big wall (La Esphinge), and in Argentina he has climbed the South Face of Aconcagua, one of the most challenging big alpine walls in South America.
Justin Votos, Instructor and Guide
Guides in Washington and Oregon. Born and raised in the Green Mountains of northern Vermont, Justin holds a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Vermont. He has worked as a USFS climbing ranger for the Gifford Pinchot NF on Mt. Adams. When Justin is not climbing, skiing, running or guiding he's busy spending quality family time sleeping under the stars and being pulled through the snow by his sled dog.
Tanner Wilkins, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
Guides in Washington. Tanner fell in love with climbing during his college years in Iowa. He has spent time in the PNW, the Southwest, and the
Himalaya. Tanner currently lives in Mazama and enjoys climbing, hiking and skiing in his backyard around the North Cascades. Leave No Trace Trainer.
Szu-ting Yi, Instructor and Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Provider and Leave No Trace Master Educator
Guides in Nevada, California and Washington. Born in Taiwan, "Ting Ting" came to the US to study, but fell in love with the sport of climbing. She has contributed to Alpinist Magazine, has climbed 40 desert towers in one season, has done multiple alpine first ascents in Asia and Patagonia, and in 2017, she completed a north to south traverse of the Wind River Range and summited 33 peaks along the Continental Divide. Ting Ting started guiding and instructing in 2008 and has authored five books on the subject of climbing. After seven years of vanlife she now resides in Las Vegas with her husband and two cats. AMGA Certified Rock Guide, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Provider, Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Diego Zurita, Instructor and Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Guides in Ecuador. Diego was among the first Ecuadorian mountain guides to be trained at the Syndicat National des Guides de Montagne (ENSA) in France back in 1996. He was one of the founders of the Ecuadorian School of Mountain Guides (ESGUIM) where he continues to serve as an instructor and mentor. In addition to his guiding in Ecuador, Diego has led expeditions in Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, as well as an expedition to Denali.