It was John Muir who poetically referred to the Sierra as the “Range of Light.” It’s easy to start feeling poetic when speaking of these enchanting mountains.

I have been climbing in the Sierra Nevada for more than 35 years, and I am a fully certified Rock Guide through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). My wife and I moved to the Eastern Sierra more than 12 years ago and currently live in Bishop. Prior to becoming a guide, I worked full-time as a high school English teacher in southern California. When I wasn’t teaching or grading papers, I was likely spending time climbing in the Sierra or places like Joshua Tree or Red Rocks. I made multiple ascents of El Capitan during these years among many other climbs in the Sierra and all around the West. It is gratifying to be able to combine my extensive recreational climbing background with my professional training as both a teacher and guide into my current career. In addition to sharing my knowledge of climbing and getting around in the mountains, I also enjoy sharing what I’ve learned about how to keep at these activities into one’s forties, and hopefully well beyond! I am 50 years old and grateful to still be able to keep up with many climbers much younger than myself.

If you hire me for a climb, you can count on me being very upfront about my prior experience on it. I feel this honesty is sometimes lacking in the guiding industry, and it is one reason for my creating this website. I strive to provide quality experiences that go as smoothly as possible, and this is difficult for me to promise if I am guiding something I have never even climbed before. So, rest assured that if I am advertising on this website that I will guide something, I have already guided it at least once, and likely multiple times.

Rock climbing is definitely my specialty, but I am also qualified through the AMGA to guide many of the classic backcountry ski descents in the Sierra if that is what you like to get after. I have gone as far as one can go with formal avalanche education, and I lead avalanche education courses regularly during the winter season. In fact, there are few things I have become more passionate about during the last five-or-so years than avalanche education. When one decides to venture into the mountains year-round, avalanche risk is a hugely important consideration. Understanding this risk requires more education than the other risks posed by the mountains. I am dedicated to sharing what I have learned about avalanche risk to all who are willing to listen.

Credentials:

Certified Rock Guide (AMGA)

Apprentice Alpine Guide (AMGA)

Apprentice Ski Guide (AMGA)

American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Course Leader

American Avalanche Association Professional Member

Professional Level 2 Avalanche Certification (American Avalanche Institute)

Wilderness First Responder since 2014

California Single-subject Secondary Teaching Credential (2004—current)

BA, English. California State University, Fresno