Team Mammut: Red Rock Nevada

Monday, January 25, 2016

An Impossible Dream Realized: Becoming an AMGA Rock Guide

Climbing trip to Les Calanques in 2004. From left to right, Chad, Mathieu, and Erin.
Photo by Matthew Smith.

Sitting on the couch with my old Dell laptop, I remember scrolling through the lengthy American Mountain Guide Association's prerequisites on their website back in my college apartment in Bellingham, WA. I knew I could get through the ski guiding discipline with some work, but glancing at the rock guiding discipline made me unsure whether this was a possibility for me. To complete the program, one needs to have completed over 130 prerequisite climbs, 26 days of course and examination, guide routes up to grade V, and be confident leading 5.10+/A2 (sport and traditional). This list was intimidating to me as I had done very little climbing up to this point, and most was following my friends up routes.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Climb Like A Girl Red Rock, NV

Last week October 23rd to 26th I had the pleasure of running one of my Climb Like A Girl Clinics in Red Rock, NV. I can't say enough about this event and the women who learn, grow, become stronger and more capable climbers every season. This is the 12th season I have run this program in CO, NM, UT and now NV. Some of the gals are in their 1st season, some in their 12th, absolutely fantastic. The next clinic will be this winter in Ouray, multi day Ice Climbing Clinic the first weekend of February. Look for event details here and on my website Ripple Effect Training.
And I can't thank Mammut enough for providing the ropes, quick draws, harness, technical clothing to support my work. More soon from Carolyn in the Roaring Fork Valley!