In addition to
John Race and Olivia Cussen, the Northwest Mountain School utilizes several other guides. These local climbers are selected for their climbing skills, their ability to provide a professionally run program, and personalities that make any day of climbing or skiing enjoyable. The basic requirements for employment include a minimum of a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification and a CPR certification. Additionally ski guides are required to hold a US level 3 Avalanche certification. While American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) training and certification is not required for work with Leavenworth Rock Guides or Northwest Mountain School, it is preferred. As the US is not yet a credential based system (i.e. where guides are required to be certified) it is expected that individuals will do some guiding prior to obtaining their certification and we are happy to provide a venue for these excellent guides to work toward AMGA certification.
Drew started guiding in 2000, primarily leading skiers and climbers in the heavily glaciated terrain of Alaska's Wrangell-St.Elias Range and Chugach Mountains. As a climber he has traveled throughout North America, India, China, Bolivia, and New Zealand. Extensive travel led to a desire to settle down here in Leavenworth, WA where he lives with his wife in Icicle Creek Canyon. An avid climber and skier, Drew uses the solid granite, and reliable snow pack found in his own backyard to train for annual pilgrimages to the great ranges of the world. Drew's motivation to guide stems from a love of wild places and the opportunity to share those places with good friends. Drew is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and holds a level III avalanche certification. Drew also works as a Professional Ski Patroller at Stevens Pass Ski Area.
Ben grew up in Olympia, WA and spent his youth exploring the mountains of Washington. Once in college, he became more interested in climbing and eventually landed a job at Rainier Mountaineering Inc. (RMI). A college graduate with degrees in Psychology and Spanish, Ben spends his winters guiding, doing personal climbs, and occasionally ski patrolling. Ben has climbed Mt Rainier 38 times, and guided on Mt McKinley, the Mexican Volcanoes, and a variety of other peaks in the Cascades. Ben currently holds a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), a US level 3 Avalanche Certification, and is pursuing full IFMGA certification with the AMGA. Ben is an AMGA certified Rock Guide.
An all around climber and skier, Robert has been guiding since 2002. In addition to work for the Northwest Mountain School, Robert has also been working at Rainier Mountaineering Inc. (RMI) on Mt. Rainier. An avid rock climber, Robert has climbed and skied throughout the US and in Europe. Climbing and guiding highlights include a winter ascent of Mt. Rainier's Ptarmigan Ridge (Grade V, AI 4), as well as 3 expeditions to Mt. McKinley, a trip to guide Orizaba, and over 60 summits of Mt. Rainier. Robert is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), holds a Level II avalanche certification, and has completed his AMGA Rock Instructor's Course. Robert currently spends winters in Bozeman, MT, and summers guiding in Washington and Alaska.
Joe grew up climbing in the Cascades Range of Washington. He has spent five seasons working as a Climbing Ranger on Mt. Rainier and has been actively involved in search and rescue operations for over a decade. Joe's climbing career has taken him around the world to such places as the Himalaya, China, Patagonia, Mexico, the Andes, the Alps, and the Canadian Rockies. Over the last 15 years he has also climbed extensively in Alaska and has written a guidebook to the Alaska Range called Alaska Climbing. Joe resides in Leavenworth where he guides exclusively for The Northwest Mountain School. He is currently certified as an EMT. You can see his website at
www.cascadeimages.com ยป
Chris was introduced to the mountains at an extremely young age by his parents, both lifelong skiers. Skiing led to backpacking trips and backpacking trips lead to rock climbing. Chris served in the US Navy and attended the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Sonora Pass, California, on Highway 108. He was also deployed for six months to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, a trip that cemented his decision to work in the mountains and repeatedly return to The Ice. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Adventure Ecotourism Small Business Management from Fairhaven College of Western Washington University. He has guided extensively since 2001 in the lower United States, Alaska and in remote regions such as Western China, Antarctica, Central and South America. Chris is a member of the AMGA and the AAC and is currently working towards full certification in the Rock, Alpine and Ski disciplines. He is also certified as a Wilderness EMT and AIARE Level III Avalanche Forecasting instructor.
Also know as "doggie love" or simply "Beast," Bear is our 12 year old Border Collie-Aussie mix who has accompanied us on many adventures since being kicked off a farm in Central Oregon ten years ago. Many stories circulate about Bear, but the best involve him maiming an independent school's prized chicken, or soloing the entire first pitch of Cocaine Connection (a 5.7 slab climb) in an effort to join the fun a few years back. Bear has done many 7700' ski touring days, has climbed three 14,000 foot mountains, run class 5 whitewater, ridden a snowmobile, and been very tolerant of our crazy travel schedule. Many of our best customers have shared a tent with Bear over the years.
Alpine
