In addition to
John Race and Olivia Cussen, the Northwest Mountain School utilizes a variety of 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. 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.
Joel’s passion for climbing has led him on many exploits to the premier rock and ice venues. Alpine regions especially inspire and influence him. Joel has climbed internationally in Argentine Patagonia, the Italian Dolomites and Canada, as well as traveled to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, and Austria. Joel usually spends the winter climbing in Patagonia then two months in the Alaska Range before returning to work each summer for NMS. Joel has lately been working to hone his off-width technique and recently succeeded in climbing Fitzroy in Patagonia. Joel attended the University of Montana, Missoula where he received a B.A. in Biology with an emphasis on Ecology (2004) as well as an education in the climbing to be had in the state that literally means “mountainous.”
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), and a US level 3 Avalanche Certification. Ben recently achieved his full IFMGA certification.
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.
Ian's intense focus on climbing began in 1998. Ian's drive has taken him into the Kichatna Spires of Alaska and the Waddington Range of British Columbia to help establish first ascents with the help of two Mountain Fellowship Grants from the American Alpine Club. He has also made extensive trips through much of the Western United States and abroad in places like the Alaska Range, French Alps, Yosemite, Patagonia, Zion, the B.C. Coast Range, the Tetons, and the Canadian Rockies just to name a few. In his home state of Washington he has put up over a half dozen first ascent both in the mountains as well as the on the crags. Ian is a certified AMGA Rock and Alpine Guide, an AIARE level 1 avalanche instructor, a Wilderness First Responder, as well as AIARE level 3 certified. Ian continues to pursue full IFMGA professional guide certification. He is also newly associated with the American Safe Climbing Association after replacing nearly 100 bolts in the last 2 1/2 years. Ian's uncontrollable enthusiasm is always showing, no matter the objective, no matter the weather he is always excited to be out in the mountains.
Nick began climbing in 1986 and started guiding in 2003. Enjoying a wide spectrum of climbing and skiing, his travels have taken him from skiing in the Alps to the big walls of Yosemite, from Canadian Rockies ice to Sierra Nevada alpine rock, as well as many places in between. Nick guides climbing and skiing in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Europe. He is an active volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue and is a Wilderness First Responder. Nick is an American Mountain Guides Association Certified Rock Guide and Certified Alpine Guide and hopes to complete his full UIAGM guide certification soon. He has completed his AIARE Level III Avalanche Course and is a Instructor for AIARE Level 1 courses.
Nick's Photos.
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 17 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 »
Einar began his guiding carrier in 2001 training the U.S Marine corps for winter survival in the unpredictable terrain of Iceland and Greenland. He quickly realized that there was something to this business of guiding. After somewhat exhausting his mountain resources in Iceland he traveled to the French Alps to seek some further experience. After that followed New Zealand, British Columbia, South America and the U.S.. He now resides in beautiful Leavenworth, WA with his wife and son during the fall and winter months. Einar mostly enjoys the vast expanses of glaciated and alpine terrain however he is slowly but surely gaining appreciation for the Cascade trees. He has multiple Ice-climbing first ascents in Iceland along with alpine and skiing first ascents and descents in Greenland. Einar has completed the Canadian Avalanche Associations Level 2, Module 3 training, he is a Wilderness First Responder and is actively pursuing IFMGA certification through the AMGA.
Brian is a very passionate climber, skier and mountain guide. He has been climbing for over 13 years and has spent the last 8 of those years skiing as many days as possible. Brian currently works as a professional mountain guide year round and can be found guiding in various parts of the world including Jackson Hole, WY, the Pacific Northwest and the European Alps in the winter months. Brian has also climbed and guided in multiple venues including Alaska, Canada, South America and the Himalaya. Brian currently enjoys beautiful alpine traverses, warm desert rock and technical ski mountaineering. Brian recently completed a ski mountaineering traverse this past winter enchaining the East Face of the Grand Teton, the Chounaird Coulior of the Middle Teton and the South East Coulior of the South Teton in a one day push car to car. He is also a well accomplished rock and ice climber and is always looking for new and exciting venues. Brian presently holds IFMGA/AMGA Aspirant status as well as a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Masters, and an Avalanche III certification. Brian is always excited to guide people through out the mountains and to help individuals obtain their personal goals of mountain travel.
Alpine
