San Juan Mountain Guides

Alan is the SJMG Medical Advisor. His varied background makes him one of the most unique individuals in the guiding industry, as he is both an AMGA/IFMGA Guide and a Doctor. As a board licensed Physician, Alan typically works in Emergency Medicine and has expanded his practice to consult guide services throughout the US in best practices for patient care in a wilderness setting. As a guide, Alan is a talented skier and climber and enjoys working with guests of all backgrounds in the San Juans, Tetons, Norway, and Europe.

Andrés was born in Colombia where he started climbing at a young age. He moved in 2003 to Colorado. Since then, Andrés has had the opportunity to be involved in all kinds of fun adventures around the globe. Including first ascents in 4 continents & representing the US in 5 ice climbing worlds cups.

• What is your guiding background? I have the opportunity to guide pretty much in every terrain: rock, ice, alpine, expedition, high altitude and a little bit of easy skiing.

• What do you love most about your job? Being outside meeting great people and going to incredible places.

• Where are you from, where do you live? I’m from Colombia (jungle, hot and wild) I live in Ouray (mountains, ice and mellow)

• Climbing (rock, alpine, ice, expedition), skiing, canyoning experience? Climbing for 18 years first ascents in 4 continents.

• Favorite place to travel/climb/ski? So many… I have had the opportunity to climb b in places such as: AK, lower 48, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Greece, France, Italy, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Slovenia, Russia, China and Kyrgyzstan.

• Idea of a good time? Good times with great friends & family.

• Best qualities about you? I do my best to keep it real. I value very much being humble and being willing to give back.

• What is most important to you? What do you value the most in a partner? Being humble and open to learn. Try hard and be kind. Stepping out of the comfort zone is key on becoming a better athlete and person.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Started guiding in 2003
• Started with SJMG in 2006
• Education: Sound Engineering Javeriana Unversity, Columbia
• Certifications: AMGA Certified Rock & Alpine Guide, WFR, CPR, Level 3 Avy
• Places you have climbed in outside the US: Colombia, Europe, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Spain, Kyrgystan, China, Greece, Mexico, France
• Favorite climb in Ouray: The Talisman
• Best thing after climbing: Get up, tune up, pump some iron, watch UFC.

Bill guides rock, ice, and alpine climbing trips for us in the San Juan Mountains, as well as desert rock climbing trips in Utah. Bill is an accomplished rock climber, with many El Cap walls and hard free ascents to his credit. Bill is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and WFR and Avalanche Level 1 Certified. He enjoys teaching climbing to others and thinks there’s nothing better than a great trip to Indian Creek with his closest pals!

I started guiding unofficially in college as a board member of the college climbing club which was basically a guide service without pay.  Officially in 2007 when I took my first AMGA course.

The thing I love most about my job is being around the excitement one feels when they first get into climbing.  

A Colorado native, I spent 14 years in the San Juans until a recent move to Carbondale in 2015. 

I have climbed rock extensively around the western United States and spent many years climbing ice in the San Juans and around Colorado.  I have climbed many walls in Yosemite and Zion, over 100 desert towers, and many routes around Colorado from Black Canyon to the Front Range.  I have been through canyons around Ouray and slots in Utah. 

My favorite places to climb vary but Yosemite, Zion, the desert southwest, and Red Rocks are some of my most frequented.  

Sore hands holding a beer next to a fire in the desert with great friends.  Hard to beat that… unless you replace the fire with a portaledge. 

I like to kayak, and take pictures, (wpgrassephotography.com) and play outside. 

Climbing goals? Send Proj, FAs in remote places on big a$# walls, to show people the me beyond my really really ridiculously good looks. 

Good looks. Duh! (and the person beyond those looks of course… my eyes are up here!) 

I get stoked on things that I’m stoked on.  I’m excited about things that are exciting. 

The most important thing to me is to look back from my death bed and know I had fun, helped people, and did the best that I could… in other words: that I Dominated! 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Started guiding in 2004
• Started with SJMG in 2007
• Education: BA English – Fort Lewis College Durango, CO
• Certifications: AMGA SPI, WFR, Level 3 Avy
• Countries you have climbed in outside the US: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Nepal, Pakistan, Europe, Greenland
• Favorite Climb in Ouray: Teakettle Mountain
• Best thing after climbing: Canned fish and a cold coke

Brooke is a Colorado local who grew up skiing, climbing, and galavanting around the mountains of her hometown, Crested Butte. She has climbed extensively in U.S. destinations such as Indian Creek, Yosemite, Vedauwoo, and the North Cascades and internationally in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada and Afghanistan. She loves introducing techniques to new skiers and climbers as well as helping people develop their mountain craft with larger goals in mind. 

She guides in Alaska, Washington and Colorado on objectives ranging from Denali expeditions to single-day backcountry touring or rock climbing trips. She has a background in outdoor education working for Outward Bound as well as other experiential learning institutions. 

Brooke has completed her AMGA Rock Guide Course and Alpine Guide Course. She holds an AIARE Pro 1 avalanche certification and is an AIARE Avalanche Instructor. She also has certifications as a Wilderness First Responder, LNT Trainer, and ITRA Rope Rescue Technician. 

Clint has been guiding professionally since 1999, and moved to Ouray in 2001. Clint is one of a few Americans to be internationally licensed as a UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide, and AMGA Certified Rock, Alpine, and Ski Mountaineering Guide. Clint has a B.S. in Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism from Colorado State University. Clint is also a former owner of SJMG.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Started guiding in 1999
• Started with SJMG in 2002
• Education: BS in Natural Resources from  from CSU
• Certifications: IFMGA/AMGA, WFR, CPR, Level 3 Avy

Dawn Glanc is a Supervising Guide with SJMG and one of the country’s foremost experts on ice climbing. A veteran competitor at the Ouray Ice Fest Elite Mixed Climbing Comp, Dawn’s accomplishments as an ice and mixed climber truly distinguish her in the outdoor and guiding industry. Dawn is also the Head Ranger for the Ouray Via Ferrata and has previously served on the Ouray City Council. She calls Ouray home year-round and is one of our most requested instructors! Dawn is an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide.

Jason Denley is new to SJMG but comes from a diverse background in guiding that has taken him from the San Juans to the remote mountains of the St. Elias and Denali National Park in Alaska. Jason is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor.

Jeff has been inspiring growth and exploration in the mountains for over a decade. With experiences pulled from building and leading high-performance teams in industry-leading climbing gyms across the U.S., extensive climbing travels, and rigorous guiding education through the American Mountain Guides Association Jeff is in a unique position to educate, inspire, and motivate you on your next adventure.

He spends most of his time guiding private guests and small groups in Colorado and Utah, helping them to achieve their goals in the mountains by arranging custom, personalized itineraries that build upon previous experience. He is especially adept at organizing unique experiences for novices and introducing basic concepts to first-time climbers.

Jeff also offers mentorship for select individuals interested in pursuing the profession. He encourages anyone who is interested in climbing and guiding to reach out to him for educational considerations, career advice, adventure planning, and other recommendations.

Jeff is a Certified Rock Guide, an Apprentice Alpine Guide, an Ice Instructor Course graduate, and an Assistant SPI Provider through the American Mountain Guides Association. He holds an AIARE Pro 1 Avalanche certification, an AIARE Level II Avalanche certificate, and is a Wilderness First Responder with advanced wilderness rescue and CPR training.

Jesse Ballew is a guide for SJMG. A former Marine Corps Sergeant, Jesse has also guided on Denali. He is a diverse mountain professional and year-round resident of Ouray. Jesse is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide.

Jesse Selwyn moved to Montana in 2007 to learn how to climb ice and backcountry ski. Now based in Grand Junction, Jesse is a strong all-around climber and skier who loves sharing his passion through teaching and guiding. Jesse is an AMGA certified Rock Guide and has completed his Alpine Guide, and Ice Instructor Courses.

Katie is an avid climber, skier, and runner. She is passionate about sharing the outdoors, especially rock climbing, with others. She has been providing opportunities for women to experience outdoor recreation since 2013, leading multiple climbing excursions for women and girls as young as six. She began professionally guiding in 2017 in effort to better facilitate women’s climbing courses. Katie is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide.

Kiersa Koepnick is a professional photographer based in Moab, UT. Kiersa captures all of our adventures here at San Juan Mountain Guides. Reserve her for your upcoming guided trip here. Kiersa boasts an impressive resume: her work has been featured in several publications, most notably, her multiple print contributions to the Alpinist. She has worked with Scarpa, Petzl, North Face, Yeti and other major outdoor companies.

Kurt Blair lives in Durango and serves as our program coordinator in the Durango area and for programs in the Weminuche Wilderness. Kurt is a fully certified AMGA/IFMGA guide. He has completed the AAA (American Avalanche Association) Pro 2 and is an AIARE Course Leader for Rec 1 and 2 avalanche training.  He also holds Wilderness EMT certification and is a PSIA Level 2 Alpine Ski Instructor. As an avid rock climber and mountaineer, he has climbed in inspiring destinations such as Alaska, Canada, Yosemite, Swiss Alps, Ecuador, and the Himalayas.  As a fun fact, Kurt has climbed 36 of the 50 Classic Climbs in North America.

Nate is the Owner/Director of San Juan Mountain Guides. Previously, he also owned Southwest Adventure Guides in Durango, CO before taking over SJMG in 2012 and merging the companies under the SJMG brand. He began guiding in the St. Elias Mountains and has also guided on Mt. Rainier and Denali. He has a BA in Psychology and a BA in Organizational Communications, is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and is AIARE Level 3 Avalanche Certified.

Nate is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and AMGA Certified Rock, Ski & Alpine Guide, the highest level of certification available for guides working in that terrain. Nate has also served on the AMGA Board of Directors 2011 – 2014. He currently serves on the Ouray School Board, and the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Started guiding in 2002
• Started with SJMG in 2003
• Education: BA State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo
• Certifications: IFMGA Mountain Guide, AMGA Certified Rock, Ski & Alpine Guide, WFR, CPR, Level 3 Avy
• Countries you have climbed in outside the US: India, Peru, Ecuador, Canada
• Favorite ski descent in the San Juans: Champion Bowl
• Best thing after skiing: Coming home to 11 year old Mason and 9 year old Addison.

Pat is one of the most diverse and experienced mountain guides in the US. Climbs throughout North America including: Yosemite, Squamish,Utah, Washington. Big walls in Yosemite and Zion. Ascent of Aggro Monkey 5.13b at Smith Rock, OR. Began climbing in Washington at age three. Expeditions to Alaska and Argentina. Lead guide on Denali and Aconcagua. Ascent of Cassin Ridge on Denali.  Backcountry ski guide and avalanche instructor in Utah. Ski descents throughout the Wasatch range and Tetons. Collegiate rower and 1997 National Champion at the University of Washington. Pat lives with his wife Dawn in Ouray, CO and is a member of the AMGA Instructor Team. Pat is a fully certified IFMGA Mountain Guide, having completed his AMGA Rock, Alpine Guide, and Ski Guide Certifications.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Started guiding in 2001
• Started with SJMG in 2009
• Education: BA Visual Comms – University of WA
• Certifications: AMGA Certified Rock, Alpine, & Ski Guide, WFR, CPR, Level 3 Avy
• Countries you have climbed in outside the US: Canada, Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Sardinia
• Favorite climb in Ouray: Bird Brain Boulevard
• Best thing after climbing: Getting my shoes off

Pat Lehan is a Guide for SJMG. An all around mountain enthusiast, Pat has completed his AMGA Ski Guide Course. He is also a Certified Single Pitch Instructor.

Ryan Dingwall is an accomplished rock and ice climber who has quickly become one of our most requested guides. In addition to being a certified rock guide, he has also taken his Alpine Guide Course, and Ice Instructor Course.

Suzanna Lourie works for SJMG as part of the Office and Administrative Managerial Team. She is an avid mountain enthusiast, having climbed almost all of the 13’ers and 14’ers in the San Juan Mountain Range! Detail oriented, friendly, and knowledgeable are just a few of Suzanna’s incredible traits!

Steven Van Sickle is a Senior Guide with SJMG. A year-round resident of Ouray, Steven possesses vast knowledge of the Ouray area and surrounding San Juan Mountains. Quiet and assuming, yet immensely talented, Steven is one of our most diverse guides. He is an AMGA Certified Rock & Ski Guide and has only one exam left to finish is IFMGA Certification.