Biography

Over the past three decades, I’ve worked full-time as a Mountain Guide, helping others achieve their dreams on trips of a lifetime. My career has provided me with endless adventures, rewards, and the satisfaction of sharing experiences with others in some of the most breathtaking technical terrain on the planet. I was the 6th woman in the U.S. to become an internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guide and the 1st individual outside of Europe to serve on the IFMGA Technical Commission, currently as vice president. I served as president of the AMGA for 5 years and have trained and examined guides as a member of the elite instructor team for 18 years in rock, alpine, and ski guiding disciplines. In 2022, I was the recipient of the AMGA Lifetime Achievement in Guiding Award.

I have a Master of Arts degree with my work in International Mountain Conservation. In 1998, I helped a friend and colleague achieve his dream of being the first amputee to summit Mt. Everest. I organized a clean-up with our Sherpa team that removed over 1000 kilos of trash and 100 discarded oxygen bottles from the mountain. I’ve raised $33,000 for the dZi Foundation over the course of two successful all-women’s expeditions to Ama Dablam and Mt. Elbrus, contributing to their work in Nepal and fueling my passion to climb with women.

I’m an Alliance Team member with Protect Our Winters and serve on my small town’s Sustainability Advisory Board. I fuel my EV with solar panels on my rooftop and make concerted efforts to lighten my personal carbon footprint. I also have the distinct honor of guiding the president of SCARPA, Sandro Parisotto, on his first rock climb!

ATHLETE MENTORSHIP INITATIVE