WHO WE ARE
We are AMGA Certified Rock Guides dedicated to teaching climbers how to spend time in the mountains or at the crag. More importantly though, we are climbers. We enjoy sharing experiences outdoors with new friends and old. When we are not guiding, we are climbing. We have put the skills we teach in our courses to the test on grade VI big walls, 5.12 free climbs, long alpine routes and first ascents around the western US. We love pushing ourselves to move more efficiently in the mountains and sharing those techniques with our students and guests.
WHAT WE DO
The Climbing School offers both courses and guiding climbing.
We have courses for everyone from climbers looking to climb outside for their first time to seasoned climbers who want to take on big wall climbing. Our goal is to provide you with the skills to be able to climb outside on your own. You can take the skills you’ve learned to enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer, without wondering if you are doing it “right”. Check out our courses page to see the courses we offer.
We offer guided climbing for those who want to experience climbing or ascend a particular route with the help of a professional. We can teach you skills along the way. Our objective is to help you reach your goals! Check out our private guiding page to see where we offer trips.
On all of our courses and guided trips we strive to create an inclusive learning environment for everyone.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Like you, our guides enjoy exploring all of the climbing the US (and sometimes abroad!) has to offer. We move around throughout the seasons, to make the most of our climbing and weather. Which means you also get to take advantage of getting the climbing when it's good. Below are the locations we offer courses. Check our courses page to see when we will be offering courses in each location. You can also always reach out to us to schedule a private course if the dates don’t line up with your schedule, or you are interested in a different climbing area that isn't on the list. We might be able to work something out.
Washington- Index, Exit 38 (North Bend), Vantage, North Cascades, Mt. Baker, Darrington, Mt Erie, Washington Pass
Nevada- Red Rock
Utah- Moab and Indian Creek
California- Owens River Gorge
Mexico- El Protero Chico
WHY SHOULD YOUR CLIMBING GUIDE AND INSTRUCTOR BE AN AMGA CERTIFIED ROCK GUIDE?
The AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) Rock Guide certification is the highest qualification a guide can achieve in the rock climbing discipline. It requires numerous years of professional experience and personal climbing, in addition to passing two courses and a final practical examination. The AMGA holds its guides to the highest standard for professional and land stewardship practices. This means your guide will be the most up to date with technical systems when it comes to rock climbing. To learn more about certification and the AMGA visit their website via the link below.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
LANI CHAPKO
Lani is an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide from Index, Washington. She has spent the last 7 years climbing and guiding all over the West Coast of the US. A love of mixing climbing and travel has taken her to Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Nepal, Spain, Jordan, Mexico and Canada. She loves all forms of climbing but finds her fullest expression of the sport to be through crack climbing and big walling. She has completed first ascents including a grade VI big wall on Mt Index. She also has a degree in engineering and enjoys teaching the more technical aspects of climbing. She loves sharing the sport that has brought her so much joy with others. Looking forward to getting to know you in the great outdoors!
Lani is also a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace trainer, and has completed a Professional Level 2 Avalanche Course.
SAM BOYCE
Sam is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide. He grew up in the foothills of Washington state, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Here, he developed a keen sense of adventure and stoke for anything climbing. Sam's specialty is in the world of Big Wall climbing. He has climbed dozens of big wall routes including numerous ascents of El Capitan, ranging from 1 day to 8 days. His passion is adventure climbing, and in particular doing first ascents. He has pioneered new routes of every style, from single pitch sport climbs, to big bold trad lines hiding in plain sight, to heavy duty backcountry big wall aid climbs. He started instructing and guiding in 2015 and has worked full time as a rock and alpine guide ever since. Sam is also an AMGA Assistant Alpine Guide, Wilderness First Responder, a Leave no Trace Trainer, and completed an Professional Level 2 avalanche course.