Meet your guide, Mal

In my first season of outdoor climbing in 2014, two things were abundantly clear:

1.) 15 feet off the ground on my first outdoor climb, I knew I was going to climb for the rest of my life.

2.) Before I had any business being responsible for other people in the mountains, I knew I wanted to pay forward the investment my first mentor had given me. Thanks, Jim Thompson!

My guiding career began in 2017 on Komo Kulshan (Mount Baker.) I have guided extensively in the North Cascades with multiple ascents of Shuksan, Forbidden, Olympus, Baker, Rainier, Glacier, Hood, Adams, Sahale and more. In 2019, I had my world rocked when I made my first trip to the Alaska Range to co-instruct a 12-day glacier climbing course. I have since guided the West Buttress of Denali three times, twice to the summit. I have also guided 6000M peaks in Ecuador: Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Cayambe.

Presently, I live in Ouray, Colorado and work for myself, Basecamp Ouray and Colorado Mountain School. In the winter I guide backcountry ice, teach climbing courses in the Ouray Ice Park and teach avalanche education in Estes Park. I love every day that I’m out there.

Part of being a professional mountain guide is pursuing credentials and training through the American Mountain Guides Association. I am currently working toward becoming an American Mountain Guide/IFMGA guide which would enable me to work any terrain, anywhere in the world. I regard it as a PhD in mountain travel.

I hold the following credentials:

Alpine Guide Course (2021)

Ice Instructor Course (2022)

Advanced Alpine Guide Course/Aspirant Exam (2022)

Certified Single Pitch Instructor (2017)

Rock Guide Course (2019)

Advanced Rock Guide Course/Aspirant Exam (2023)

Ski Guide Course (2022)

Pro 1 Avalanche Training (2019)

Pro 2 Avalanche Training (2023)

AIARE Instructor Training Course (2021)

I was born and raised in Washington State. I got my bachelors degree from Western Washington University (Journalism, BA, 2015) in Bellingham, WA. I spent a few years living around Seattle, but moved to sunny Colorado in 2023. My roots remain in the mossy, damp soil of the temperate climate and maritime snowpack I hail from; but I love living at 7,700 feet in Ouray, Colorado where I can walk to ice climbing in the winter and drive 2.5 hours to Indian Creek to climb sandstone splitter cracks.

This guide service represents my opportunity to offer the skills I’ve dedicated my life to understanding. I hope that we have the opportunity to connect and climb together.

I believe the mountains are for everybody. My goal is to be your friend and resource to enjoy the mountains with skills, confidence and mentorship that supports a long, happy and empowered climbing career.