Guide Service and Climbing School
From IFMGA-certified to professional educators and accomplished alpinists, our guides bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. All our guides have a minimum of 10 years professional experience.
Sam Tyler
has guided worldwide for the past 15 years,
from introductory courses and climbs to Himalayan expeditions and months' long leadership courses. Sam has guided international expeditions in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Nepal He has guided across the United States in Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Washington, and California.
Originally from Nantucket Island, MA Sam currently resides in Huaraz, Peru with his wife and ill-behaved dog.
Braden Downey
is an accomplished alpinist and guide. He is well- rounded in all disciplines of climbing. His pursuits have taken him from icy big walls in Alaska, mixed alpine first ascents in the Cascades, to splitter cracks and bolted sport climbs in places like the Red River Gorge and the High Sierra. When he isn’t pursuing his own climbing objectives, he finds immense satisfaction empowering climbers with the skills and experience they need to achieve their own rock and alpine aspirations. Braden is a Certified Rock Guide with a background in strength and conditioning, and also enjoys playing guitar, listening to Zeppelin, and occasionally binges on Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Alejo Lazzati
is a fully certified IFMGA mountain guide and the first Ecuadorian guide to receive that certification. He is an excellent instructor and in addition to instructing mountaineering also instructs wilderness medicine courses for NOLS as a WEMT. He has a wealth of experience in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru as well as the many volcanos of Ecuador. When not guiding he enjoys scuba diving, traveling, hiking and cooking.
Joel Vargas Rosales
was born and raised in Huaraz. In addition to being an amazing cook, he leads many of our treks and you will most likely find him on our bigger expeditions keeping us well fed. Joel has over 15 years experience leading treks throughout the Cordillera and is also president of the porters union. No matter what roll Joel takes on, he always makes sure people are well taken care of.
Guido Mollepaza Mollohuanca
was born and raised in Arequipa, Peru. He studied tourism and was a trekking guide in southern Peru for over a decade before continuing his education to become a fully certified IFMGA guide. He now leads trips throughout the Cordillera Blanca and calls Huaraz, Peru home.
Dave Watson
has guided, skied and climbed around the globe. From ascents of Everest, Broad Peak, and the Eiger to skiing from over 27,000 feet on K2, Dave's energy and stoke are contagious and his love of being in the mountains brings out the best in folks. Dave is an ambassador for the National Ski Patrol with over 20 years of experience. He currently resides with his family in the Colombia River Gorge.