Ben has had a long time passion for the outdoors, starting as a young boy hiking and hunting through the forests of Wisconsin. The Navy brought Ben out West where the mountains captivated his imagination. While finishing his service in 2015 Ben began to look for a new adventure in life, having been captivated by the mountains of the West Ben started honing his mountain skills, further pushing his personal climbing and training as a professional. Guiding for Ben has allowed him to combine his passion for teaching with his love for the mountains. Over the last few years he has began to build his skills in the rock and alpine realm with an emphasis on big mountain exploration from the Sierras, Cascades and into British Columbia.
“Climbing for me is relatable in many aspects of my life. It’s brings focus, commitment, trust, presence. I am at peace when climbing, totally immersed on the task at hand. The experience brings a feeling of accomplishment and yet a humble grounding to earth. It helps put the grand scheme into perspective and creates a human connection with your partners you don’t find everywhere.”
Ben is a certified Wilderness First Responder, has completed his AIARE 1 and Avalanche rescue course as well as taken the AMGA SPI course and the Alpine Guide Course, with a desire to continue his AMGA Alpine and Rock training.