Blake (he/they) is a CT native with lots of love for the local trap rock. Blake Started out as a competitive climber and quickly fell in love with the outdoors. He’s been climbing and instructing for roughly 10 years and his love for it only grows.

When Blake isn’t at the cliff you can find him at Ascent Climbing Gym, hiking with his dog, playing video games, or eating way too much takeout.

Blake is a certified Single Pitch Instructor, CPR + First aid certified with the Red Cross, a sponsored athlete with Trango Climbing, and a former EMT.

Jackson hails from the Adirondack Park where he learned to climb, backcountry ski, and whitewater kayak. It was here that he found his love for the outdoors. He attended SUNY Plattsburgh’s Expeditionary Studies Program learning how to be a professional guide in the outdoor industry. When he is not out climbing, he spends his time coaching the NYSEF Freestyle team and mentoring the next generation of outdoor professionals in Northwoods Adventure Sport Program.

Jenny is a AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. They teach climbing clinics and run outdoor climbing meetups focused on building skills in a comfortable and fun environment.

John was born in Singapore but moved to the state of Massachusetts in 2000 at the age of 5 and is the youngest of 6 boys. Moving to the United States is where his love of sports and athletic activities began. Playing football for 10+ years, he got the chance to understand what being a part of a team meant and learned many life lessons through the sport.

It wasn’t until the age of 13 where John fell in love with the outdoors when he got his first snowboard. Climbing didn’t come into the picture until an intro to climbing course in college by his college professor, Dr. Benjamin Mirkin. As John was signing up for classes, Ben said “you look like a climber, you should sign up” and John went with it and got instantly hooked. The physical and mental aspects of climbing is what John loves the most about climbing. “Being able to understand the risks and ways to mitigate them is what makes climbing such an amazing sport, activity, or hobby. It helps you to tap into your brain and understand that your brain can be your worst enemy. Telling yourself you can’t do something puts a limit on what can be done! Being able to share a rope with a first-timer and see them overcome fear and anxiety is such an amazing experience to share with someone”, says John.

Owen is a New Hampshire native with a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Growing up hiking and fishing in the White Mountains, these landscapes have always held a special place in his heart. During his later high school years, he began exploring bouldering, but it wasn’t until college that climbing became a central focus in his life. His first college course was “Fundamentals of Rock Climbing,” and since then, he hasn’t looked back.

The mentorship and education he received in college prepared him to thrive in the climbing industry. Owen is currently an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, an AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and has completed his AIARE 2 certification. As the seasons change, so do his interests, which range from long trail-running objectives and backcountry skiing to ice climbing, route development, mountain biking, and, of course, rock climbing.

Owen takes pride in being a Northeast climber but has dedicated considerable time to exploring and climbing in various regions. Beyond the Northeast, he has climbed in Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Bermuda, Wyoming, and Idaho. When he’s not adventuring in the mountains, you can find him in his garage working on motorcycles and tackling carpentry projects. His love for the mountains runs deep, and he is committed to lifelong learning in the outdoors.

Mark is an AMGA Certified Rock and Ice Instructor and SPI Provider. He is based in the Adirondacks and prides himself on crafting meaningful experiences and empowering his guests in their own climbing and mountaineering endeavors.

Noah discovered climbing while studying Business and Emergency Medical Services at the University of Vermont. During this time he started climbing in an effort to be more well rounded for ski mountaineering. Noah is equally happy slotting cams on long multi pitch routes as he is traversing the Knife Edge of Mt. Katahdin with skis on his back. Noah is actively pursuing the guide track and continues to hone his craft with course work through The American Mountain Guides Association. Noah is an AMGA Apprentice Rock & Alpine Guide, AMGA SPI, Pro 1 Avalanche certificate holder, Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator and has completed a NOLS Outdoor Educator Mountaineering course. Noah has climbed extensively in the Adirondack mountains of New York, Green mountains of Vermont, and White mountains of New Hampshire. He has taken multiple trips to Mt. Katahdin in Maine during both the summer and winter months. Noah has also spent time skiing and alpine climbing throughout the Cascades of Washington and Chic-Choc mountains of Quebec. He has spent significant amounts of time rock climbing in Squamish BC, Index, Mazama, Snoqualmie Pass, & Washington Pass WA, and Smith Rock OR. Noah enjoys sharing the adventurous nature of climbing with clients regardless of their experience or skill level. Helping guests to accomplish their goals and develop an appreciation for the minutiae of climbing is what motivates Noah.
Certifications & Courses: AMGA Rock Guide Course AMGA Alpine Guides Course, AMGA SPI Course & Exam, AAI Pro 1 Avalanche Course, LNT Master Educator, Wilderness First Responder, EMT Course, AIARE 1 Avalanche Course, AIARE Rescue Avalanche Course, NOLS Outdoor Educator Mountaineering Course, NOLS Rock Climbing Training
Preferred Discipline: Alpine Climbing
Availability:
Noah spends the warmer months (May-September) in the Pacific North West guiding both rock and alpine climbs. He then migrates back to Vermont for September-April each year for the Fall climbing season and winter months.

Will grew up in Westchester County NY and as a kid was always trying to be outside as much as possible. Climbing first with the Boy Scouts and then a guided 3 day course in the Adirondacks was his introduction to the sport. But these experiences didn’t really set the hook for what would become his life long passion. That came while attending Plymouth State College in NH. Cutting his teeth first at the now well known sport climbing cliff Rumney and quickly moving onto the bigger traditional granite cliffs of Cathedral, Whitehorse and Cannon. After college he spent time climbing, snowboarding/skiing and adventuring around the western US. Living in Flagstaff AZ, Salt Lake City UT and Telluride CO before making the decision to move to Keene Valley NY in 2005. An article in Climbing Magazine about the unfolding climbing scene here in the Adirondacks was the catalyst for this final move and he hasn’t left since. Besides the time spent chasing rock, ice and snow throughout the country; he has traveled internationally to Peru, Bolivia, the United Kingdom and France. He also works as an adjunct instructor for the Plattsburgh State Expeditionary Studies program as well as for the North Country Community College Wilderness Recreation Leadership program. Founding the local climbing organization the Adirondack Climbers’ Coalition, volunteering as the organization’s President and committing time for the DEC’s Volunteer Technical Rescue Team take up most of his “free time”. Being happily married with two young daughters is what Will is most proud of!

Aramy is a climbing guide, professional rescuer, and sometimes educator based out of Northfield, VT. This year marks his 20th year instructing climbing, a fact that he finds disorienting and mildly concerning. After a formative decade in outdoor education, he found himself in the classroom teaching high school science. These days, he splits his year between taking folks climbing, ski patrolling, and working on an ambulance. Aramy continues to be engaged by the unique combination of fitness, technical skill, and the rich emotional experience offered by climbing a rock.

Hailing from Providence, RI, Colin was introduced to climbing after retiring from a highly competitive track and field career. A friend dragged him up Mt Washington for his first winter hike in his late 20’s and was hooked. He then started taking as many educational opportunities, clinics and safety courses through the Appalachian Mountain Club. This led him to find technical ice climbing and mountaineering. He then became a volunteer leader for the AMC, primarily leading new climbers. This path has led him to the summit of Mt Rainier as well as to 20,000 feet in the Andes, trekking in the high peaks of Nepal, mountaineering in Iceland and getting pumped on the cliffs of Lake Willoughby.
In recent years, Colin has focused his attention on getting more BIPOC and marginalized groups into the outdoors, organizing many BIPOC climbing, biking, and community events.
Colin is also an avid mountain biker and runs a bicycle – based nonprofit that gets kids involved in competitive cycling. When not climbing, riding bikes or DJ-ing around Providence and Boston, Colin works as a strength and conditioning specialist and sports performance coach, helping people of all ages and ability levels reach their physical potential. He also works part-time building adventure vans!

Andrea Charest is a co-owner of Petra Cliffs, a guide, mother, and partner. She is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Certified Ice Instructor, Assistant Rock Guide, and Apprentice Alpine Guide. Andrea loves all forms of climbing, but especially long, moderate multi-pitch climbs. She loves teaching, mentoring and guiding on rock and ice, and especially enjoys helping women to feel more self-sufficient and confident as climbers, leaders and partners. In her limited spare time, Andrea keeps an ever-expanding garden, dabbles in jewelry-making, and chases her daughter, husband, and Swiss Mountain Dog around!

Since 2014, Julia has been exploring the world of climbing, both indoor and outdoor with a non-stop smile. She has been honing her outdoor skills in a variety of disciplines, including sport and traditional climbing. She received her AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification in 2025 with hopes to broaden access for women/femme/non-binary and adaptive climbers in the outdoor environment. Julia has a passion for getting new folks access to explore, and participate in, the climbing community in a safe and comfortable setting.

Dylan lives in Burlington and works as a guide for Petra Cliffs Mountaineering School. He has been an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor for 3 years and is currently taking the AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide Course, which will open up his scope of practice to multipitch terrain. Hard friction slab, thin face, and crack are Dylan’s favorite climbing styles, and he also loves to climb long moderate multipitch/alpine routes in venues like Cannon Cliff, Red Rocks, and the Adirondacks.

Dylan is openly gay and has a strong awareness of societal dynamics that impact people of marginalized identities, and makes an active effort to foster a caring, mutual, and welcoming learning environment when he guides and teaches. He is often described as “very chill.” Ultimately Dylan thinks of himself as a teacher more than a guide, and he wants his guests develop the skills they need to move freely through the mountains on their own.

Outside of climbing Dylan likes cats, trailrunning, music composition, reading, and scrolling on his phone on the couch for hours on end. His climbing goals are to send harder friction slabs, climb El Cap, and not break his foot in a slab fall again.

Jack is a 2020 graduate from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. He is pursuing the AMGA rock guide track and enjoys nothing more than getting outside to go climbing with people. Whether that be introducing someone to a new aspect of the sport or romping up a multi-pitch with a friend. The love he has for introducing someone to climbing comes from his love of outdoor education. His favorite part of outdoor education through climbing is how much it empowers people and puts them more in tune with their natural surroundings.

He has experience climbing in places like the canyons of Colorado, Vedauwoo, Joshua Tree National Park, Red Rocks National Reserve, The Blue Ridge Mountains, New York, New Hampshire, and of course Vermont. When Jack isn’t rock climbing he enjoys exploring and camping on the snowy slopes of The White Mountains of New Hampshire. You also may see him biking and hiking around Vermont or ice climbing in Smuggler’s Notch during the winter.

Kristen is a trans climber and guide, Wilderness EMT, board member of CRAG-VT, and has been an activist and educator LGBTQ+ circles for nearly 20 years. She believes that cliffs, boulders, and the outdoors are incredible spaces for belonging. Simultaneously, it’s the work of all in a community to proactively challenge the barriers that stand in the way of people feeling included and celebrated in outdoor spaces. She is a climbing coach at Petra Cliffs Mountaineering Center, and a full-time summer camp operator who is based in Burlington, VT.

Mischa (he/him) found his love for climbing 25 years ago when the Burlington Rock Gym opened in Essex and his father took him to climb Thin Air on Cathedral Ledge. Since then, Mischa has pursued a career in outdoor education and continued to climb in Vermont, out West and around the world. Mischa is certified as a AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Apprentice Rock Guide, and the Owner and Lead Instructor of Sterling Mountain Guides. He is a Wilderness First Responder and a NOLS Outdoor Educator. When he’s not guiding climbers, Mischa serves as the Outdoor Program Director at a small alternative high school. Mischa’s favorite climbing memories include breaking into trad in Red Rock Canyon, traversing granite alpine ridges in the Wind River Range, hand jamming in Indian Creek, projecting routes in Catalunya, Spain, and exploring alongside the wonderful community of climbers in Vermont.

Paul has been climbing for 40 years, and guiding / instructing for the past 30 years in New England and the Adirondacks. During his extended time in negotiating the vertical environment, Paul has had the good fortune to climb rock and ice in many corners of the U.S. including such places as the Tetons, Yosemite, and the granite cracks and sandstone spires of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado, amongst many others. Most of his climbing time has been spent thoroughly exploring the endless number of cliffs and mountains found all over New England and the Northeast.
He is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, and Wilderness First Responder.
Paul spends much of his time when he is not climbing and guiding as a high school science teacher and outdoor educator. Some of his other interests include hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, gardening, fishing, and the endless tasks of working on a century-old farmhouse in northern Vermont.

Steve is Petra Cliffs’ co-owner, Program Director and Head Guide. He has been professionally guiding rock, ice, mountaineering, and ski mountaineering programs since 2001. Steve has a degree in Outdoor Education from Johnson State College and completed a NOLS Outdoor Educators Course for Mountaineering & Rock to kickstart his career as a mountain guide and educator.

Steve has climbed extensively throughout the US & Canada, including Red Rocks, Yosemite, Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Grand Teton, Devil’s Tower, Indian Creek, Rocky Mountain National Park, Joshua Tree, Squamish B.C., Acadia Nat’l Park, Pemberton and locally in the Green Mts., White Mts., and Adirondacks. His favorite backcountry ski descents include the Super C Couloir (Portillo, Chile), Girls Mountain & the Worthington Glacier, (Valdez AK), Shoot the Moon Couloir (Teton Nat’l Park, WY), The Duchess (Tuckerman Ravine, NH), Katahdin, ME, Big Jay (Jay, VT), and a first descent of The Honeymoon Suite (Portillo, Chile).

Steve is involved with the following organizations:

AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association)

Certified Rock Guide
Certified Ski Guide
Certified Guides Co-Op Member
Climbing Wall Instructor Provider
Single Pitch Instructor
Rock Guide Course
Advanced Rock Guide Course & Aspirant Exam
Alpine Guide Course
Ice Instructor Course
Advance Alpine Guide Course & Aspirant Exam
Ski Guide Course
Ski Mountaineering Guide Course & Aspirant Exam
AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education)
Certified Pro 2 Avalanche Practitioner
Level I & II Lead Course Instructor

American Avalanche Association
Pro Member