Mischa’s passion for climbing began 25 years ago when his father introduced him to the crags around the Northeast. Since then, he has pursued a career in outdoor education and climbed across Vermont, the western U.S., and internationally. Mischa is an AMGA-certified Single Pitch Instructor and Apprentice Rock Guide, founder of Sterling Mountain Guides, a NOLS-trained Outdoor Educator, and a Wilderness First Responder.
Over the years, Mischa has combined his love of climbing with his commitment to community and stewardship. He has served as a CRAG-VT board president, helped open Bolton Dome, and led initiatives that connect climbers with crag access, education, and conservation efforts.
As CRAG-VT’s Executive Director, Mischa brings energy, vision, and persistence to the role, aiming to amplify the organization’s impact while maintaining the strong systems and community it has built. His priorities include securing and expanding cliff access, advancing stewardship initiatives, educating climbers on responsible outdoor practices, and fostering connections across Vermont’s climbing community. Known for his optimism, creativity, and hands-on approach, Mischa seeks to be a connector and motivator—helping CRAG-VT grow, thrive, and celebrate meaningful wins for the climbing community.

Matt is a board member and active climber. He began climbing in the 90’s, and climbs year-round. He has climbed in roughly twenty U.S. states and five countries, although Vermont is still his favorite. Matt loves the variety of climbing available close by: bouldering in the Notch, clipping bolts in Bolton, and getting scared witless at Marshfield or Wheeler. He believes climbing is great because it has no rules. He loves seeing the scene grow. When he’s not climbing, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and working as an education and training professional. If you see him at the crag, please say hi!

Deane grew up in Vermont and has been playing in the Green Mountains for as long as he can remember. He started climbing in college and spent much of his 20’s climbing in Vermont as well as the Adirondacks. Climbing fell by the wayside while Deane was raising young children, but his 7 year old daughter recently got interested and it has become a frequent activity for his family. His professional life involves lots of numbers and crunching them. When he’s not climbing or working he can be found pursuing various nerdy hobbies.

Georgia Lambrakis is a climber, sustainability professional, and geologist based in Burlington, VT. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Geology and Managing for Sustainability from Bucknell University and an MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Vermont. Georgia works at Petra Cliffs as a coach, instructor, and setter, and has been involved with CRAG-VT through volunteer support at the annual Climbing Festival and community events. She is passionate about building inclusive climbing spaces, strengthening stewardship through geology-based education, and fostering meaningful connections between people, land, and climbing culture. Outside of climbing, Georgia loves building LEGO sets, listening to live music, acting in local theatre productions, cross-country skiing, making lasagna, and tackling the Seven Days crossword.

A Long Island, New York native, Lauren attended SUNY New Paltz from 2012-2015, where she discovered hiking, climbing, and her love for the outdoors in the Shawangunk Mountains. In 2016, Lauren moved to Burlington, Vermont, to pursue a master’s degree in social work. Although it took some time, she ventured out in 2022 to explore what climbing in Vermont had to offer and was not disappointed—she has been passionate about climbing and the Vermont climbing community ever since.

Lauren brings 10 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations to CRAG-VT and is a member of CRAG-VT’s Stewardship and Community Committees. When not climbing, Lauren can be found working in various art and craft mediums, rollerblading on the bike path, listening to history podcasts, or attempting to snowboard.

Joey Catania knew it was love at first crimp when he placed his fingers upon Vermont’s glorious schist cliffs. While he fancies himself an explorer and is happiest on a remote cliff that rarely gets the attention it most definitely deserves, he’s also the first person who will strike up a conversation with you at the climbing gym and get excited to hear all about your projects. Predominantly a sport climber, but the will-they/won’t-they history with trad is always a source of debate in his various belationships.

Julia, originally from central New Jersey, came to Vermont in hopes to find other dedicated, like minded climbers. She has been climbing for almost 10 years, and has been recently touring through New England to explore all the classic climbing gems. Julia loves the Vermont climbing community, the culture it offers, and the potential it brings. Julia has a hidden talent for finding the jams in any climb, as a natural crack climber does. Her special interests include day-dreaming about the cracks tucked up at Black Mountain and guessing what cam sizes can fit in any natural, non-climbing structure. Outside of climbing, Julia is a Speech Language Pathologist for both educational and medical settings working with a variety of ages. Currently, she has a focus on adaptive climbing education and guiding; encouraging folks to explore climbing no matter the ability. You can catch Julia meandering through local gyms, striking up conversations, and always with a smile.

Kristen is a board member at large after serving for six years as President of CRAG-VT and two years as Vice President. When climbing in Vermont she spends most of her time weeding out new cracks and hammering in bolts in search of new first ascents. Kristen is also an AMGA-certified Single Pitch Instructor/WEMT and is a coach and guide at climbing at Petra Cliffs Mountaineering Center while working full time as the Director of a youth summer camp in the Adirondacks. You will most likely find Kristen and her trusty 50-pound climbing partner, Knuckles wandering in the woods up at Bone Mountain, come say hello some time and she’ll try to convince you it’s, “well worth the hour and a half stroll up to the cliff.”

Sean started climbing with friends at Pawtuckaway State Park NH in the ’90s. He started sport and ice climbing in NH during college. Later, Sean found his real passion in multipitch trad climbing, building those skills in the Gunks, Dacks, and Whites. Sean moved to San Diego, exploring the local crags and beyond, with plenty of time in Joshua Tree. After deciding to move back to the Northeast, he used geographic analysis to select a new home town. Estimating the number of climbing routes within a day trip of several small cities, it was an easy decision. With access to the Whites, Adirondacks, and everything in VT, as well as a great group of friends already living there, Burlington rose to the top. Sean moved to Vermont in 2012 and plans to stay, at least until retirement. When not climbing, Sean can be found hiking, snowboarding, sitting still, or laughing with friends.

Seth Maciejowski is a Vermont native who has been rock and ice climbing in New England and around the world for over 20 years.  He has a penchant for exploring the ugly, dirty and loose on both rock and ice.  Over the years he has served CRAG-VT as secretary and president.  In his non-climbing life, Seth serves as a electrical design engineer for Allearth Renewables and hikes and bikes with his wife Allaire and two kids, Phoebe and Ephraim.

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 is involved with the following organizations: IFMGA Aspirant (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations), AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association)