Nathan Disser is the Director and Head Guide of Southwest Adventure Guides LLC. He has climbed extensively, here in North America, and abroad. He has led or participated in climbing expedtions to Aconcagua (22,841 ft.), Mount Logan (19,566 ft.), Denali (20,320 ft.), Chopiqualqui (20,841 ft.), Mount Bona (16,421 ft.) and many more. He began guiding in the St. Elias Mountains (Alaska) and has also guided on Mt. Rainier (For RMI). He has a BA in Psychology, is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Level II Avalanche certified. Nate is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and has also completed his Advanced Alpine Guide courses with the AMGA in pursuit of his Alpine Guide Certification.

(Nate on the summit of Artesonraju)

(Aaron skiing in the San Juans.)

Aaron Ball has spent many years skiing and climbing throughout the US and recently settled in the San Juans. He has skied extensively in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Wasatch, Tetons, and Rocky Mountains. He worked as a staff trainer and lead instructor for Outward Bound leading courses up to 30 days long. He currently owns and operates Southwest Rescue offering courses in wilderness medicine and swiftwater rescue. He is Level 2 avalanche certified, is a Wilderness EMT, a Level 1 AIARE avalanche instructor, and a proud father.

(KC in Colorado National Monument)

KC Baum Instructs rock ice and mountain courses in Colorado. He also guides and teaches rock climbing in Red Rocks, Nevada and in various locations in Arizona. KC has been a professional guide for over 20 years and teaches all of our AMGA Single Pitch and Rock Instructor Courses. He is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and is a guide examiner for the AMGA.

(Marc hanging it out in Ouray.)

Marc Beverly, teaches avalanche courses and guides ice climbing trips for us in the San Juan Mountains. Originally from the alpine mecca that is Albuquerque, NM Marc, who is also a Physician's Assitant and Paramedic, is an accomplished rock/ice/mixed climber, and skier. He is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and is also a Level 1 and 2 AIARE Certified avalanche instructor. You can read more about Marc, or take one of his professional rescue courses, at www.strikerescue.com.

(Brendan in Bolivia.)

Brendan Cusick, brings with him over 13 years of diverse guiding experience in both rock and alpine climbing. He's climbed extensively throughout the US, South America, and Asia, with first ascents and many hard alpine routes to his credit. Brendan is AMGA Trained, has a Wilderness First Responder Certification, Level 3 Avalanche Training, and speaks Spanish fluently. He guides many of our multi-day mountaineering and ice climbing courses, as well as our expeditions in South America and Alaska.

(Keeton in the San Juans)

Keeton Disser is the SWA Guides Office Manager. Aside from her superb organizational skills, she is also an accomplished rock climber, mountain biker, and the best art teacher this side of the Mississippi. Keeton is most at home in the southern Utah desert where she can be found jamming her way up the latest test piece Indian Creek crack or yet another tower. She is Level 1 Avalanche certified and is also certified in Wilderness First Aid.

(Steve with way too many big cams on his harness)

Steve Crowthers Instructs rock ice and mountain courses in the San Juans mountains. He has climbed throughout Colorado and Southwest Utah, He is a certified EMT and an AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager. He has climbed Big Walls in Yosemite, Zion and Canyonlands area of Utah.

(Gary feeling inspired in Ecuador.)

Gary Falk Guides rock climbing, mountaineering, and skiing in the San Juans, Tetons, Wind Rivers, Canyonlands, The Black Canyon, City of Rocks, and the Devil's Tower. Gary also guides many of our trips in Alaska, Mexico, and South America. A former personal trainer, he specializes in achieving realistic climbing goals through hands on education, helping his clients build confidence through progressive challenge. Gary's motto: "The best climber in the world is the one having the most fun!" - Alex Lowe. Gary is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and has also completed his Ski Guides Course in pursuit of IFMGA Certification. He is also WFR certified.

(Dave deep in the San Juan backcountry)

Dave Henritze brings with him over 25 years of diverse climbing and guiding experience. Dave began climbing during the proliferation of new routes in the Black Canyon and Indian Creek, sharing many a cold night on ledges and many a rattly finger lock in the pursuit of new routes and wild adventures. Dave is a passionate teacher and sharer of backcountry knowledge, and he leads many of our backpacking and peak trips in the San Juans during the summer. Dave is WFR certified and has also completed his Rock Instructor Course with the AMGA.

(Andrew about to test his theory)

Andrew Klotz teaches our Avalanche Courses and guides our Backcountry Ski trips in the San Juan Mountains. Having climbed and skied extensively throughout the US, Canada, and select locations in South America, he's developed a particular affinity for the study of avalanche phenomenon here in the San Juans. Don't expect to reach Andrew by phone or email on a powder day, as he's sure to be doing "field research" in his quest to find the most stable line to ski. Andrew is an AMGA Certified Ski Guide, and is actively on the path to becoming a certified Ski Mountaineering Guide. Andrew is WFR certified, has completed Level III Avalanche training, and is an AIARE certified instructor.

(Josh on the summit of Mt. Elbrus)

Josh Kling though a new addition to our guiding staff, brings with him a wealth of climbing and guiding experience. He's a veteran of the Fort Lewis College Outdoor Pursuits program, having led or participated on trips to Denali, Orizaba, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, and Elbrus. He's climbed extensively here in the San Juans, and has also guided for RMI on Mt. Rainier. Josh is WFR certified, has completed Level III Avalanche training, and is an AIARE certifed instructor. He has also completed his Ski Guides Course with the AMGA.

(Heidi on the approach to Aconcagua.)

Heidi Kloos has been instructing and guiding rock climbing and mountaineering since 1992. Born and raised in the mountains of Western Colorado, her love of travel and climbing has taken her to just about every corner of the world. She's equally at home on the slopes of a 20,000 ft. peak as she is at a hanging belay on a long multi-pitch rock climb. Heidi guides for us in both the summer and the winter, and instructs many of our women's programs here in the San Juans. Heidi is one of the few American women to be a Certified Alpine Guide. She is also a Wilderness First Responder and Level 2 avalanche certified. She's easily one of the most enthusiastic climbers we know!

(Scott preparing to tie into the sharp end in Castle Valley.)

Scott Massey instructs our rock, ice, and mountaineering courses in Colorado. He has climbed extensively throughout the US, with Colorado and West Virginia being his personal climbing favorites. He bring over 8 years of experience teaching rock and mountain courses for Outward Bound across the West. Scott is Level 2 avalanche certified and Wilderness First Responder certified, and is actively pursuing AMGA certification. He is a Virgo, enjoys deep powder, polyester disco shirts, and steep rock.

(Matt on top of N. Six Shooter in the Creek)

Matt Pickren guides a wide variety of trips from rock or ice climbing in the San Juans to backpacking in Utah. He is a certified Wilderness EMT, holds a level 1 AIARE certification and has completed the Rock Instructor Course with the AMGA. Matt has climbed big walls in CO, UT, and CA and over 60 desert spires. He has also climbed and guides peaks in the Rockies, the Cascades and S. America. Matt is active on the local rescue team and has graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Biology. Matt has become one of our most requested guides and after you experience his enthusiasm for climbing and the mountains you'll want to climb with him again too!

(Dave trying to stay warm in the San Juans.)

Dave LaRocco instructs rock, ice and mountaineering courses in the San Juans, and the Utah's Canyonlands. He has degrees from American University and Prescott college. He has climbed throughout the Western U.S. and Canada and has summited many peaks in Canada and the Canadian Rockies. He is level 2 avalanche certified and has a Wilderness First Responder. He is an AMGA Certified Top rope Site Manager.

Rodrigo Callupe is a full time mountain guide and climbing instructor. He has been guiding for 20 years in Peru's Cordillera Blanca and is UIAGM/IFMGA Certified through the Peruvian Mountain Guides Association (PMGA). He has guided all of the major mountains in the Blanca numerous times, including Huascaran, Alpamayo, Artesonraju, and many, many more. Rodrigo is unrivaled in the Blanca for his ability to organize trips effectively, and guide both easy walk-ups and hard alpine climbs with style. He speaks English and Spanish.

Cristobal Corona organizes our trips and logistics services in Mexico. He has logged many ascents in Mexico, the Alps, Pakistan and in the United States. He has been guiding the Mexico volcanoes for the last 20 years and is one of Mexico's most respected guides. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He speaks both English and Spanish.

Marcelo Puruncajas organises and runs our support services in Ecuador as well as guides trips. He has been climbing the mountains of Ecuador for the last thirty years and has Ecuador's top guides working under him. He speaks both English and Spanish. Marcelo is a Certified Mountain Guide through the ASEGIUM in Ecuador.