 Chris Simmons (32 in 2005), was introduced to the mountains at an extremely young age by his parents, both lifelong skiers. Skiing led to backpacking trips and backpacking trips lead to rock climbing. While serving in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, Chris’ superiors noticed that he was always taking every possible weekend to rock climb at Tahquitz or Joshua Tree, or to go skiing at Big Bear or Mammoth. They decided to harness his enthusiasm and sent him to the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Sonora Pass, California, on Highway 108. He was also deployed for six months to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, a trip that cemented his decision to work in the mountains. After spending another twelve months on “The Ice,” Chris was hired by the National Outdoor Leadership School as a Mountaineering Instructor. Working at NOLS lead to working for Rainier Mountaineering Inc., the largest guide service in North America, in 2000. In 2003, Chris started looking for a way to add more diversity to his professional guiding experience, and found his way to Sierra Mountain Center in 2004.
Chris currently migrates between summers in Bishop and winters in Bellingham, Washington, where he lives with his partner Patsy Garcia and their dog Montana. He’s enrolled at Western Washington University, and plans to graduate in December 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Adventure Ecotourism Small Business Management. “My first attempt at college in 1991 didn’t quite work,” he jokes, “hence the Navy and my sixteen-year college plan. My father once said I made sure my academics didn’t interfere with my education. That’s still my goal.”
Favorite Guided Trips: Mt. Sill – Thunderbolt Peak Traverse in the Palisades (V 5.9)
Chris Simmons’ Resume
Objective
Build a sustainable career in mountain guiding
Experience
2004 – present:
Sierra Mountain Center, LLC, Level II Guide. Western Washington University Outdoor Program, Ski, Mountaineering, and Rock Climbing Trip Leader.
2000 – 2004:
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., Senior Guide. 49 summits of Mt. Rainier via four routes, including the classic Liberty Ridge in an eighteen hour car-to-car push. 2 expeditions to Denali (20,320 ft), with one successful summit in 2004.
2001 – 2004:
Organized and guided custom climbing trips to the Mexican Volcanoes, Ecuadorian Andes, and to Aconcagua (22,840 ft).
2003:
U.S. Antarctic Program, Field Safety Officer and Guide in Southern Victoria Land and the Ross Ice Shelf.
1999 – 2000:
National Outdoor Leadership School, Mountaineering Instructor.
Education
1991 – 1993: University of North Carolina at Asheville, Environmental Studies major, no degree earned.
2003 – 2004: Seattle Central Community College. No degree earned.
2004 – present: Western Washington University, Fairhaven College. Adventure Ecotourism Small Business Management degree, intended graduation December 2006.
Additional Training
1993 - 1994: Naval School of Health Science and Marine Corps Field Medical Technician School. Hospital Corpsman, Field Medical Technician, Fleet Marine Force. National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate earned and maintained 1995 – 1998. National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Basic maintained 1998 – present.
1999: American Avalanche Institute Level I Avalanche Forecasting
2000: Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, maintained to present.
February 2001: American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Level II Avalanche Forecasting
September 2002: American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) Alpine Guides Course
September 2003: AMGA Advanced Alpine Guides Course
December 2003: AIARE Level III Avalanche Forecasting
November 2004: AMGA Rock Instructor Course
April 2005: AMGA Rock Guides Course
Technical and Guiding Highlights
Alpine Skiing since 1976
Rock Climbing since 1990
Alpine Climbing and Mountaineering since 1998
Outdoor education instructor since 1999
Mountain guide since 2000
Climbing experience in Thailand, New Zealand, Antarctica, Alaska, Canada, lower U.S., Mexico, Ecuador, and Argentina
First ascent of Mt. Dido, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. South Ridge, 14+ pitches, V 5.9, Chris Simmons and Thai Verzone, January 2002. Reported in the 2004 edition of the American Alpine Journal.
Technical guiding in Alaska, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, and Antarctica
Technical abilities
Lead 5.10-, 5.8 in mountain boots, WI 4+, ski on alpine and telemark gear
Other relevant information
American Mountain Guides Association member since 2001.
American Alpine Club member since 2002.
Bellingham, Washington, Program Coordinator for the Alpine Safety Awareness Program, which works with local high schools and middle schools to introduce avalanche awareness to students in towns near ski areas. |
