The first thing you will quickly realize about Ian is his never-ending stoke to be out sharing the mountains with people, whether on rock, on mountain tops, or sliding down them on skis. Most notably his passion to be out in the mountains has been known to spur people to greater heights. Ian is an internationally licensed IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, meaning he is certified as an Alpine, Rock and Ski guide through the AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) and works on the AMGA National Instructor Team. Additionally, he works for NWAC (the Northwest Avalanche Center) as a professional observer, is a Senior Editor for OutdoorGearLab, and authored a local climbing guidebook entitled SuperTopo: Washington Pass Climbing. Ian has instructed over 70 AIARE Level 1 and Level 2 courses and works for AIARE as a Pro-Instructor; teaching professional level avalanche courses in addition to their recreational ones as well as a working as an AIARE Instructor Trainer. Some of Ian’s experience ranges from having established over a half-dozen first ascents in his home range of the Cascades as well as opening new routes in farther-off regions such as the Waddington Range, Patagonia and the Alaska Range.
