Guides Page

Guides Page

Yosemite National Park guides have decades of experience to lend to your adventure. Yosemite Mountaineering School guides are your ticket to exploring the park's backcountry. We offer rock climbing, hiking, and backpacking during the warmer months and backcountry ski tours in the winter.  Meet some of our guides below. 

Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service

Dave Bengston

Director, climbing guide since 1985, 6 yrs. as Chief Guide. AMGA Rock Certified guide. Leave No Trace Master Certified. Extensive skiing and alpine climbing experience. Big wall guide with 48 ascents of El Capitan, many speed records.

 Walter Flint

Assistant Manager.

Doug Kerr

The man who makes things happen.

 Climbing Guides

Bill Russell YMS climbing guide since 1993; began guiding in 1983. Veteran of Yosemite big wall first ascents, desert towers and many alpine ascents. Guides in Red Rocks, NV during the winter. Previous Yosemite Search and Rescue Team member. 
Ken Yager  YMS climbing guide since 1995. Veteran of many first ascents in Yosemite. Film crew rigger and co-creator of climbing archives for Yosemite. Yosemite climber for more than 20 years. 
Scott Stowe YMS climbing guide since 1995. Part of the "Dream Team" speed wall climbers. Over 50 ascents of El Capitan, including 2 first ascents; Reticent Wall & Every Man For Himself. Climbing since 1984. 
Kevin Sesler YMS climbing guide since 1997. More than 9 El Cap ascents. Active in Yosemite Search and Rescue. Extensive free climbing in the US, Europe, Mexico and Asia. Spanish speaker. Leave No Trace Trainer Certified. Guides in Red Rocks, NV during the winter. 
Jeff Scheuerell YMS climbing guide since 2001. Extensive Yosemite climbing experience, including several first ascents. Has been climbing since 1985. Guided caving in Sequoia National Park prior to joining YMS. Wilderness First Responder. BS Resource Recreation  
Constantine Severis  YMS climbing guide since 2003. AMGA Certified Rock Guide. Ski patroller in CO in winter. Has guided in Telluride, CO, Red Rocks, NV and Mt. McKinley in AK. 
Hope Wolf  YMS climbing guide since 2003. APP Certified Ski Patroller. Wilderness EMT certified. Sonora Pass Highway climbing guidebook author. Climbing since 1980. Leave No Trace Trainer Certified. 
Mike Schaefer YMS climbing guide since 2001. Extensive Yosemite big wall climbing experience. First ascents in Yosemite. Patagonia and Alaska. Has been climbing since 1993.
Jo Whitford   Has lived and climbed in Yosemite for over 25 yrs. Extensive climbing experience in Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States on virtually all types of rock. In 1999 after a daring rescue she was cited with The Citizens Award for Bravery.
Grant Hiskes   Climbing in Yosemite since 1975, guiding climbing since 1995, including 5 years at YMS. Yosemite Search and Rescue since 1980. Numerous first ascents throughout CA, established new areas in Clark Canyon and the Grotto. Paramedic for 5 years. 
Chris Ecklund   Rock and alpine guiding in the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite since 1998. AMGA certified Rock Guide. More than 7 ascents of El Capitan. 

 Dave Lane

 

 Nate Kerr

 

 Josh Helling  

 YMS climbing guide since 1993. AMGA certified Rock Guide. Accomplished free climber. More than 17 ascents of El Capitan and many alpine ascents. 2 successful Baffin Island alpine big wall expeditions. PSIA certified cross-country instructor. 

 Doug Nidever

 Guide since 1980. UIAGM certified guide. YMS Guide since 1984. Multiple ascents of Yosemite's big walls and extensive Tuolumne experience. Also guides ice and alpine climbs, ski mountaineering and international trips. Father of Tobin and Layton.

Trevor Hobbs

YMS climbing guide since 1999. Former NOLS climbing instructor, extensive Yosemite climbing experience. Guides alpine and alpine ice climbing in the Eastern Sierra during the winter. 

 Hiking Guides

Joe Link   Hiking guide since 2004; hiking and backpacking in the summer. Former Search and Rescue team member. Wilderness First Responder certified. 
Starr Harrison   Starr received a degree in Outdoor Recreation from Eastern Washington University. She loves the outdoors and finds nothing more fun than teaching and watching others gain an appreciation for nature.  
Adam Gustaveson  A Yosemite local for more than 5 years, Adam knows the secret Yosemite places, and has a keen eye for spotting wildlife.  If you want to make his day, though, just ask him how the fishing has been.

 Stephen Foy

 

 Josh McClure

 

 Jean Redle

Hiking guide since 2005. Former Search and Rescue team member. Led Junior Ranger and Climbing programs in Tuolumne. Wilderness First Responder certified. 

 Cross Country Ski Guides

 Rick Stockwell 

 PSIA certified Nordic ski instructor and Yosemite Cross Country ski guide. XC and Mountain School guide since 1980. Backcountry skiing, hiking and backpacking guide and expert snow camping and survival instructor.

 Nancy Shenton

 PSIA certified Nordic ski instructor and Yosemite Cross Country ski guide since 1997. Leave No Trace trained.

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