We met Andy when he first arrived in Joshua Tree in 2010 and were immediately drawn to his delight and enthusiasm for all things climbing-related. Many of you will recognize him from his years of working at the local climbing gear store, Nomad Ventures, where he was by far one of the most helpful and knowledgeable of the team. He is always eager to share his love of climbing, and knowledge of the Park, and he give excellent advice on any and all climbing gear. He loves to teach and is genuinely dedicated to showing people a great time (a Cliffhanger Guides Must!). Andy became the Cliffhanger apprentice in 2014, and after continuously increasing his guide certification levels in now one of the Master Guides on our guide team. He has a considerable amount of training and certification under his belt starting with AMGA single pitch instructor and more recently completing his Multi-Pitch Guide certification and Rescue courses through the Professional Climbing Guides Institute. Rest assured that a day spent climbing with Andy will be an unforgettable fun adventure. He will always do everything in his power to give you the best day ever.

 

Certifications – P.C.G.I Multi Pitch & Mentor

Jeremy, fondly known as “Jerbs”, joined the Cliffhanger crew as the apprentice during the 2017/18 season. Despite being 19 years old at the time, Jerbs came with some incredible recommendations from some of the founding fathers of the Joshua Tree climbing scene. We are really glad we brought him into the fold. Jerbs is a native of Joshua Tree and exudes local pride. He’s also a prodigy. One of the strongest climbers in So-cal, super fun to hang out with, and possesses an ever-positive attitude. Combine this with his high technical skill set and diverse knowledge of JTNP, and you have a really great guide! For Jeremy, climbing is nearly everything, ping pong is a close second, and skateboarding lands somewhere around 3rd in his priority list. He can be found seasonally bouncing between Yosemite and Joshua Tree, following in the footsteps of his old-school heroes and mentors. 

Certifications – P.C.G.I Lead Guide; Wilderness First Responder

 

Jessy is full of ambition and curiosity. Born and raised here in Joshua Tree, California, he grew up skateboarding and wrestling, both of which ignited his love for movement and self-expression and developed the mindset that mastery comes with making something a true study. Climbing is a dance, a fight, and a meditation (with a touch of engineering) all in one- and for Jessy, it is an incredible vehicle not only for his physical, mental and spiritual composure but also for finding community, camaraderie, and purpose in his life. Jessy took on Cliffhanger’s Apprentice Guide role during the 2018/2019 season and impressed us all with his genuine passion for climbing and natural teaching ability. Using climbing as a platform to teach is a dream come true and he continues to take courses and further his education and development as a guide. We are excited to see him flourish as a fully-fledged guide and teacher. If you are lucky enough to climb with Jessy, you will be charmed by his warmth, engagement, and commitment to creating a magical day for you.

Certifications – P.C.G.I Lead Guide; Wilderness First Responder

Sarah grew up right here in J Tree, running barefoot through the desert and scrambling on top of rock piles at an early age. Climbing has always been second nature to her. It’s been 6 years since she was first introduced to climbing, and was brought onto the Cliffhanger team during the 2019/2020 season. She has a background in teaching kids climbing classes and has worked with children ages 3-15. Getting them outside, connecting them with nature, and helping them explore through climbing brings her joy. She loves anything movement based that allows her to connect the mind and body, especially if it happens outside. Her aspirations of one day becoming a yoga teacher are inspired by that same practice. In the summer months, she can be found chasing cooler weather and playing in the mountains. Though Joshua Tree is her home, getting out and spending extended periods of time on unfamiliar land is really exciting. If you get the opportunity to climb with Sarah Dudley, you’ll be delighted by her gentle teaching style, patience, and love of climbing.

Certifications – P.C.G.I Single Pitch Guide; First Aid/CPR certified

 

Kelly was practically born trad climbing. From the tender age of two, Kelly was out exploring and scaling mountains with her family all over the country. Kelly’s real passion has always been for traditional adventure climbing and she has an impressive list of accomplishments and first ascents to her name. At 18 Kelly ran from the concrete jungle to the hills of West Virginia to begin an apprenticeship with the highly respected Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides. It was there that Kelly found her calling as a climbing guide. Kelly is the founder and owner of Athena Rock Climbing (ARC), a series of women’s only climbing events designed to help women advance their skills together on the rock. We met Kelly in the winter of 2015 when she traveled cross country to complete her continuing education through the Professional Climbing Guide Institute with Seth here in Joshua Tree. After spending the week in Joshua Tree, Kelly decided on a seasonal migration to the desert to fulfill her dream of guiding year-round. Kelly now lives the dream of guiding for half the year in Joshua Tree and the other half organizing ARC clinics. She is always seeking to advance in the field, and became the first female guide to attain the Multi-Pitch Guide certification through the PCGI in 2019. When she is not guiding, climbing, or hunting for first ascents Kelly can sometimes be found indoors working on completing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. We love Kelly’s quick and quirky sense of humor, her most excellent technical climbing skills, and her dedication to her craft. If you’re lucky enough to climb with Ms. Fields, you’ll feel exactly the same way.

Certifications – P.C.G.I Master Guide; Wilderness First Responder