Avery landed in Joshua Tree and began working for Cliffhanger Guides in 2019 as the full time office admin. With over 7 years of experience working in the recreation industry and in the small business realm, she loves facilitating unforgettable experiences for people, building community, and nerding out on business logistics. An avid climber herself, working with the Cliffhanger Guides team has been a natural fit. When she’s not organizing trips behind the scenes, you can probably catch her climbing in the park. Whether she’s underneath a boulder, clipping bolts, or placing gear is of no consequence to her – she loves it all! Like all of the Cliffhanger team, Avery enjoys traveling and sampling amazing climbing areas across the country and the world. She’s climbed in Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and most recently took a trip to Mexico. She always keeps an eye on the horizon for new places to visit, people to meet, and adventures to live out. On rainy days Avery likes to curl up in bed with her cat, Percy, and binge watch anime. She’s a music festival junkie, board/card game fanatic, and seeker of exotic foods (the spicier, the better). 

Danielle Johnson grew up between Southern California and the mountains of western North Carolina. She is proud of her Filipino roots and has dedicated much of her time to guiding and teaching for affinity programs such as Flash Foxy, Davidson College, North Carolina Outward Bound BIPOC fellowship (where she got her start as an outdoor educator), Adaptive Climbing Group and All In Ice Fest. She is also the creator of the North Carolina BIPOC Climbers and is featured by Coleman USA, 57 Hours, Rock and Ice, The Guardian and Carolina Climbers Coalition. Wow! If you get the chance to climb with Danielle, you’re a lucky one!

Max first started venturing into the hills around the Northwest as a junior in high school and was completely addicted by the time he got to college in 2005. After that, he knew that he wanted to work in the outdoors and in 2008, began leading climbing and mountaineering courses for the National Outdoor Leadership School around the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions. After college, he also started teaching climbing as an adjunct instructor at the University of Oregon. The mountains and rocks of the western US have taught him to love and cherish life in the hills and he’s taken those lessons to areas all over North America as well as to Europe, Chile, and Argentina. Highlights include a free ascent of Zion’s Moonlight Buttress, five 1000-2000′ walls in Red Rock in a day, the Beckey-Chouinard in 5.5 hours, and establishing multiple 5.13s at the Northwest’s premier crack climbing venue. Currently, he loves nothing more than sharing that passion with other people who are excited about climbing and mountaineering. Max is an AMGA Rock and Alpine Guide and is actively pursuing full IFMGA certification. He’s also thankful to receive support from CAMP North America, Cilogear Packs, Honeystinger and Rhino Skin Solutions.