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.

I fell in love the moment I saw the rock formations of the Hidden Valley campground, especially Intersection Rock. I watched someone climbing Overhang Bypass and was boiling over with stoke. Now a dirtbag refugee from my days as a designer in the tech industry, I’m focused on AMGA courses with the eventual goal of full rock guide certification.

My favorite day out is a long moderate multi-pitch climb, with an excess of friendly heckling at groups nearby. Moving fast over technical terrain is one of the best feelings in the world, second only to asking another guide if they need to be rescued off the 5.6 they are climbing.

When I am not climbing, thinking about climbing, photographing climbers, or sleeping upon my hoard of collected booty, you can find me painting large canvases, working on hand-drawn typography or illustrating in general.

If you ever notice a blank look in my eyes, it is safe to assume that I am plotting my way to the nearest Pho restaurant, or possibly the closest place to get a delicious bowl of ramen. Noodles are life, broth is happiness, and Siracha is an adventure.

In the Summer of 2021 we heard through the grapevine of an up and coming guide in our area, Matthew Pena. From our very first meeting, it was clear that he was a perfect addition to our team. Matt is a Coachella Valley native and spent his formative climbing years cutting his teeth in Yosemite, Tahquitz, and Joshua Tree. A born thrill seeker and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled far and wide in search of adventure. His experiences backpacking through the mountains of Nepal are what first inspired Matt to pursue guiding as a career. The privilege of spending time in beautiful places, instilling respect for the environment in others, and sharing his passion for climbing is a dream come true! And what better place to do so than in his childhood backyard, Joshua Tree. Matt has an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification and continues to advance his technical skill set through PCGI coursework. When Matt is not climbing, you can likely find him at the local skate park or running into the mountains to snowboard. His undeniable talent and warm energy make him a pleasure to climb with.

Stephen Roriston was born and raised in New Jersey and found his love for climbing 9 years ago while attending high school in New Hampshire. His love for the outdoors eventually led him to Prescott College to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Adventure Education. When Stephen isn’t climbing you can find him baking, playing Magic the gathering or occasionally dabbling in bike packing, rafting, or backcountry skiing. Stephan’s favorite part about Joshua Tree is the vastness and rawness of the terrain and how you can go from scrambling to caving to climbing all in one day. Stephen is full of energy and will brighten your day with his sense of humor and big laugh! 

• Born and raised in New Jersey
• Started climbing in 2014 in NH while in high school 
• Went to Prescott college to study Environmental Sciences and Outdoor Education 
• Likes baking, board games (especially Magic the gathering), and longboarding
• Favorite foods are Chicken Pot Pie and Ramen

Favorite climbs: Run for your Life, Double Dip, and anything else slabby. 

What I love about the park: is the feeling of adventure that the park has. I love scrambling, caving, and climbing all to create the most creative way to get from point A to point B. The openness/rawness of the park. It lays everything out in the open, what you see is what you get. 

Things I like to do outside: Mostly climbing and hiking. I dabble in bike packing, white water rafting, and backcountry skiing, but I love my warm dry sport of climbing 

Originally from Culpeper, Virginia, in a previous life Daniel graduated from the Naval Academy with a BS in aerospace engineering and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. He was commissioned as a Naval Aviator and flew the EP-3E Aries II from 2014 to 2020. Wow!! Now that he’s able to pursue his dream job, Daniel loves the days he has the opportunity to provide higher-level instruction to climbers of all skill levels. Climbing some quality pitches is always a bonus and splitter cracks are his favorite. He is a skilled photographer and coffee aficionado.

Certifications – AMGA Rock Guide

Skyeler started climbing over 20 years ago, became a wilderness guide in 2001, began guiding international trips in 2005, and instructed mountaineering courses for Outward Bound in 2011. He led the first-ever expedition to the Himalaya by an American Outward Bound School in 2016 and went on to lead adventure-based and service learning programs in 13 countries. Highlights include 7 seasons in the Andes/Amazon, and multiple trips to the Himalaya.

Notable ascents include a One-Day-Winter Ascent of the Leaning Tower (West Face) in Yosemite, a One-Night-Full-Moon Ascent of Moonlight Buttress in Zion NP; a 15 hr car-to-car onsight of the Southern Arete of the Painted Wall in the Black Canyon, and onsight-Free Soloing a new route on an obscure 18,000′ peak in Nepal…

As fate would have it, Skyeler’s very first traditional lead climb was in Joshua Tree! He has cultivated a deep love and respect for this landscape and community ever since. His favorite routes/places in the park are the Astro Domes, specifically the routes Figures on a Landscape and Such a Savage. Skyeler’s currently obsessed with seeking out obscure lines established by historical figures of the climbing world.

When not climbing Skyeler is very interested in ethnobotany and herbalism, enjoys growing a variety of medicinal plants and making helpful salves, teas, and tinctures. He’s a serious student of Yoga, fermenter of cabbage & beet, mediocre ukulele strummer and singer of sentimental ballads.