Chris Warner, the owner of Earth Treks, is our senior climbing guide. He is a certified Alpine guide and has led over 150 international mountaineering expeditions. Chris is one of the nation's leading Himalayan mountaineers, with ascents of Everest, K2, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Shisha Pangma, Ama Dablam and Shivling. Please see his bio for more information about his qualifications.
Rock Climbing Guides, Expedition Guides
Nelson Laur, has been guiding for Earth Treks since 1997. He has been a lead guide for Ice, Rock and Mountaineering Expeditions. Nelson has guided Earth Treks trips in Nepal, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Tanzania, Russia and throughout the U.S. Nelson has summited Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu and has been on expeditions to Nanga Parbat. He also spent time working as an instructor for Colorado’s Outward Bound Schools, a part time gig in the Grand Canyon as a back-country ranger, and a river guide on the Snake River in Jackson, WY. Nelson currently splits his time between guiding outdoor and mountain courses at Earth Treks and working for himself as a carpenter in Baltimore, Maryland where he lives with his family.
Syl Mathis, has been guiding for Earth Treks since the mid-90s. Syl has run our trips in Ecuador and Tanzania. A 30+ year veteran of the outdoor education world, his outdoor resume reads like an issue of Outside Magazine. If a sport involves mud and sweat, Syl excels at it. In his twenties, he was a competitive kayaker, competing in World Cup events. He is an Olympic Kayaking judge, an award winning artist/sculptor and director of the Voyager Program at St. Albans and the National Cathedral School. Syl, with his master's degree in Kinesiology regularly kicks Chris Warner's butt on a mountain bike. He calls those sessions "coaching opportunities."
Dan Jenkins, In the summer of 1978 Dan began his climbing career on the rugged and precipitous cliffs of Carderock overlooking the majestic Potomac River. Since then he has ventured into the mountains of 5 continents with ascents throughout the western US (including Denali), Pakistan, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Russia, Tanzania, India and Nepal. Dan's love for guiding is apparent as he conveys the beauties and subtle lessons to be learned from ascending peaks in the remote regions of the globe. Dan is Earth Treks' Director of Instructor Development, training all of the companies aspiring guides and teachers.
Austin Paulson, Austin has been a veteran of more than 70 international mountaineering expeditions. He has received advanced rock and alpine climbing training from the American Mountain Guides Association, is a level 2 avalanche forecaster and is trained as an Emergency Medical Technician. Austin has also been involved in the development and management of several university and college adventure programs in the Northeast and currently is the Director of the Outdoor Leadership Program in Greenfield, MA.
Ramiro Donoso, A resident of Quito, Ecuador, Ramiro has worked with Earth Treks since 1989. He has twenty years of experience scaling the most challenging glacial peaks in the Andes and has summitted Cotopaxi more than 250 times. Ramiro works with Earth Treks in Ecuador. He speaks English, German, French and Spanish.
Gary Dunn, Gary’s twenty years of climbing and guiding has enabled him to share his passion for the outdoors with thousands of people throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and Ecuador. He has spent over 500 days in the field as an outdoor educator teaching rock climbing , ice climbing, mountaineering , caving, mountain biking, kayaking and leadership development to a variety of audiences from at-risk youth to business leaders. Gary spent two years as a member of two Mountain Rescue Units, participating in rescues on Mt Rainier and in the North Cascades of Washington state. When he is not leading rock, ice and mountaineering programs for Earth Treks, Gary is the Assistant Climbing School Director- teaching, training staff, designing curriculums, and directing the outdoor climbing school. Gary participates in a variety of outdoor activities including cycling, back-country skiing, and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, kids and faithful companion Poke-O.
