Josh has gained his breadth of experience more than 15 international expeditions in 12 countries. He has climbed a number of notable routes in the Himalaya, Andes, Coast Range, Patagonia and the Arctic. He has put up significant first ascents on alpine walls up to 3,000 feet high in some of the most remote corners on the planet.
With his personal expedition experience serving as the backbone of his career, Josh has honed his craft while working as a NOLS Mountaineering/Rock Climbing Instructor, an instructor for Green Mountain College and while teaching climbing seminars for various organizations throughout the country. Josh is also the founder and director of the School for International Expedition Training (SIET), an institution that focuses on training aspiring mountaineers: http://expeditiontraining.org/index.php
During his years with NOLS, Josh helped develop the NOLS rock climbing program in Argentina, served as a program supervisor for the Mountaineering/Rock Climbing Program at the Rocky Mountain Branch, helped develop the high angle rescue program and authored numerous articles for the institution.
Josh is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, has a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, has an AIARE level II avalanche certification and has received a number of awards for his international climbing endeavors, including the Mugs Stump Award and the Lyman Spitzer Cutting-Edge Award.
Some favorite routes include:
• ‘The Ivory Pillar’ Snaggle Tooth, Greenland, (V 5.10+, 3,000′ first ascent)
• ‘Voices in the Night’ Cerro Piritas, Argentine Patagonia (FA), (V 5.11, 3,000′ first ascent)
• ‘Franco-Argentine Route’ Fitzroy, Argentina (ED 5.11b, M4, AI 50° 2,500’)
• ‘1984 Route’ Sphinx ~17,500’, Peru (20 pitches, 5.11c on-sight)
• ‘West Face Direct’ Nafees Cap on K7, ~20,000’, Karakorum, Pakistan, first ascent attempt
