IMCS GUIDES

Raised a New Englander, I first learned to climb in the Mount Washington Valley. As an avid outdoor enthusiast and aspiring alpinist, I made the leap to sign up for my first ice climbing course at the Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest years ago. I was relieved to see that women’s specific courses were being offered, I signed up without a thought. Fast forward, I am now the head of Women’s Programs at IMCS and guide the very same clinics that I was inspired by. When it comes to guiding, I am most passionate about empowering new climbers by teaching the skills to become more independent in the outdoors.

I currently call homebase Bozeman, MT but make the seasonal migration to North Conway to guide some of the best ice climbing the US has to offer. I am an American Mountain Guide Association trained instructor and Apprentice Guide. I have spent the last few years climbing rock, ice and alpine extensively throughout the US while living out of my van. I spend my free time climbing, trail running, cycling, and listening to metal.

I was born and raised in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My love for the outdoors was immediate and permanent thanks to family vacations, summers, and weekends exploring the mountains, rivers, and lakes of the northeast.

In my early teens I ventured into the vertical for the first time on New Hampshire’s classic Cathedral Ledge. Immediately, I was enraptured by the unique experiences, places, and people climbing unlocked. Since that first climb, my passion for the mountains steadily increased alongside a desire to share access and respect for these places through guiding and education.

Since then, I’ve explored the globe, guided on three continents, and put up a few first ascents and descents. You’ll catch me smiling whether it’s a short trail run to catch the sunrise behind my home in New Hampshire, or at 20,000’ watching the mountain shadow unfold on the plains below. My limitless excitement for mountain adventures (plus a lot of training and certifications!) enables me to provide safe, customized, and unforgettable client experiences.

I found climbing through Scout trips and running around in the woods of my hometown, Milford, MA. Constantly seeking to learn more, I took 3 different NOLS courses focused on outdoor education, climbing, and wilderness rescue. In 2018 I moved to the Mount Washington Valley to be closer to the mountains and cliffs where I felt most at home. Now, with more than 13 years of climbing experience, and with a passion for teaching, I am excited to be guiding with IMCS where I can share my knowledge and work to make climbing a more accessible and inclusive sport.

Mountains, crags, desert towers, and ice pillars, give me a profound sense of awe, wonder, and curiosity. Climbing is the means by which I get to explore these places through creative movement and well practiced systems. I believe that climbing is for anybody who is interested, whether you are wanting to explore the world in a new way, find community, or you are on a personal journey of healing and growth. I bring a balance of enthusiasm, patience, compassion, and knowledge to guiding and I look forward to working with you to help you reach your goals.

You can find me playing in the mountains, woods, rivers, or deserts, helping to plan Ice Fest, or behind the counter at IME.

The seed of my climbing interest started in the late 1990’s when I was first introduced to the world of climbing by my middle-school gym teacher. (Thank you Mr. Case!) While at college in the Adirondack Mountains my passion for climbing & training for climbing fully blossomed, and where I first started guiding. I am a proud graduate from Paul Smith’s College with a B.S. in Recreation Adventure Travel & Eco-Tourism.

In the early 2000’s I began coaching youth competitive climbers. By 2016 I became a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). I enjoy training and sharing knowledge of movement with clients. Many of my climber clients progressed all the way to compete at the national level. 

I have coached youth and collegiate athletes alike, working with climbing teams, clubs, programs & individuals from Paul Smith’s College, Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, West Chester State University, and Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

My primary focus is to share the wonderful world of climbing and movement in the mountains with you.

I was raised between North Carolina and New Hampshire. I joined the Army and deployed to Iraq in 2006. After my time in the service, I went to college where I fell in love with climbing. I thrive on the freedom of movement, creativity, and exploration that climbing  provides. I started guiding in 2017 and have worked here at IMCS and in the Cascades; big rugged snow covered peaks have always inspired me.

Outside of guiding I run a gear company where I design hunting saddles and other hunting equipment. Focusing on lightweight and modular gear, my goal is to make quality, versatile equipment. Hunting and climbing go hand in hand for me as they both help me explore, connect with nature, and test myself. As a general “woodsman” sharing that knowledge is important–at IMCS I feel like my job is to educate as much as simply guide.

I started climbing in the Cascade Range in Washington State over 40 years ago. I spent a few years looking at the mountains from a distance and then decided I wanted to find out what they had to offer. I found that in the mountains, I get a deep satisfaction that is spiritual, mental and physical. I enjoyed the experiences I had climbing so much that I wanted to help others find that same sense of satisfaction and adventure that I was getting.

In 1987 I started working for Rainier Mountaineering and International Mountain Guides. In 1999 I started working during the winter for IMCS. I have been lucky to travel all over the world climbing and guiding. With 219 ascents of Mt. Rainier and over 60 high altitude expeditions to Alaska, the Himalaya, Andes, Africa and beyond, I still get that same sense of satisfaction and purpose as I did over 40 years ago.

My goal is to have the climbing partners I lead, experience the same emotions I do and to help them achieve goals they though once impossible.

I am a wandering + pondering bean: often teal in color, though increasingly covered in cheetah print. I enjoy swimming, biking, climbing, hiking, rafting, zines, book clubs, laughing, dancing, being covered in dirt, playing with friends, and watching things grow. I may be found lurking around icicles, mountains, deserts, farms, puddles of water of all sizes, food, art supplies, or IME.

Many of my goals in life revolve around community building and healing through a trauma informed lens. I recently started practicing massage, and run the All Outdoors Collective here in town. In 2023 we organized the first LGBT+ ice clinic in the MWV. I aim to create more supportive, compassionate, and community-oriented spaces with IMCS!

I’m Nickel and I’ve been guiding in one form or another since 2007. I appreciate that guiding offers opportunities to work with multi-talented people from diverse backgrounds in stunning landscapes.

Cultivating experiences that heighten enjoyment of life while deepening engagement with fear serve to broaden my overall perspective and appreciation for individual and collective existence. That’s what I dig about life…I get older and it stays muy interesante.

Let’s go climbing!

I started climbing in 1986 at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. Instantly, I knew I wanted to continue climbing and do more. I became an instructor in 1989 for the Special Operations Training Group, eventually training other trainers. By the time I left the Corps, I was the senior enlisted climbing instructor.