Our Mountain Guides
The professionals at California and International Alpine Guides
are dedicated to providing you a safe and memorable alpine
experience. Owner/Director Dave Miller has a tight-knit team of International and California mountain guides that are hired based on their outgoing
and friendly personalities, their formal training and their dedication to the profession
of mountain guiding.
How to choose a mountain guide:
For any technical mountain guiding, we highly recommend you look for guides that are certified and trained by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The AMGA is the standard in the United States for training and certification of mountain guides. While there are some other upstart guide certification organizations, the AMGA is the only mountain guiding organization in the United States that is recognized by the International Federation of Mountain Guides (IFMGA).
Would you choose a dentist or an attorney with no formal training or certification? Then why chose a mountain guide, with whom you place your well being, with no formal technical training?
For trekking and backpacking it's important you choose a professional who is familiar with the area and culture in which they are guiding.
AMGA Certification
All of our technical mountain guides have
undergone training through the AMGA and many are certified
by the AMGA. Certification in the United States is a voluntary
process that involves a series of 8-10 day training courses
followed by 6-10 day certification mountain guiding exams.
It is a rigorous process that represents a higher level
of mountain guiding. In rock guiding there are three levels
of certification: single pitch, rock instructor and rock
guide, with rock guide being the highest level.
IFMGA/UIAGM Certification
The International Federation of Mountain Guides
(IFMGA, or UIAGM by it's French acronym) certification represents
the highest level of mountain guide certification in the
world. It is a process that rivals or exceeds a common graduate
degree in both time and money commitments. IFMGA/UIAGM mountain
guides have been through a 4-6 year process that involves
over 50 days of guide's training and 24 days of examination
in all three disciplines - rock, alpine and ski. Less than
65 guides in the United States have achieved the international
certified level. A fully certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain
guide is qualified to guide any terrain, anywhere in the
world, whether on foot or skis.
At California Alpine Guides you know what
you're getting - friendly, personable & professional
mountain guides who will lead you effeciently & safely
through the mountains and on the rocks.
Dave Miller
Owner & Director
UIAGM/IFMGA Internationally Certified Mountain Guide & Ski Guide
AMGA certified alpine guide, rock guide &
ski mountaineering guide
Dave has been climbing and exploring the mountains of
California for over thirty five years. He has worked as a
mountain guide in rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering
and ski mountaineering throughout California, Europe, Mexico
and South America for the past ten years. Dave is the owner of California Alpine Guides and works full
time as a climbing guide in the field. Dave lives in
the Eastern Sierra Nevada minutes from Yosemite National
Park and the resort area of Mammoth Lakes.
Climbing & Skiing Experience:
Dave's
climbing adventures began back in 1980 while attending
high school in the North Lake Tahoe area of the Northern
Sierra Nevada while pursuing a career as an alpine ski racer. Twenty-nine years later Dave considers
his proudest climbing achievements to be his multiple
one-day ascents of Yosemite's El Capitan and his ascents
of remote alpine rock routes in the High Sierra.
Dave's
alpine climbing experience include long ice faces
and rock climbing routes in Washington's North Cascade
range, high altitude mountaineering in Peru, Ecuador,
and Mexico, ascents in the French and Swiss Alps as well as ice climbs throughout California and
Colorado. Dave has also climbed numerous Cascade volcanoes from Mount Shasta to Mount Baker.
His ski mountaineering adventures include
many glaciated ski tours in the French & Swiss Alps, the Coast Range of British Columbia and Alaska's
Chugach Range plus many multi-day ski tours throughout the western United
States.
Certifications/Education:
Dave is certified mountain guide in alpine climbing, rock climbing & ski mountaineering through
the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as well
as a UIAGM/IFMGA internationally certified mountain guide in
all disciplines. Dave also has a level III avalanche
training certificate and is a Wilderness First Responder.
He has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science.
Dave
is known for his backcountry culinary skill and enjoys
the creative outlet of cooking a great meal while in
the field. He believes flexibility is key to any mountain adventure and is always willing to change objectives to suit your goals and abilities.
Check out: Dave's Photo Gallery & Blog
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Photo: Dave rapelling into the Col du Chardonnay on the Haute Route |
Scott Brown
Co-founder. Lead Rock, Ski, Alpine & International Guide
AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide
For ten years, Scott has worked as a mountain guide, teaching rock climbing and ice climbing in the Sierra Nevada, Joshua Tree, Yosemite and on Mount Shasta in California. He is a co-founder of California Alpine Guides and guides in the field throughout the year. He guides high altitude mountaineering and has led 10 international climbing expeditions in Bolivia, Mexico and Peru.
Climbing experience:
He has ten speed ascents of Yosemite big walls including The Nose, Lurking Fear, and The Zodiac on El Capitan. He has logged over 40 nights on Yosemite big walls, climbed the 2000' Widows Tears in Yosemite Valley, has climbed Mt. Shasta and Mt Whitney too many times and spends his winters guiding ice climbing in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.
Certifications/Education:
A certified Rock Climbing and alpine Guide through the American Mountain Guides Association, Scott is AIARE level II certified and is in the proccess of becoming an international IFMGA certified guide. Scott has a Bachelors Degree in Recreation Administration with a minor field of study in Business from Humboldt State University and currently offers webdesign services. He has three years as an integral member of Yosemite Search And Rescue and is currently a Wilderness First Responder & LNT Trainer.
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Photo: Scott climbing somewhere |
Lyra Pierotti
Lead Rock, Alpine & Trekking guide
AMGA Rock Intstructor Training
Lyra had her first taste of the mountains atop the shoulders of the Tahoe Summer Music Festival's tuba player. Two weeks every summer throughout her youth instilled a very special appreciation of the mountain environment. In college, Lyra studied Ecology and French literature, and became an avid rock climber, exploring the deserts and the mountains (sans shoulders!). Lyra has diverted her attention from the formal study of Ecology for an unknown amount of time to pursue a career of climbing and guiding.
Lyra has guided rock climbing for six years throughout California. She has alpine guided full time on Mount Shasta and has guided two high altitude expeditions to the volcanoes of Mexico. Previously she worked as a rock climbing, backpacking and sea kayaking guide for UCSD's Outback Adventures, and as an instructor for numerous San Diego-based non-profit youth outdoor education programs
Climbing Experience:
Lyra learned to climb in Joshua Tree, making weekend trips throughout her college years. She spent several years exploring the cliffs and boulders of the southwest (including the infamous Red Rocks!) as well as rock climbing in France where she spent a year studying. Upon return to the States, Lyra immersed herself even more in climbing, and as soon as she graduated, moved to Bishop, CA. This location has afforded her much climbing time in the Eastern Sierra, Yosemite Valley, and Tuolumne, and has been a great setting to advance her skiing skills.
Certifications/Education:
With a degree in Ecology and a passion for the outdoors, Lyra worked for 6 years combining the two, forming a strong background in Outdoor Education. Lyra has completed the first of many courses with the AMGA: the Rock Instructor Course, and is looking forward to pursuing a higher education in the mountains.
Lyra is fluent in French and speaks enough Spanish to get by.
Check out Lyra's blog and photo website!
Lyra's Blog
Lyra's Photo Website
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Photo: Lyra climbing on the ultra-classic "Nutcracker" in Yosemite Valley |
Mark Grundon
Lead Rock & Alpine Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Mark has been mountain guiding for the past four years thorughout Colorado, Alaska and most recently on Mount Shasta. Mark is equally at home on rock climbs as well as alpine and ice climbs. Mark spends most of the summer season climbing and guiding throughout the Western United States, mostly in California. In the winter he ski patrols for Crested Butte, Co.
Climbing Experience:
Mark has been rock climbing since a young age while growing up in the mountains of Vermont. He excells at steep desert crack climbing as well as long Yosemite rock climbs. Mark's ice climbing experience has revolved around the superb ice climbs of Southwestern Colorado.
Certifications/Education:
Mark is an AMGA certified Rock Guide. He holds an EMT-basic and Outdoor Emergency Care Technician certificates and holds a Leave No Trace principles trainer certificate. He also has avalanche level II training. Mark has a degree in recreation and Environmental studies from Western State College in Gunnison Colorado.
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Photo: Mark climbing in The Needles of the Southern Sierra |
Lynette Mulvihill
Lead guide and head backpacking guide
AMGA certified single pitch instructor
Lynette was born in Fresno and grew up backpacking in the nearby Sierra Nevada. She began her outdoor career studying environmental science which has led her to a range of work including studying coyotes in Yellowstone Park to working on a organic farm in Hawaii. Her passion for climbing has taken her around the Pacific Northwest and Australia. She has enjoyed mountaineering guiding on Mt. Shasta and has recently began wilderness leadership with highschool students on the California central coast during winter months. Her "days off" include riding her bicycle from Portland to San Francisco, swimming, and fly fishing. She cannot remember when she last watched television.
Climbing Experience:
Lynette has climbed throughout the Western US and has explored the Sierra Nevada and Mount Shasta for many years.
Certifications/Education:
Lynette is a certified Single Pitch Instructor through the AMGA. She has a degree in environmental science from the University of California Berkeley. She holds a Wilderness First Responder, certified by the Wilderness Medicine Institute. She has avalanche awareness education with an AIARE Level I.
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Photo: Lynette climbing in Zion National Park |
Rich Meyer
Lead Alpine, Ski & International Guide
AMGA Ski Mountaineering Training
Rich has been guiding for over ten years. In addition to Sierra Nevada ski guiding, Rich has led our Ecuador volcanoes expedition for the last three years. He is also a senior guide with Shasta Mountain Guides and also works a bit for Alpine Ascents International on Mount Rainier and Denali, as well as ski guiding with NASTC.
From local ski tours in Tahoe, to guided expeditions in Alaska. Some of his adventures include: trekking in Bhutan, skiing the Haute route in the Alps, guiding on Mt. Shasta, Mt. Rainer, Denali, and guiding the volcanoes of Ecuador. Rich has logged numerous ski descents in the lower 48, Alaska, Canada, Argentina, Chile, France, and Switzerland. Rich is most often found in working in California, where he guides various routes and ski descents in addition to teaching glacier seminars and avalanche courses. Rich has had extensive training from a variety of schools, including the PSIA and the AMGA.
Certifications/Education:
AMGA ski guides course
AMGA ski mountaineering course
Widerness First Responder, certified by Wilderness Medicine Institute
American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education, (AIARE) Level I II III
AIARE: certified avalanche instructor
American Avalanche Association
NOLS: Leave No Trace, certified trainer
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Photo: "Papa Bear" Rich Meyer |
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