Brien Sheedy
Brien brings a wealth of climbing, teaching and international experience to Alpine Ascents International. Brien has climbed the highest peak on every continent and has guided all over the world. He is proficient in rock, ice, big walls and high altitude climbing. He loves leading expeditions to remote hard to reach locations and helping people push their limits and succeed at difficult challenges. Brien successfully guided our 2011 Cho-Oyu expedition and 2013 Everest Expedition and is a regular in our Mountaineering and International programs.
In addition to guiding for Alpine Ascents, Brien has been the Director of Outdoor Programs at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA since 2001 and is a Senior Adjunct Instructor of Sports Studies. He is also a Senior Instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School where he accumulated over 220 field weeks leading courses and expeditions in the US and over the world. Brien worked for 1.5 years in East Africa guiding and trip leading for NOLS in Kenya and Tanzania. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY ESF at Syracuse and a Master’s Degree in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied Nepali for two years and conducted his thesis research on ecotourism in Nepal.
Significant Ascents
Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kenya North Ridge 5.10 (32 pitches)
Ice Window Route, Mt. Kenya WI 3+(17 pitches)
Mt. Kenya (10+)
Everest (2)
Vinson (2)
South Pole – Ski The Last Degree Expedition
North Pole-Ski The Last Degree Expedition
Cho-Oyu
Carstensz Pyramid
Denali (8)
Aconcagua (9)
Elbrus
Cotopaxi
Desert Shield, A3+, Zion NP
Space Shot, A2, Zion NP
Moonlight Buttress, A2, Zion NP
Prodigal Son, A2 , Zion NP
Lurking Fear, Yosemite A2
East Buttress, Middle Cathedral, Yosemite, 5.10c (11 pitches)
Northeast Buttress Higher Cathedral, Yosemite, 5.10 (12 pitches)
Crest Jewel 5.10b, North Dome, Yosemite
Eichhorn Pinnacle 5.10
Waddington Range, Peak 2968m (2nd ascent) 11 pitches, WI 4, guiding
1 year guiding in Chile
2 5 week Himachel Pradesh Expeditions in Northern India
Ixtaciuatl, La Arista de Sol
Popocatepetl, El Ventorillo Route
Liberty Ridge, Rainier
Mt. Rainier, WA (35+)
Mt. Baker, WA (20+)
Mt. Adams, WA (3)
Glacier Peak, WA
Mt. Hood, OR
Mt. Logan, WA (Cascades)
Mera Peak Expedition, Nepal
Chugach traverse
Patagonia Ice field traverse of the Campo del Hielo Sur, Chile
Talkeetna Mountains Traverse (3)
Other areas: Bariloche, Argentina; Kalymnos, Greece; Mt Kenya region, Indonesia; Patagonia, Squamish, BC; Cascades, Vantage, Spring Mt., Anthony Lakes, City of Rocks, Smith Rocks, Tuolumne, Cochise StrongHold, Adirondacks, White horse, Cathedral, Mt. Washington, Seneca Rocks, Poke-o-moonshine, Frankenstein, Mt. Washington, Boulder Canyon, Cody, Ouray, Cascades
Certifications
Wilderness First Responder
Avalanche Level II
Leave No Trace Master Educator
AMGA CWI Course Instructor
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
AMGA Alpine Guide Course
AMGA Rock Instructor Course
Awards & Recognition
Denali Pro Pin
I thoroughly enjoyed my Kilimanjaro expedition; and found it to be a 1st class experience all the way. The overall organization and logistics were top quality, and certainly exceeded all my expectations.
