Brien Sheedy
Brien brings a wealth of climbing, teaching and international experience to Alpine Ascents International. He has climbed the highest peak on every continent and skied the last degree to both the North and South poles. 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. He has led courses and expeditions all over the western US and Canada and worked roughly four years out of the country between Kenya, India, Chile, Argentina and Mexico.
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 Instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School where he started in 1991 and worked for over a decade, accumulating over 215 field weeks. During his time at NOLS, he spent a year and a half living and working in Kenya. During his travels in Africa, he balanced time between climbing peaks and studying Swahili.
Briend 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. Climbers on his expeditions rave about the teachable moments he imparts about local culture, language, and ecosystems.
Significant Ascents
Everest (2)
Vinson (2)
Cho-Oyu
Denali (8)
Aconcagua (9)
Kilimanjaro
Elbrus
Carstensz Pyramid
South Pole – Ski The Last Degree Expedition
North Pole-Ski The Last Degree Expedition
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
Ice Window Route, Mt. Kenya WI 3+(17 pitches)
Mt. Kenya North Ridge 5.10 (32 pitches)
Mt. Kenya (10+)
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
The expedition was incredible, logistically everything appeared to be flawless – My guides, always mindful of safety and acclimatization, made every step of the climb enjoyable, interesting and fun.
