Eric Murphy
A talented climber and guide, Eric is a 35 year resident of the Pacific Northwest. A former competitive distance runner, and cyclist, Eric was born in Alaska and introduced to the wilderness at an early age. He has led many of our mountaineering courses in the Cascades. He has been climbing for over 20 years, and has guided trips for 12 years. Eric has vast experience in the Cascades, Rockies and Andes ranges, with expeditions to Alaska, Canada, Kenya, Antarctica, Nepal, Tibet, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. His background covers technical ice, rock, and high altitude. Over the last 12 years, he has developed climbing curriculums for local organizations. Eric has guided for us in the Cascades, on Denali, Mount Vinson, Cho Oyu, Everest/Lhotse, Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro for the past 10 years. Most recently, Eric guided for us on Mt. Rainier, Kilimanjaro, Everest/Lhotse, and Denali. Eric is a Kilimanjaro expert, having led more than 60 trips on that mountain, and spent significant time with the local Chagga peoples native to the region. Other passions include ski mountaineering, ocean sailing, and winemaking. When not guiding, climbing, skiing or running, Eric can be found working at his boutique winery on Whidbey Island. See www.ottandmurphywines.com for more information.
Significant Ascents
- Kilimanjaro (65 guided, 4 routes) Machame, Lemosho, Northern Circuit, Umbwe
- Kilmanjaro circumnavigation in a day – 66 miles, 16,000 feet gain
- Denali (13 guided, 2 personal, 2 routes) W. Buttress, W. Rib, 2 Casin attempts
- Mt. Lhotse, 8516m, Nepal (1 Personal – Solo) Standard route
- Aconcagua (6 guided, 1 personal) False Polish, Polish glacier routes
- Vinson (5 guided)
- Shinn (1 guided)
- Cerro Fitzroy (2 personal) Supercouloir, California routes
- Cerro Poincenot (2 personal) Whillans route, 1 solo
- Cerro Guillamet (1 personal) Fonrouge route
- Huascuran Sur (2 Personal) Standard, Shield route solo
- Alpamayo (1 personal) French Direct route
- Chopicalqui (1 personal) Standard route
- Huandoy Este (1 personal) Lowe route
- Huanya Potosi (1 personal) Standard route
- Mooses Tooth (3 personal) West ridge, Ham & Eggs, Shaken not stirred routes\
- Mt Kenya (2 personal)
- Mt Slesse (2 personal)
- Mt Stuart (3 personal) N. Ridge, W. ridge, Stuart glacier couloir
- Eldorado (guided, personal, ski)
- Early Morning Spire
- Forbidden Peak (personal, guided)
- Mt Challenger- Picket Range
- McMillan Spire – Picket Range
- Mt Terror- Picket Range
- Mt Fury- Picket Range
- Numerous Cascade alpine climbs
- Rainer (40+ guided, 6 routes, winter, ski) Emmons, Liberty Ridge, Ptarmigan Ridge, Willis Wall, Fuhrer Finger, DC
- Baker (40+ guided, 4 routes, winter, ski) Coleman-Deming, Easton, North Ridge, Coleman Headwall
- Glacier Peak (3 personal, 2 routes) Sitkum Glacier, Frostbite Ridge
- Adams (2 personal, ski)
- Shasta (winter, ski)
- Numerous Canadian winter ice routes – Curtain Call, Polar Circus, Weeping Wall
Certifications
- Wilderness First Responder
- Avalanche Level II
- Leave No Trace Trainer
My main goal was to reach the summit which I did with relative ease, thanks in the way in which the program was run. I cannot identify any weaknesses.
