Jonathon Spitzer
Jonathon grew up hiking, climbing, and skiing around Washington State. He received his bachelor’s degree from Western State College of Colorado in recreation and business. These days his hobby has become his profession, and he can be found splitting his time between Washington, Utah, Nevada, California and Europe. After spending four years going through the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA/IFMGA) training program, Jonathon passed his final exam in the fall of 2009 and became the second youngest American to be fully certified in all three disciplines (rock, alpine and ski). During the spring and summer months he guides throughout the Cascades, the Alaska Range, British Columbia, French Alps and in Red Rock, NV. In the winter, he is a professional helicopter ski guide and avalanche educator. With trips to the Ecuador volcanoes, Denali, Mt. Waddington, and various other places in North America, he has significant expedition climbing experience as well as being a competent technical climber.
Take 5 with the Guide
If you could only take one album on an expedition?
Unplugged – Pearl Jam
Favorite movie?
Wedding Crashers
What was your first mountain?
Sahale Arm in the North Cascades with my dad when I was 10
What’s always in your snack bag?
peanut-butter pretzels
One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers?
Cherish the time outdoors whether on the summit or watching sunset from camp.
Certifications
IFMGA Certified Guide
AMGA Certified Rock Guide
AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide
Avalanche Level III
Wilderness First Responder/CPR
Leave No Trace Trainer
Awards & Recognition
Black Diamond Equipment: Field Tester/Product Development Team
Outdoor Research Clothing Connector Program
2008 W.L Gore Scholarship
Our guides’ ability was excellent. They explained well in simple, easy to understand terms, and demonstrated effectively what to do and what not to do. They gave us opportunities to practice crampon and rope travel skills on glaciers and rock, which we needed on the actual climb of Mont Blanc.
