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Kate Keith-Simms

Kate Keith-Simms

Guide: Washington

Kate grew up in the New Mexican desert, enjoying skiing and hiking throughout her youth. At 18, she jetted off to Norway to partake in a month long NOLS backpacking and sea kayaking course which ignited her passion for work in the outdoors. Moving to Durango Colorado for a degree in Outdoor Education, she dove into a wide array of outdoor hobbies including canyoneering, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and alpine climbing. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, big days in the alpine have stolen her heart. She still finds time for non-outdoor hobbies such as painting, reading, yoga, and lizard-esque sunbathing by a good lake.

Take 5 with the Guide

What was your first mountain?
Baldy Mountain, Taos NM

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding?
Practice meditation

What’s always in your snack bag?
Nerds Gummy Clusters (Berry Edition especially)

If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week, who would you choose?
My pops 🙂

One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
Find your joy in mountaineering as a whole, not just for the summit

Significant Ascents

Mount Baker
Mount Shuksan
Glacier Peak
Cerro Eléctrico (El Chalten)
Aconcagua (Vacas Valley Route)

Certifications

Wilderness First Responder and CPR certified
Leave No Trace Trainer
AIARE 2

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

  • cascades classics beyond rainier webinar

    Cascades Classics Beyond Rainier & Baker

    Climbed Rainier and Baker and wondering what’s next? In this webinar recording, Alpine Ascents Senior Guide Lyra Pierotti explores three classic “next step” Cascades objectives: Mount Shuksan (Sulphide Glacier), Glacier Peak, and Mount Olympus. From remote rainforest approaches and long wilderness journeys to glaciated travel and alpine scrambling, each climb offers a completely different adventure. […]

  • fueling the climb: nutrition for mountaineering

    Fueling The Climb: Nutrition for Mountaineering

    In this webinar recording, Alpine Ascents International welcomes registered dietitian Alyssa Leib of Uphill Athlete for a practical, science-backed deep dive into nutrition for mountaineering performance. Alyssa breaks down how to properly fuel for training, long days in the mountains, and demanding expeditions—plus shares actionable strategies you can immediately apply to improve energy, recovery, and […]

  • from gym to glacier: training for rainier and other cascade climbs

    Training for Mount Rainier (and Beyond): How to Train Smarter for the Mountains

    What does it really take to feel strong, steady, and capable in the mountains? In this recorded webinar, Alpine Ascents guide Dom DeMatteo breaks down a practical, individualized approach to training for Mount Rainier and other mountaineering objectives—without disappearing down a rabbit hole of exercise physiology. Instead, Dom focuses on the real demands of climbing […]

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