Maia Crichlow

Maia was born in San Francisco and raised in Brooklyn, where skyscrapers far outnumbered trees and snowfall was a rare event. She later attended Dartmouth College, earning a degree in Glaciology with a concentration in remote sensing, alongside studies in Human-Centered Design. While at Dartmouth, Maia discovered her passion for guiding. She led mountain biking trips in Squamish and Sedona, and ski trips in the San Juans, the Swan Range, and Cooke City, and fell deeply in love with alpinism on Mount Washington’s compact terrain, where she spent much of her free time. Today, Maia splits her time between Washington and Bozeman, Montana, trading dense cityscapes for wide-open spaces and big mountains. When she’s not guiding, she’s usually skiing, ice climbing, or knitting something warm for the next adventure.

Take 5 with the Guide

What was your first mountain?
I climbed Mt. Lassen for my 5th birthday with my family. I didn’t ask for uppies once!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding?
Knitting. Or alpine romping. Or both at the same time.

What’s always in your snack bag?
Dates

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

One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
Cultivate a rich inner life — you need something to entertain you on hour 36!