Morgan McGonagle

    Morgan McGonagle

    Guide: Washington

    Morgan grew up in Denver, Colorado and spent most of her childhood hiking, biking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. She moved to Washington in 2019 and since has fallen in love with the jagged North Cascade peaks and lush green PNW forests. Morgan recently started ski patrolling at Crystal Mountain and this summer will be her first season working professionally as a guide. When she isn’t patrolling or out skiing steep lines in the Washington backcountry, she spends her time singing in a band with fellow patrollers, taking photos of her friends, dancing, baking sourdough bagels and jumping into cold bodies of water. Morgan has a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Dartmouth College, where she competed in Division I rugby.

    Take 5 with the Guide

    Favorite movie
    Despicable Me

    Guilty Pleasure
    The Bachelorette/Bachelor Franchise

    Favorite childhood breakfast cereal
    Honey Bunches of Oats or Raisin Bran because I’m a little weird

    If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week
    Probably my golden retriever, Sundance. Or my Mom, she’s very funny.

    One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
    Get out and climb some stuff whenever you possibly can! Go climbing with people who have more experience than you and pepper them with questions. Eat up as much knowledge as you can from them!

    Significant Ascents

    Mount Rainier
    Mount Baker
    Mount Adams
    Forbidden and Isolation Traverses, Mt. Eldorado (4-day ski traverse and ski descent)
    Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

    Certifications

    Wilderness First Responder/CPR
    AIARE Avalanche Pro 1
    Leave No Trace Trainer
    National Ski Patrol Member (1 year)

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