Nick Kelley
Nick grew up right outside of Portland, Maine where he fell in love with the outdoors skiing in the winter time at Sugarloaf mountain and hiking and camping at the White Mountains in the summertime. He started his outdoor career by getting a degree in Adventure Leadership from Lyndon State College in Vermont. Nick has guided many places including Mt. Shasta CA, Trinity Alps Wilderness, Olympic National Park, Penobscot and Kennebec rivers in Maine, ice climbing in New Hampshire, and Exit Glacier in Seward Alaska. Despite currently living on the west coast full time Nick learned how to rock climb and backcountry ski in New Hampshire and Vermont so he has a deep love and appreciation for the Northeast. When he’s not guiding, Nick works as a Ski Patroller for Stevens Pass.
Take 5 with the Guide
What’s always in your snack bag
Some sort of gummy candy
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding?
Skiing, climbing, mountain biking, Zelda breath of the wild
If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week, who would you choose?
Will Stanhope
What was your first mountain?
Mt Katahdin, Maine
One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
Start small and make a tour plan
Significant Ascents
Mount Rainier via DC, Emmons, and Kautz glacier routes
Mount Baker via multiple routes
Mount Shuksan via Fisher Chimney’s, Sulfide Glacier routes
Moby Grape, Cannon Cliff New Hampshire
Castleton Tower, Castleton Valley Utah
20 Ascents of Mt Shasta Via 4 different routes with multiple ski descents including Trinity Chutes, West Face, Holtum Wintun Glacier
Pinnacle Gully Huntington Ravine on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire
Standard Route at Frankenstein cliffs in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire
Chute ski decent at Tuckermans ravine on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire
Mescalito via Dark Shadows route in Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas, Nevada
Whiskey Peak via Bourbon Street route in Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas, Nevada
Forbidden Peak via West Ridge route in North Cascades National Park, Washington
Prusik Peak via West Ridge in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington
Black Velvet Wall via Epinephrine route in Red Rocks Canyon, Las Vegas
Mt. Wilson via Inti Watana & Resolution Arete in Red Rocks Canyon, Las Vegas
Certifications
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
AMGA Advanced Ski Guide Course
AIARE Level 1 & 2 with Rescue Course
AIARE Pro 1
Wilderness First Responder
