Tammy VuPham

Tammy VuPham

Guide: Washington

Tammy (she/they) grew up in hot, flat Georgia and now splits time between Washington and Utah. She spent her college years shuttling to and from the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, where she thought steep sport climbing would take up the rest of her life. After studying Human Factors in graduate school, Tammy moved out West only to discover the magical wonders of snow and backcountry skiing. You can now find her searching for endless winter and advocating for inclusion in snowsports. Tammy is excited to support AAI with their BIPOC Guide Development Program and community partnership efforts.

Take 5 with the Guide

What was your first mountain?
The Collegiate Peaks in Colorado while moving out West. I remember driving through Kansas and BAM, the mountains were calling.

What’s always in your snack bag?
Candied pecans

If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week, who would you choose?
Julia Child…I want to learn her cooking secrets!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding?
You’ll find me dancing. From salsa and swing, to ballet and breakdancing, I’ve tried it all!

One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
Sometimes, we might move fast in the mountains, but remember to pause and take it all in!

Significant Ascents

Mt. Rainier
Mt. Baker
Mt. Hood
Ptarmigan Traverse on skis
Ski mountaineering descents in New Zealand, Japan, and Patagonia

Certifications

Wilderness First Responder and CPR certified
AIARE Pro 1 and Instructor
AMGA Apprentice Rock, Ski, and Alpine Guide
Leave No Trace Trainer

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

  • Cascades Conditions Report 5/13/2026

    Greetings Fellow Climbers, The Cascades climbing season is now fully underway, and overall climbing conditions across Washington remain quite good for mid-May. Over the past two weeks, our teams have been active on Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and throughout the Cascades, with guides reporting generally favorable travel conditions, strong route coverage on the upper mountains, […]

  • Cascades Conditions report 5/6/2026

    Rainer is in Full Swing! This past week has been a gorgeous one here in the PNW with ample sunny skies across the region. Our guides have been calling in great conditions from all around the state, with lots of people climbing and skiing off the tops of the peak in the Cascades.  As a […]

  • The Cascade Climbing Season Kicks Off this week!

    Here we go! We’ve begun the summer season and our teams are already in the field. Our first Mount Rainier climb reached the summit on April 28, and our first mountaineering course on Mount Baker also successfully summited yesterday. It’s a strong start to the season. While there has been considerable discussion around a low […]

Partners & Accreditations

Alpine Ascents International is an authorized mountain guide service of Denali National Park and Preserve and Mount Rainier National Park.
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