Sam Magro
Owner & Chief Guide
Sam is the owner and Lead Guide for MAG. He has guided professionally on rock, ice, skis, & alpine since 2004 throughout the contiguous US, Alaska, Europe, and South America. He has developed climbing curricula for MAG, Montana State University, and has been commissioned to develop climbs by the Bhutanese government in the Himalayan foothills, among other roles. He has made successful guided ascents in all disciplines including 2,000′ 5.12 rock climbs, link-ups of WI6 ice routes, technical mountaineering in Peru and Alaska, and ski descents of couloirs up to 50 degrees. He firmly believes a good guide should be dedicated to high personal climbing or skiing goals in order to always improve, learn, and maintain our skills. Then as guides, we come to the mountains carved by experience in addition to being molded by industry standards and formal certifications.
In addition to Sam’s climbing achievements, he is also the proud father of one with twins on the way!
Certifications/Titles:
- AIARE Avalanche III/PRO 2
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- HAR (High Angle Rescue) & Gallatin County Search & Rescue Team Member
- American Avalanche Association PRO member
Significant Achievements/Ascents:
- First Ascents: “Infiniti Line” (V, 5.12b, C1, 1,000’), “Sanctum Sanctorum” (5.12+, 900’), “Velvet Hammer” 5.12c (900′), Vishnu Splitter (5.13a)
- First Ascents (winter): “The Reverie” (WI 6+, M7/A1 600’), “Raven Crack-ed” (1,400’ WI 5+ M7), “The Jocko-Phillip” WI6, M8/9, 650′. W. Mendenhall Tower (n. face), AK (AI5, M5, A1, 2500′)
- Yosemite: El Capitan: The Salathe Wall (VI, at 5.11+, C2), Free Rider (VI, 5.13a), The Shield (VI, C4, 5.11). Half Dome, Middle Cathedral, etc.
- Patagonia: Cerro Torre’s West Face/Ragni Route. Fitz Roy’s Cassarotto Pillar (Mate, Porro, y lo Demas)
- Guided on Denali, Alaska; Peru: Toccllaraju, Ishinca, Urus, Llanapacha, Pisco, and others
- Guiding: contiguous US, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, and Peru. (up to 5.12 rock, WI6 ice, & 6,000 m elevation)
- Climbing trips to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, US, Europe, and Africa.
- Two-time Mugs Stump Award Recipient for new routes in Alaska and Chile.
Peter Ramos
Peter Ramos grew up in Reno, NV with the Sierras in his backyard. In 1984 he began adventuring in the mountains when his mom took him skiing at the young age of 2. In 1990 he started climbing competitively in indoor climbing competitions. It was at 14 years old when Peter landed his first guiding job, teaching summer camps out of Donner Summit, CA.
Peter left Reno the day after he graduated high school and moved to Bozeman, MT. He attended Montana State University and eventually graduated with a Bachelors degree in Nursing (BSN-RN) in 2009. Over those years he continued to guide for various organizations and learned to speak Spanish while climbing throughout South America doing nursing projects. During that time, he also earned the following certifications; Wilderness EMT-B, Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS), and Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
He has traveled throughout the world as an Expedition Nurse, carrying out both nursing and guiding responsibilities. When Peter is not expedition nursing, he is working as a community health nurse in the local community health centers.
Peter Ramos’ current focus is to complete the AMGA requirements necessary to become an IFMGA certified guide. Peter is a valuable asset to any mountain adventure, given his guiding history, mountain knowledge, and nursing background.
Nate Opp
Nate has been a full-time active climber in the Bozeman area for over 15 years. He has established dozens of first ascents in the region and also throughout the world. Highlights include over 25 expeditions to the Alaska range, 2 ascents of Fitzroy in Patagonia including the first ascent of the Wave Effect, and an onsight free ascent of Parmakkayas’ east face(7b) in the Taurus range in central Turkey. Nate is also a lead guide for AMS in Alaska and a senior guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.
Adam Knoff
Adam grew up exploring the wilderness of Minnesota with his twin brother Eric. He likes to claim that after his first climbing class in a small state park named Taylor’s Falls, at the impressionable age of 15, he literally watched the light bulb turn on. From that moment on, climbing has encapsulated every facet of Adam’s life.
At the age of 20, Adam moved to Bozeman to attend MSU but found the calling of climbing was too difficult to ignore. In 2001 he left his life behind in Montana and became a full-time mountain guide working for RMI on Mt. Rainier. Adam has been guiding professionally ever since. With numerous expeditions to the Himalaya, Alaska, South America, and Europe, Adam prides himself on being equally versed in climbing and guiding in big mountain terrain, vertical ice and rock, and long alpine adventures. In short, there isn’t anything Adam can’t climb.
On top of his climbing, Adam was instrumental in starting the Khumbu Climbing School in Phortse, Nepal with the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation and contributes countless hours organizing the Bozeman Ice Festival and Bozeman World Cup climbing competition held annually here in town.
Now living in Bozeman full time with his wife and six-year-old son Liam, Adam has begun to branch out from merely guiding climbing to guiding fly fishing on the world-class rivers around southwest Montana. Whether it be rivers, mountains, or the vertical world, Adam says guiding has always been his calling, and the enjoyment of sharing an adventure and building a bond with new people remains his favorite part of his work.
Certifications:
- AMGA Aspirant Alpine Course
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- AIARE Level 1 Avalanche
Sam Hennessey
A native of Port Angeles, WA, Sam’s outdoor career began at a young age in the small yet rugged Olympic Mountains. These days, he lives seasonally in Bozeman MT, making the most of the incredible ice and mixed climbing in the greater Yellowstone region. His favorite routes tend to be big walls or alpine rock and ice climbs. A former college athlete, his non-climbing interests include distance running, reading, and traveling to new places.
Significant Ascents:
- Rainier, 23+ Summits by 6 different Routes, ski descent
- Denali, West Buttress (3x)
- Mt Vinson (2x)
- AK Range, Moose’s Tooth, Shaken Not Stirred V WI5 M5
- AK Range, Pt 7400, FA Gangster’s Paradise, V AI4 M6 A2
- AK Range, Mt Huntington, Harvard Route, VI 5.9 C1 and Colton Leach, VI M6
- Nepal Himalaya, FA Chukyima Go, 6259m, V M4 85 degrees
- Hyalite Canyon, Winter Dance WI6
- Canadian Rockies, Nemesis WI6, Curtain Call, WI6
- El Capitan, The Nose in a Day, VI 5.10 C1
Certifications:
- AIARE Avalanche III/PRO 2
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- IFMGA Certified Guide
Taggart Cole
Tagg started to rock climbing in the foothills of the Teton Range around his home of Jackson Wyoming at the age of two. He stuck with the sport throughout his childhood and started to alpine climb and ice climb as a teenager. Since then Tagg has spent his time climbing all over the United States, and across the globe. Going on expedition to Alaska and the Himalayas. Tagg had climbed up to 5.13 and M10 and enjoys climbing on all kinds of mediums and sharing experiences in the mountains with others.
Significant Ascents:
- Harvard Route, Mount Huntington, to summit Ridge, in 17 hours camp to camp
- The Nose of El Capitan in 14 hours
- Rock routes up to 5.13a
- Mixed routes up to M10
- First ascents up to 5.11 and M7
- Guided and personal expeditions to technical routes in the Alaska Range
- Climbing expeditions to Europe and Asia
Certifications:
- Wilderness First Responder
- CPR
- AMGA Apprentice Rock, ice and Alpine Guide
Lindsay Fixmer
Since her initiation into climbing in 1999, Lindsay has traveled to world-class climbing destinations and guides clients of all abilities on rock, ice, and alpine climbs. She began a career coaching youth competitive climbing teams and managing climbing gyms. Lindsay transitioned to guiding and has worked extensively across the country and abroad. Lindsay is an ice aficionado, naturally bringing this passion to Montana Alpine Guides. When Lindsay isn’t climbing, you can catch her playing guitar and singing or enjoying a homemade cappuccino.
Notable guiding achievements and ascents:
- Rock, ice, and alpine guide since 2006
- Sierra, CO and MT Rockies, Tetons, N Cascades, Alaska, Southeast, Northeast, NV, UT
- Ice: San Juan & Elk Ranges, CO; Hyalite Canyon, Bozeman, MT; Cody, WY; eastern Sierra; New Hampshire and Vermont; Iceland
- International: Mexico, Argentina, Iceland
- First ascents in Iceland and India
Certifications:
- AMGA CWI Provider Trainer
- AMGA Certified Rock Guide
-
AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
-
AIARE Pro II Certification
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- Leave No Trace Trainer
Ryan Griffiths
- First full ski traverse of the Madison Range.
- First ascent of ‘Whipper Snapper Direct’ 5.11+ 500’.
- First ascent of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ 5.11 6 pitches
- Multiple first ascents of ice climbs in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including ‘Moments Notice’ WI5+ 700’.
- Ascent of El Capitan, Yosemite. Triple Direct 5.10 C2.
- One day ascent of NW face of Half Dome, Yosemite.
- 3rd ski descent of the Archangel Ridge on Mount Foraker.
- Ski descent of Denali via the Messner Couloir.
- Catch a Tiger Traverse, Mount Cowen. 5.11 3,500′.
Certifications:
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- AIARE Pro Level 1
- AMGA Apprentice Ski Guide
- AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
Matias Francis
- 35+ summits of Mt. Rainier via 4 routes
- Mt. Hunter via the West Ridge (AK)
- Guided summits of Denali (x3), Mt. Baker, Forbidden Peak, Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Triumph, Gannett Peak, Granite Peak, and others
- 15+ first ascents in MT and WY
- Triple Direct on El Capitan, South Face of Mt. Watkins, and other big walls in Yosemite and Mexico
Certifications:
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- AIARE Avalanche Level 2
- Leave No Trace Trainer
- AMGA Rock Guide Course
- AMGA Advanced Rock Guide Course
- AMGA Ice Instructor Course
Seth Timpano
Seth has been climbing for the past 20 years and leading trips as a full-time professional mountain guide for 16 years. To date, he has guided and organized 45+ international climbing expeditions plus an additional 20 expeditions to Alaska. He has guided over 100 trips on Mount Rainier and dozens of technical climbs in Antarctica, Peru, Indonesia, Montana, Nepal, Argentina, Wyoming, and Washington. When he is not guiding, he is pursuing his own climbing goals from high altitude unclimbed peaks to searching out unexplored corners of the mountains in the American West.
Significant ascents:
- First Ascent of Northeast Buttress of Barnaj I (India)
- First Ascents of the East & West Faces of Pk. 13,100 (Alaska)
- First Ascent of Privete Spacibo (Kyrgyzstan)
- 6 of the 7 summits in the Fitz Roy Massif (Argentina)
- 40-50+ new ice & mixed routes in Montana & Wyoming
Guiding Highlights:
- Mount Everest (Nepal)
- Denali (Alaska)
- North Ridge of Mount Stuart (Washington)
- Mount Rainier (Washington)
- Mount Cook (New Zealand)
- Ski the Last Degree – South Pole (Antarctica)
- First Ascent of Soholt Peaks Traverse (Antarctica)
- Mount Vinson (Antarctica)
- Mount Shinn (Antarctica)
- Mount Tyree (The only 2 guided ascents) (Antarctica)
- Carstensz Pyramid (West Papua, Indonesia)
- Aconcagua (Argentina)
- Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
- Black Magic, Mummy IV, Zach Attack (Hyalite Canyon)
Ty Guarino
Ty is a New England transplant that has lived, recreated, and worked in the Bozeman area since 2008. While completing his degree at MSU, Ty began his guiding career by instructing for the Colorado Outward Bound School in Leadville CO. Upon graduation in 2012, and after four years of splitting his time between Outward Bound contracts and Bozeman, Ty has made a permanent residence in the place he loves most, Montana.
Ty has guided students and clients all over the United States as well as teaching international Outdoor Education Semesters in Ecuador. Ty’s resume includes working as the first generation of Montana Wilderness School instructors, guiding in the Alaska Range on Denali, working as a professional ski patroller at Bridger Bowl, and serving as the Snow Safety Director at Porters Ski field in Canterbury NZ. Beyond his professional career, Ty has additionally pioneered new ski descents in Alaska and Canada, as well as repeating difficult ski lines in Ecuador, Tetons WY, and New Zealand.
Certifications/Titles:
- Avalanche III/PRO 2
- AMGA Ski Guide Course
- Wilderness EMT and CPR provider
- American Avalanche Association PRO member
Significant Achievements/Descents:
- Solo ski descent of the Grand Teton via Ford/Stettner route
- Multiple repeats of Teton Classics including: Spooky Face of Nez Perce, Apocalypse couloir on Prospectors, and SE couloir of the South Teton.
- Five first descents in Revelations Range AK including the 3,500’ West Couloir of Angel Peak
- Multiple first descents in the St Elias Range AK
- Two first descents in the Purcell Range BC
- Three first descents in the Alaska Range, One-Shot Glacier
- Repeat descent of SW couloir-West ridge of Aoraki/Mt Cook South peak New Zealand
- Descents of Chimborazo 20,549’ and Cayambe 18,996’, Ecuador
- Multiple guided trips on Denali AK, Gannet Peak WY, Cotopaxi, and Antisana, Ecuador.
Allen Steckmest
Allen grew up in a small town in north-central Washington where he began skiing as soon as he could walk. His passion for skiing and the mountains has taken him to many places around the world, including ranges in Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Canada, and the Volcanoes of Kamchatka. But year after year he finds himself exploring the mountains around South West Montana. Allen guides skiing and teaches Avalanche Education courses for MAG.
Certifications:
- Avalanche Level III
- Wilderness First Responder/CPR
- AMGA Ski Guide Course
Noah Mckelvin
Originally born and raised in Denver, CO Noah fell in love with the mountains as a child where he constantly sought to be engulfed in the wilderness. He fell in love with Bozeman when he first experienced the magic of Hyalite at 19. He has a strong passion for every type of discipline in climbing. After 17 years diving into the mountains, Noah began his pursuit in guiding. He quickly found satisfaction in helping others attain their goals. Although climbing is his main passion, he also enjoys skiing, rafting, writing, and spending time with friends and family.
Significant Ascents and Descents:
-
Mount Logan Traverse East Ridge to Kings Trench Yukon Territory, Cotopaxi and Cayambe in Ecuador, Ascents of Guillamet and Saint Exupery Patagonia
-
FA of Drop The Mic (V 5.11- M8 R) and Gangsta Rap Made Me Do it (V M7 R/X) Ouray, CO
-
Many trad climbing testpieces including Must’a Been High (5.13c R/X) The Lion (5.12 X) and To RP or not to be (5.12a X) Eldorado Canyon, CO
-
Various Grade V+ 5.12 ascents in the Black Canyon including the Free Nose, Tague Your Time, and Event Horizon.
-
Various ascents in the Desert including Finger of Fate Free (5.12+ R) Worlds End (VI A4+) Hydra (A4) Wiggins Arete (5.12 R/X) Hindu Free (5.13- R)
Certifications:
-
EMT-IV/BLS CPR
-
AIARE 1
-
AMGA SPI
Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker has been pushing the limits of mountaineering for the last 30 years, evolving into one of America’s best alpinists. The Bozeman, Montana-based father of three is one of the most prolific explorers and mountaineers alive today.
At age 59, Conrad’s expansive resume only continues to grow, including accomplishments off the mountains as well. In more than 25 years of expeditions to Nepal, Conrad and his wife, Jennifer Lowe-Anker, have developed deep relationships with the Sherpa people and founded the Khumbu Climbing Center in Phortse, Nepal, which provides a variety of safety training courses to high altitude workers.
Equally at home in Antarctica, the Himalaya, or his home ice in Hyalite Canyon in southwestern Montana, Conrad continues a deep appreciation for wild places that was passed on from his father and grandfather. Though true alpine routes have been his forte, his résumé also includes big wall first ascents on El Capitan and first free ascents in Zion National Park.
At home, Conrad serves on the boards of the Protect Our Winters, The American Himalayan Foundation, The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation, and One Family Memphis.
- First ascent of the Shark’s Fin on Meru, India
- First ascent of East Face of Vinson Massif, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica
- First ascent of Rakekniven Peak, Snow Petrel Wall, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica – VI 5.10 A3
- Three summits of Mt Everest, one without supplemental oxygen, one free climbing 2nd step – highest free climb in the world
- First ascent of Continental Drift, El Capitan – VI 5.10 A4
- First ascent of Streaked Wall with Mugs Stump, Zion National Park VI 5.11 A4
- First ascent of Stump Spire, Sam Ford Fiord, Baffin IV 5.11
- Zion – Shune’s Buttress, Red Mountain, V 5.11
- Patagonia – Badlands, Torre Egger VI 5.10 A3
- Karakorum Himal – W Face, Latok II, 7108 m VII 5.10 A3
- Golden Piton Lifetime Achievement Award
- David R. Brower Award
Genevieve Magro
Genevieve Magro was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, and grew up skiing, rock climbing, and backpacking in the surrounding area. After spending her college years between New York City and Paris, she returned to her Montana roots with a deepened dedication toward her time in the mountains. In addition to being a mother and registered nurse, Genevieve oversees accounting and human resources for MAG. She has accompanied her partner, Sam Magro, on numerous rock and ice first ascents including “Sanctum Sanctorum” (5.12+, 900’) and “The Dream Catcher” (WI 5+, M5).
- Wilderness First Aid/CPR
- AIARE Avalanche Level 1
- BA in Art History and French, New York University
- BS in Nursing, Montana State University