We honestly appreciate you taking the time to read about us and truly think our goals and values as a company are really what set us apart at every level of your experience. First please reach out with any questions you might have and we will respond as promptly and fully as possible. Secondly once in the field with Ian Nicholson (AKA The Washington Alpine Guide) there are few guides who can match his rare combination of technical skill and keen awareness for safety with a seemingly infinite level of patients, passion for his guest experience, and teaching ability. Ian truly gets immense joy out of his guests experience be it learning a new skill, moving over stone, or descending the backcountry run of their dreams.
Ian’s experience ranges from having been guiding professionally for 17 years and is an internationally licensed IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide. This means he is certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as a certified Rock, Alpine and Ski Guide. An IFMGA/UIAGM is the highest level of credential that a mountain guide can hold in the US or anywhere in the world.
Ian’s passion for being in the mountains is infectious and there is few things that bring him more joy than helping folks achieve their goals, push their limits, and learn new skills when it comes to adventuring in the mountains. Besides being an IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian works on the National Instructor team for the AMGA helping to train the next generation of Mountain Guides. Some of Ian’s other experience comes from having instructed over 100 AIARE 1 and AIARE 2 courses and. Ian also works for AIARE on a National level teaching their Pro level courses and assists with their instructor trainings. Ian previously spent 5 winters working for the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) as a professional observer in the Snoqaulmie Pass and Cascade West-South (Crystal - Mt Rainier) zones an additionally having worked in the Stevens Pass region for two seasons.
Ian is also a gear junkie and never tires discussing new trends and equipment in the outdoor industry. As such he feels lucky to be a Senior Editor for OutdoorGearLab.com where he still author over a dozen reviews annually. Ian’s local knowledge is legendary which helped to to authored the local climbing guidebook entitled SuperTopo: Washington Pass Climbing and is in the midst of publishing a follow up book on classic climbs of the North Cascades. In early 2023 should release a major update to the Mountaineers Self-Rescue book.
Ian lives in Seattle where he has lived the last 25 years with his wife Rebecca, two son’s: Henry (6 yrs old) and Hayden (2.5 yrs old) and their 12 year old cat Neve. Thank you so much for considering climbing, skiing, or taking a course with Ian and please feel free to reach out with any questions and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
