Executive Director, Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Brett possesses an obvious passion for both rock climbing and exploring the deepest recesses of this amazing desert landscape.

Wanting to share his enthusiasm, he opened Moab Cliffs and Canyons in 1999 and since then has introduced hundreds of people to the thrill of vertical play. A native Utahn, he began rock climbing more than 25 years ago in the Wasatch and Wind River Mountains and has subsequently established many routes throughout his home state.

Brett moved to Moab in 1985 and began his adventure career as a commercial raft guide, logging thousands of commercial river trip miles while working on 20 rivers in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Russia, Mexico, and Argentina/Chile.  A kayaking obsession quickly grew, culminating with dozens of Class V descents on many of the classic rivers of the western U.S. and Mexico.

Concurrently, he worked as a mountain bike guide when the sport was still in its infancy, founded a bike touring company and pioneered a handful of trips that are now common for more than a dozen companies operating today.

Since 1995, Brett has been a contractor developing and coordinating large vertical adventure programs for an international travel and adventure firm in remote areas around the world including; Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Russia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Dominican Republic and elsewhere. His extensive experience on the rock has also made him a sought after technical rock rigger, stuntman, and location scout resulting in his work on more than 30 film/photo productions.

The consummate adrenaline junkie and desert factoid master, he is also an expert telemark skier, adventure racer and dirt biker.

Professional Certifications

• Utah State Certified Emergency Medical Technician-Level I
• Helicopter Short Haul
• Employee of Grand County E.M.S (ambulance)Grand County S.A.R. Winter Rescue Team Leader
• National Park Service’s I-Sky Technical Rock Rescue
• Swiftwater Rescue Technician

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Geoff’s extensive backcountry experience includes seven years on rock, including alpine and big wall climbing. He has successfully ascended numerous difficult free climbs and committing aid routes on the desert cliffs and towers of southern Utah.

Other far-out adventures have taken him to the walls of Yosemite and to the alpine faces of the French Alps.

We’re convinced that climbing is his passion, though winter snow does temporarily seduce him away from desert rock and back to his home town of Sun Valley, ID where he’s a back country shredder, and coach for the local free style ski team.

Geoff’s confident nature and relaxed demeanor makes him a frequently requested guide for our returning clients.

Professional Certifications

• Wilderness First Responder
• American Alpine Club, Member
• American Mountain Guide Association, Associate Member

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Scott started climbing 5 years ago, and his passion for the outdoor lifestyle quickly led to him leaving behind a professional legal career in Missouri. He has since wandered the West. Along the way, he found a love for the perfect cracks and adventurous sandstone towers of the Desert Southwest.

Scott made Cliffs and Canyons his home in the spring of 2007, and quickly found joy in showing others what he had found. Scott is an experienced educator with teaching experience in both a traditional classroom and on the rocks. He started teaching climbing in 2005, and has taught a number of skills, including vertical self-rescue.

Professional Certifications

• American Canyoneering Association Technical Canyoneering Graduate
• American Canyoneering Association Canyon Rescue Graduate

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Amanda has been climbing for ten years now, and teaching climbing for eight.

Though she spent many weeks and often months enjoying different locales, she did not move from her home in southern Missouri until 2007.

Moab’s combination of aesthetic sandstone climbing and haunting landscapes first took hold of her on a road trip in 2005, and she’s been returning ever since, until the spring of 2007 when she began guiding here.

Amanda’s long-term experience with vertical terrain has given her a strong base for leading people up and down the cliffs and canyons of southern Utah, and a comfort with coaching others through the mental and physical challenges involved. In fact, these very challenges are the fuel for her passion for introducing people to these activities.

Professional Certifications

• Wilderness First Responder
• AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Originally from western New York, Chris began climbing in 1993. He has climbed throughout North America.

Chris has also worked extensively as a whitewater raft guide and is a seasoned kayaker and mountaineer. Additionally, he has logged thousands of sea miles as a licensed captain and professional sailor.

Chris has a passion for exploring the wild places of the world and sharing these experiences with others.

He has also worked in the field of wilderness therapy, designing and leading courses for challenged and disadvantaged youth and their families.

Professional Certifications

• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
• PCGI Single Pitch Guide
• Wilderness EMT
• NREMT-B
• AMGA Rock Instructor Course completed in 2012

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

A native of Oregon Heather began climbing when she  was 17.  She escaped the cold, drizzly Northwest and discovered the warm desert crack climbing of Moab and Indian Creek in 2002.

A very unprofessional career of being a climbing bum ensued where she climbed when and wherever the sun was shining.

Those areas consisted of: Squamish, B.C., the desert Southwest, El Petrero Chico (Mexico),  Bariloche & Mendoza (Argentina), the limestone of Spain, Laos, and Thailand. She climbed all the way up east coast of Australia in an ’83 Subaru, she then climbed all around the North and South Island of NZ in ’85 Toyota Hiace van.

A solid desert crack climber, Heather’s quick laugh and obvious enthusiasm for teaching what she loves, has made her a valuable asset to the Cliffs & Canyons team since 2011.

Other interests:
mountain biking, canyoneering, fishing, trail work, rafting, kayaking…

Professional Certifications:

• Wilderness First Responder
• CPR
• Advanced PADI Scuba

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Blending finer qualities in the art and science of movement, Matt is an all-around rock climber, embracing all styles and rock types.

Traditional climbing on the cracks, run-out granite slabs of Little Cottonwood Canyon and the overhanging, featured limestone of American Fork Canyon during the formative years sowed seeds for future pilgrimages.

A passion for crack climbing led to a prolonged pursuit of aesthetic lines. Indian Creek splitters, the towers of Castle Valley and Canyonlands are the current fulfillment of this desire.

With 20+ years of experience, Matt is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher of movement and climbing technique. In October of 2012 Matt completed the American Mountain Guides Association Rock Instructor course.

Matt is committed to the guides life and will further his AMGA training this fall at Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, NV with the Rock Guide Course and Aspirant exam.

Professional Certifications

• AMGA Rock Instructor Course completed in 2012
• Wilderness First Responder
• AIARE Level 1

Climbing & Canyoneering Guide

Joe has been backpacking and exploring the backcountry since infancy and discovered rock climbing 6 years ago.

Climbing was a great excuse to get outdoors and while studying Outdoor Recreation in school, Joe began working and teaching at his college gym.  He became president of the school’s climbing club leading student trips on their school breaks.

Coming from Upstate New York, Joe came to Cliffs and Canyons first for the summer as an intern in 2011 and after he graduated wanted nothing but to come back to Moab and have his dream job.

While Joe loves climbing and rappelling, his favorite part of his job is sharing the wonder of the natural world with people from all walks of life.

Professional Certifications

• Wilderness First Responder
• New York State EMT