Columbia Staff

	Scott C. Director of Earth Treks Columbia since 2008. Favorite outdoor climbing area is the New River, there are endless climbs out there with something for everyone. I also enjoy stopping at Gators and Diogies for food when I'm out there. Love snowboarding and hope to get out west this year to hit up some big mountain stuff in Colorado. Currently focused on learning as much about trad climbing as I can in preparation for a big wall ascent!!
	Matt E. Assistant Director of Earth Treks Columbia and Road Instructor since 2010. I’m a quasi-professional arborist and horticulturalist. My other passions in life are cooking/baking and eating; jiu jitsu and disc golf “The only normal people are people you don’t know.”
	Janet H. Lead Instructor and Climbing Coach since 2010 Hobbies: Tennis, singing, poi, and anything that involves being outside I started climbing in second grade at a Girl Scout event at the (then) Lumber City Rock Gym outside Buffalo, NY. Since then I've been feeding the obsession. I've climbed as often as possible for the last three years, living it up at the base of the 'Gunks. I miss having Triple Right in my backyard but I love the Earth Trek gyms and am thrilled to be only 6 hours away from The New and Summersville Lake.
	Alex S. Front Desk Shift Supervisor since 2011 I have been climbing since 2009 I live to travel, nothing is better than getting hopelessly and completely lost in a place that I find entirely new and unfamiliar When I'm not traveling I spend whatever time I can spare by climbing, reading, and going on adventures with my dog
	Travis B. Instructor with Earth Treks since 1999. Hobbies: I love riding all types of bikes. I have a mountain bike, BMX, tandem, unicycle, folding bike and single speed road and mountain bikes. I like to see how many of my bikes I can ride in a single day. My favorite places to climb are Yosemite and Illchester. Yosemite is awesome. Illchester is perfect on a sunny day in winter. The rock catches sun all afternoon. I stop by there sometimes on my way home from work. Blue Rose is a great route.
	Amy G. Instructor & Programming Coordinator for Earth Treks, Inc since 2009. My first time climbing was in 1988. Three of us went to Rocks with nothing more than a climbing rope, minimal gear for a top rope anchor, a harness for the climber (we belayed off a tree), a belay device and carabineer (yes it was a locker). I was hooked! But I didn’t start climbing regularly until Earth Treks Timonium opened and I became a member. Since then I have climbed both sport and trad at many different places. I love the New River Gorge, WV for sport climbing. The Gunks, NY is one of my favorite “local” spots for trad. Some of the best climbing I’ve done so far is probably Red Rocks, NV – it has great multi-pitch trad routes. Besides climbing up big rocks, and sometimes jumping off of them, I also like to ski and kayak.
	Lisa J. Birthday Party, Rec Club & Friday Night Rox staff since 2002. Hobbies:Reading, working on my house, hanging out with friends and my dog. I love climbing at the New because I have endless projects there and it's "close". I also really love the Red, all the pockets, the amazing areas...too bad it isn't as close. Joshua Tree was beautiful too, but I was still really new to climbing when I was there. "Love people, use things. Never confuse these two."
	John L. Private Party staff since 2007. Hobbies: Full contact origami. Experience: I can tie a figure 8. One time, after an arduous 3 day journey, I made it to the top of a small step ladder. Some oxygen was required. Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere I can chalk up and not get arrested.
	Alex S. Private Party and Open Climb staff since 2009. Hobbies: Include softball, writing, reading, photography, eating ice cream, and going on Climb For Hope expeditions to Ecuador (Cotopaxi) and Icelan. I like to climb at Earth Treks and Great Falls . I really like hiking and mountaineering in the White Mountains and other spots along the Appalachian “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” –Winston Churchill.
	Julia T. Open Climb and Party Staff since 2010. I have been climbing since 2006. I am currently a sophomore at Centennial High School. In addition to climbing, I also participate in choir and theatre at school, and play the piano. “Adventure is worthwhile in itself. ” –Amelia
	Cody G. Front Desk, Party Instructor and Justin Bieber impresonator since 2010. I love Hiking, Camping, Water Skiing, Wake Boarding, Knee Boarding, Slalom Skiing, Snow Boarding,. Just Being Outdoors!! Will soon be studying to be a Biomechanical Engineer
	Andy B. Instructor, Front Desk and Party staff since 2009. Hobbies: Challenge courses & initiative games, the outdoors, camping, firefighting, EMS, spending time with friends, futbol, falling with style. My favorite Crag-tastic Crag is the New River Gorge. I always want to spend more time sport climbing & bouldering beyond my current baseline. Dabble in trad. Dream climbing trip: Being paid to travel and climb on a mediocre level.
	Meredith S. Front Desk and Rec Club staff since 2010. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where I started climbing, with my degree in Outdoor Education. I work at Earth Treks for fun! In real life I am the director of a therapeutic outdoor adventure program for a YMCA in Silver Spring, MD working with inner city youth and their families. “A laugh is the shortest distance between two people.” Unknown
	Patrick M. Party and Desk Staff since 2010 I've been climbing since 2008 When I'm not climbing I really enjoy fishing, biking, sleeping, and snowboarding I've grown up around climbing and after years of being badgered by my dad I( caved and have ended up loving every minute of it My climbing dream is living to do climbing roadtrips, no matter where or what style, as long as there's good company
	Sabin I have been climbing all my life, but really got into it around 1997 My name is pronounced 'Say-Bin', the origin is French but comes from the ancient central Italian tribe the "Sabines" Climbing is cool
	Minda P. I have been climbing and working at Earth Treks since 2001 I enjoy celebrity gossip and am only slightly ashamed I'm easily bribed with Double-Stuff Oreos I cry at Harry Potter trailers "Augustus, sweetheart! Save some room for later!"
	Nathan S. Part-time Party Staff I have been climbing since 2002 I attend River Hill High School I enjoy triathalons I love to meet new people, travel, and I'm a cat person
	Mike R. Instructor since 2009. I started climbing in 2006 I grew up 35 minutes south of the Gunks but didn't climb there until I was 24. I'm rarely not working but when I can, I like to mountain bike, fish, and take walks by the harbor with my girlfriend.
	Asa S. Party Instructor since 2012. My hobbies include Muay Thai Fighting, submission wrestling, running track, snowboarding, being a student, and of course rock climbing. I have been practicing Muay Thai for 7 years and I am a certified coach under the Thai Boxing Association. My favorite local climbing spot is Carderock.
	Kyle R. Party Instructor since 2012. My favorite place to climb is the New River Gorge. Trad climbing scares me, which is why I want to learn. Other than climbing, I like to kayak, play video games and I have a lifelong love/hate relationship as a fan of the New York Knicks.
	Won H. Road/Fitness Instructor since 2012. I live to travel and try to spend as much time as possible at Seneca Rocks and Red River Gorge. When I'm not climbing, I'm either playing lacrosse or playing shows in the city with my band.
	Cesar R. Front Desk and Party staff since 2011. I started climbing in early 2007. When I'm not on the rock, I also enjoy snowboarding, swimming, hiking, surfing, stand up paddling, white water rafting, sky diving, watching movies, playing video games, and eating delicious foods from around the globe. Currently working on getting my college degree and hope to become a police officer shortly after.
	Harris P. Shift Supervisor and Instructor since 2011. When I'm not climbing, I enjoy mountain biking, hiking, scuba diving, and any other form of outdoor exploration. If I'm stuck in the civilized world, I prefer to spend my time reading, practicing the culinary arts and composing music. Life is only as rich as the experiences you create, so I make the most of my free time by trying to do everything! I'm a sport climber at heart, and you can frequently find me at the Red River Gorge or the New River Gorge depending on how I feel that day.
	Katelyn C. Party staff since 2012. My hobbies include Volleyball, Longboarding, and Snowboarding. I love to climb anywhere I can, whenever I can.
	Rachel R. Open Climb and Party Staff since 2011. My hobbies include kayaking, playing tennis and trombone. I enjoy climbing at Earth Treks and doing anything that involves being outside.
	Carly H. Front Desk and Instructor since 2012. My favorite place to climb is Red River Gorge.The rocks are cool and you can get chickpeas on your pizza. When I’m not climbing, I’m probably getting my 8 hours of sleep, eating Goldfish®, or working to support my climbing habit. I like turtles.
	Kelley B. Party instructor and open-climb instructor since 2012 Hobbies: Reading, climbing, movies, baking, and watching TV Climbing at Chimney Rock this summer was lots of fun until the thunderstorm started, and I've enjoyed bouldering at Northwest Branch.
	Neta S. Party staff since 2012 Hobbies (just a few): Hiking, climbing, soccer, crocheting, reading, Spanish, gardening, camping, biking, running, scrapbooking, and caring for two very lazy cats. I grew up being outdoors as often as possible and doing everything from hiking to camping to skiiing to shoveling manure into my father's garden. I started climbing in 2010 and I have been addicted ever since! My favorite place to climb right now is Ilchester down in Patapsco State Park.
	Jean K. Front Desk and Instructor since 2012 Hobbies (just a few): I love to make are and being outdoors. Outdoor activities: running, hiking and meditating. I would love to add wingsuit BASE jumping to that list! Favorite place to climb is now the New.
	Jim S Party / Open Climb and Front Desk Staff since 2012 I started climbing in 2010 and you can find me bouldering here at the gym or at Coopers and Governors Stables. Climbing to me is therapy, when you're climbing, the whole world shuts off and the only thing on your mind is getting to the top of that rock. When not climbing I enjoy cooking, eating and reading. There's also nothing better than sitting by a camp fire on a cool fall evening surrounded by good friends, smelling of bacon and smoke while watching the stars dance across the sky.
	Chelsea K. Front Desk and Party Staff since 2012. I have been climbing since 2010 and my very first climb was in Earth Treks Rockville! Hobbies: painting, yoga, hiking, and anything related to bluegrass music. "Reach as high as you can, and then reach a little higher. There you will find magic and possibility. And maybe even cookies."
	Yuliya M Party staff since 2012. I belayed for three years prior to climbing. I wish I had more time to climb outdoors, but climbing at ET is pretty awesome. I consume more chocolate than any healthy adult ever should. I love photography, scuba diving, and hiking. I have lived on a farm, in the Motherland, and backpacked through Europe.
	Krysta H Avid camper, foodie, fitness enthusiast, and lover of all things nautical. Can often be found tending to plants in a garden, throwing punches at Krav Maga or climbing anywhere in the great outdoors. "If there's anything half so much fun as being alive, I'd like to know what it is." -Fredrick Buechne