Certifications
First Name
Joel
Last Name
Kauffman
City
Bishop
State
WY
Email
Phone
9705563093
Website
States worked in
California, Wyoming
Countries worked in
United States, Argentina
Brief Bio
Grew up skiing and hiking/backpacking in the Adirondacks, Green, and White Mountains of the Northeastern United States. Saw the Rockies at age 11 and never left. Climbed the Middle Teton when I was 18, shortly after graduating High School in Edwardsburg, MI. Went to school in Missoula, MT and graduated with a B.A. in Ecology. Gave up work and funding at the neuroscience lab to work in the climbing gym and Outdoor Rec. Dept. Worked landscaping in Bozeman, MT after college in order to afford a plane ticket to Zürich, Switzerland and climb in the Dolomites.
Tried out and made it at Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. Learned in the apprenticeship style and took guiding to Denali, Aconcagua, and the North Cascades. Met IFMGA guides and Northwest Mountainshool owners John and Olivia Race. Continued apprenticeship under them while working at the NWMS. Took my Rock Instructor Course followed two years later by the Rock Guide Course and Aspirant Exam and passed. Was hired on, and continue to work, at Exum Mountain Guides.
Went climbing! 10 consecutive seasons in El Chaltén, Patagonia, Argentina. Paid my dues to the Astral Mountains. Climbed the Supercanaleta on Fitz Roy and the Ragni Route on Cerro Torre with my brother. Put up a handful of aesthetic new routes including Rise of the Machines on Aguja Poincenot, Super Domo on Domo Blanco and Chorblito on Volonqui.
Finally answered the call of the Himalaya on alpine style trips. Climbed Night Terror, a new ice and mixed route on Lobuche East with Jared Villhauer. A few years later, explored Northern India and after much learning, climbed to within a few hundred feet of the still highest unclimbed peak in the Garwhal, 7001m? Chaukamba III. Most recently, made the first ascent of a new ice line on 6100m Chau Chau Konilda in Spiti, India by approaching on motorcycle.
Continue to climb and ski in the Sierra Nevada. In April 2021, skied in and established a new rock route, The Finite Finger, on 13,500' Mt. Jeppson with George Lowe and friends. I continue to challenge myself in every discipline of climbing and skiing.
All my personal climbing is supported by a standard guiding wage and a few articles of clothing in exchange for photos.
Fun Fact
Plant Based Since 2009
Guiding Since
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