Stephen Williams
Guide
Stephen grew up in Tennessee and has been guiding professionally since 2015. In the last decade, his guiding experience has spanned five states, four countries and most mountain disciplines including rock climbing, ice climbing, ski touring, alpinism, and high-altitude expeditions. Equally adept on both rock and ice, his favorite objectives blend climbing on multiple mediums on remote peaks.
As a guide, Stephen is known for his professionalism, patience, and calm demeanor. He particularly enjoys helping climbers increase their technical skills and sharing adventurous objectives with them. While he regularly travels for work and play, the variety of the climbing and the consistent snow quality of the San Juans have led him to make Ridgway his home base since 2021. When he's not in the mountains he's probably drinking way too much coffee, training, or plotting his next trip.
Stephen is an IFMGA Mountain Guide/AMGA certified Mountain Guide, passing his final Ski Guide Exam in 2026!
Climbing and Guiding Highlights
10 years of guiding experience on technical alpine routes in the North Cascades
60+ guided ascents of Takhoma (Mount Rainier) via 4 routes
20 expeditions throughout the Alaska Range, including:
8 guided ascents of West Buttress, Denali
Cassin Ridge, Denali (5.8, AI4, VI)
North Buttress, Begguya (Mount Hunter) (AI6, M6, VI)
Harvard Route, Mount Huntington (5.9, AI3, M6, C1, VI)
Multiple ascents of multipitch rock climbs up to 5.11+ and Grade VI routes in venues such as Yosemite, Squamish and the Black Canyon
13 guided expeditions over 6000m
Ski guiding throughout the San Juan Mountains, with steep ski descents and traverses including the Sultan/Grand Turk Ski Traverse
Guided ascents of challenging ice climbing routes in the San Juan Mountains, including:
Bridal Veil Falls (WI5/6, II)
Ames Ice Hose (WI5, M5, II)
Gravity's Rainbow (WI4/5, II)