Stephen Williams

Guide

American Mountain Guides Association Alpine Guide logo, featuring an ice axe inside a blue circle.
American Mountain Guides Association Rock Guide logo, featuring a camming device inside a red circle.

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 AMGA-Certified Rock and Alpine Guide and is an Assistant Ski Guide.

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 Denali.

  • Cassin Ridge (5.8, AI4, VI) on Denali

  • North Buttress (AI6, M6, VI) of Begguya (Mt. Hunter)

  • Harvard Route (5.9, M6, A2, VI) on Mt. Huntington

  • Multipitch rock climbs up to 5.11+ and Grade VI in venues such as Yosemite, Squamish and the Black Canyon

  • 13 guided expeditions over 6000m

  • Ski guiding throughout the San Juans, with steep ski descents and traverses including the Sultan/Grand Turk Ski Traverse

  • Ice guiding throughout the San Juans including ascents of Bridalveil Falls, Ames Ice Hose and Gravity's Rainbow

Book a private climbing or skiing trip with Stephen Williams!

Do you want to customize a guided trip with Stephen? If you know your schedule and your objective, you can book your trip right now, see below. If you’d prefer to discuss your goals and come up with a personalized plan, we’re here to help, just let us know.

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