Born in the Gunks,
We help climbers master their craft and thrive on (and off) the rocks!
So, when are we getting out?
Services
Hi! My name is Dustin.
I’ve built a career in guiding climbers like you.
As you already know, climbing isn't merely a physical sport – it's also a powerful tool for personal growth. Ready to find confidence, connection and transformation? Join me.
I’m offering my full attention and care as a professional climbing guide. I’ve instructed thousands of climbers over the past fifteen years. I am certified, licensed, insured and permitted.
My offerings include private sessions, technical and mental training clinics, (re)introductions to outdoor climbing, multi-day outings, and prolonged apprenticeships.
Every day is custom tailored to meet your goals.
Testimonials
“Dustin is friendly, straightforward, honest, and conscientious, and he’s a great teacher. Highly recommended.”
“I have guided in the Gunks and abroad for nearly 30 years. I’ve seen many guides come and go. Dustin without a doubt is truly one of the best.”
“Extremely professional and thoughtful, Dustin exceeded my expectations by tailoring a day of multi-pitch trad climbing into equal parts hands-on technical course and guided mountaineering adventure. Easily the best time I’ve had outdoors.”
“Dustin is the go-to guide in the Gunks. He’s super knowledgeable about the area and about climbing.”
“Dustin was thoughtful, calm and a great guide for me and my 15 year old. He was excellent with technical issues as well as the fear factor for novice climbers like us. Very much looking forward to climbing with him again!”
“He’s super knowledgeable about all things rock climbing. He’s also clearly very well known within the climbing community of the Gunks as everyone who walked past us said ‘Hi, Dustin’.”
“Dustin is an incredible guide. We had so much fun as well as climbed a ton. Dustin is very quick and efficient setting up routes so we were never waiting. Highly recommended.”
“‘...An absolutely fantastic guide’; ‘clearly an expert’; ‘a phenomenal instructor and guide’; ‘outstanding at his job’; ‘Super experienced’ ‘Definitely a first choice for a guide in the Gunks.”
Resume
For over fifteen years I have led and supported climbers outdoors and indoors, from ages five to eighty-five, and participated in over ten thousand roped ascents. My expertise is experience-based education, healing, and flourishing. Your vision in the vertical is possible; let me guide you up there and back down.
Credentials
Certified
by the American Mountain Guides Association (since 2013)
Permitted
in Mohonk Preserve (since 2010) and on many other public and private lands in the Gunks a further afield.
Licensed
by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Badge #6421 (since 2010)
Insured
by the National Casualty Company (since 2016)
Education
Certified Rock Guide (2016), Certified Rock Instructor (2013), Assistant Alpine Guide (2018)
American Mountain Guides Association
B.A. in Environmental Studies, Minor in Biology
Pennsylvania State University, May 2009
Professional Experience
Owner / Operator / Guide
Advanced Rockcraft, Gunks NY
2016 - present
Guide Apprenticeship
New York 2010 - 2016
North Carolina 2009 - 2010
Domestic Guiding
I’ve also taught climbers in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. 2009 - present
Other Work-At-Heights
Event / Stage Rigging
2014 - presentFilm & TV Production
2012 - presentFine Art Handling / Installation
2010 - present
Personal Climbing Experience
Travel
Ascents at hundreds of crags across 36 states.
International expeditions to Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Italy, and Sardinia.
Varied Terrain
Length: Dozens of Grade IV, V and VI routes up to 45 pitches in length; thousands of single- and multi-pitch climbs.
Traditional rock climbing up to 5.12d; numerous R/X rated ascents.
I’ve climbed conglomerate overhangs in the Gunks, jammed golden granite in Patagonia, topped out on sunny spires in the Mediterranean, crossed bergschrunds in British Columbia, navigated choss in Mexico, pumped out of limestone caves in Italy, swung into frozen blue waterfalls in Quebec, placed crampon points on brittle verglas in New England, and shoveled into deep facets in Colorado.
Personal Gunks Highlights
Keelhauled (second ascent, unrated), Thunderdome (5.12d R), Requiem for a Heavyweight (5.12d), El Kabong (5.12b/c R), Slammin’ (5.12b R), To Be or Not To Be (5.12a X, three lead ascents), Betty (5.3) and Gelsa (5.4) car-to-car speed records.
First Ascents
In New York’s Shawangunk and Catskill Mountains and California’s Sierra Nevada.
Other Qualifications & Attributes
Warrior’s Way Licensed Trainer (since 2019)
Wilderness First Responder (since 2010)
Gunks Climbers’ Coalition Board & Committee Member (since 2012)
Climbing photos of me have been featured in Rock & Ice Magazine, Climbing Magazine, Gripped Magazine, the Salo/Fracchia/Ratkowski Gunks Climbing guidebook, and Yankee Rock and Ice, a history of climbing in the Northeastern US.
Resident of Gardiner in Ulster County, New York (since 2010)
Loving father of an energetic boy
Enjoys gardening and practicing banjo
