Guiding – An Adirondack Passion…
The art of guiding has existed in the Adirondacks for over a century and a half. In the late 1800’s guides such as “Old Mountain” Phelps and Bill Nye earned meager wages leading adventurous “summer folk” over the rarely visited summits of the Adirondack range. In the early 1900’s former Keene Valley resident John Case introduced European climbing techniques to the region. His protégés Jimmy Goodwin and Bob Notman along with world-renowned alpinist Fritz Wiessner, scoured the local countryside searching out the largest, most remote cliffs available. Their rock climbing explorations were the forerunner of what today has blossomed into an Adirondack passion.
Today, with the increased popularity of technical climbing, Adirondack guides once again find themselves in high demand. While appearances and methods may have changed, a few key ingredients for successful guiding remain intact, those being a warm personality, a passion for what one teaches and a professional approach that insures a rewarding experience. At Rock and River, all guides are selected based on their expertise, local familiarity, friendliness and ability to teach. They take their profession seriously, are committed to excellence and proud of the line of work they have chosen. Simply put, they are the most important element of our business and we believe they are what truly sets us apart.