Our staff are certified outdoor guides and have received extensive training from the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), organizations like WMA who provide the Wilderness First Responder certification (WFR), and Leave No Trace (LNT).
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certifies guides and climbing instructors to the highly respected standards of their organization. The AMGA is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified Guides and Climbing Instructors in the United States. The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is a nationally recognized certification that trains participants to respond to emergencies. Our society expects professionals such as doctors and pilots to seek training in order to be trusted with our safety, your climbing guide should be held to the same standard.
Arthur Kearns |
Arthur Kearns, also known as ACK, has been climbing for over 30 years. Rock climbing has always been his No 1 sport, although telemark skiing wins during the winter months. In addition to guiding he spends much of his time in the role of Mr. Retail, managing the Gendarme and Mountain Trails in Winchester, Va. ACK has climbed in Yosemite, extensively in North Carolina, Greenland, Bolivia and elsewhere in the US. He has taken the AMGA Rock Instructor course and holds a WFR. |
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Diane Kearns |
Diane Kearns knew she found herself in 1989 on her first climb, Mt. Rainier. Diane trys to fit enough climbing, skiing and running in between pushing a pencil (accounting type stuff) at The Gendarme, Mountain Trails and Fruit Hill Orchard, her family's apple orchard operation. Diane has climbed in Greenland, Nepal, Bolivia, Europe, Alaska and elsewhere in the US. She is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and holds a WFR. |
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Massey Teel |
Massey Teel knew early on that outdoor education was the way he wanted to go. His clear, progressive manner of teaching and distincive laugh make for a fun and informative course. During the winter months Massey is the program director for Wintergreen Adaptive Skiing, helping those with disabilities enjoy the snow too. Massey is an AMGA certified Rock Instructor and holds a WFR. |
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Alan Goldbetter |
Alan Goldbetter has been enthusiastic about climbing since he discovered it, so much so that he has a climbing wall in this bedroom. This enthusiasm carries over into all his activities...just ask him about the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Al is a welcome addition to SRCS and is pursuing a college education in environmental studies. He is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and holds a WFR. |
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Sean Tracy comes to us from Shenandoah Virginia tucked between Old Rag mountain and George Washington National Forest. He has been climbing for more than a decade, beginning his climbing career at Great Falls Virginia at 13. Sean is a professional firefighter in our nation's capital and a Nationally Registered EMT-I. Currently holding an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification and is also an LNT Trainer, Sean is in the process of completing the pre-requisites for the AMGA Rock Instructor course. |
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