"Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau
"Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau
As an Internationally Certified Mountain
Guide, acquiring his IFMGA Mountain Guide Licensure in 2022 marked a
significant milestone in his career. His dedication to safety and skill in
mountain operations are further underscored by his experience in rescue
operations with the National Park Service on Denali. This profound
understanding of the challenges posed by mountain environments has instilled in
him a deep sense of humility and the necessity for intentionality in risk
assessment and mountain travel.
Based in Crested Butte, Colorado, Chris is deeply committed to his role at Eleven Experience and Irwin Guides, guiding clients through breathtaking alpine landscapes. Yet, he remains just as passionate about his personal pursuits in the mountains, continually seeking new challenges and experiences.
Outside of guiding, Chris explores his
creative side through yoga, music, and art, often inspired by the stunning
views and powerful experiences that nature offers. In addition to his guiding
certifications, he also holds a Pro 2 avalanche forecasting certificate and
serves as an AIARE Course Leader, underscoring his expertise in both safety and
education in mountain environments.
the Rockies of Colorado to the rainforests of Chilean Patagonia.
Originally from Tupelo, Mississippi, he moved to Gunnison, Colorado to study Wildlife Biology, Outdoor Leadership, and Spanish at Western Colorado University and managed a 450 acre wild game ranch in the Gunnison Valley. Post-graduation he traveled to the jungles of Lanquin, Guatemala to startup a rafting company, led sea kayak/snorkel tours in Puerto Rico, and spent many Southern Hemisphere summers guiding raft trips down pristine Patagonian rivers in Chile.
In 2018, he joined Irwin Guides and Eleven where he greatly enjoys being a part of the excellent products and service that these great companies provide. You can meet him guiding on the river, on the trail or at the rock crag.
After a semester at Nols, he took up jobs in the boundary waters canoeing and backpacking. In his twenties he moved on to Hawaii and started sailing and spent the rest of that decade mucking around on boats all over the world. He sailed back to Seattle and attended Culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu.
His 30s brought him back to Colorado and back into the Rockies where he returned to his roots of climbing, now mixed with a passion for water and good food. Most days you can find him in a boat, on a rock or over a fire cooking at one of Eleven's properties.
- ACA swift water Instructor 1
- 100 ton USCG Open water
- Merchant Mariner Credentials
- WFR
- Beer supertaster