north carolina

The next chapter in guiding...

The Story Behind Pisgah Climbing School:

In 2020, I made one of the toughest decisions of my professional life: I left the company I had co-owned for seven years — and where I had spent the seven years prior as an employee. I walked away not just from a business, but from a big part of my identity. I left for a lot of reasons, but when the dust settled, I was left with one nagging question: Was I even good at this anymore? Not just guiding — but owning, managing, and growing a guide service.

As a kid, Michael Jordan was one of my biggest idols. I still remember him saying,

“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”

That stuck with me.

So, I started over. I picked up a few guiding gigs, stayed humble, and decided to take another shot — this time on my own terms. I envisioned a small boutique guide service. One, maybe two employees. I would keep the bar high: top-tier instruction, unforgettable experiences, and a product I could genuinely stand behind. With full creative control, there would be no excuses and no shortcuts. The only thing that could measure success was whether or not it worked.Fast forward four years, and honestly? I still have to take a step back sometimes to believe where we are.

Despite facing our share of challenges — personal tragedy and unprecedented flooding, starting up during a pandemic — Pisgah Climbing School hasn’t just survived; it has flourished. We’ve built a team of guides who care deeply, hustle hard, and show up every single day to give people the kind of experience that changes how they see climbing, and maybe even themselves.

The growth has been so explosive that some thought we must be playing dirty. But here’s the truth: We just focus on our company and do things differently. Every detail, every trip, every client interaction is intentional. It’s a culture of excellence, and it shows. Today, Pisgah Climbing School is the largest climbing guide service in the Southeastern U.S. — and likely the largest on the East Coast by nearly every measure. But what really matters isn’t the numbers. It’s the stories, the smiles, the people who trust us with their first pitch or their next big goal in the mountains. One recent YouTube review captured it perfectly — the way our team went above and beyond for a family's adventure.

Client review of Pisgah Climbing School

It’s always rewarding to know people feel the effort we put into every single experience.

I’m beyond grateful for where PCS is now and even more excited for where it’s going. We’re here to help climbers of all levels explore the mountains with confidence, curiosity, and joy — and we’ve only just begun.