John Collis
I grew up in New Jersey and was first introduced to outdoor rock climbing on the crumbly sandstone towers of Colorado Springs while pursuing a degree in geology—probably why I still have a “soft” spot for questionable rock and adventurous choss. I started guiding in 2013 and since then have focused on rock, ice, and alpine routes across the western U.S. Outside of guiding climbs around the San Juans, every year I find time to work and climb in the Washington Cascades, Alaska, and the desert of southwest Utah—the last of which I consider to be the best place on earth. I joined Mountain Trip in 2023 and I’m an AMGA-Certified Rock and Alpine Guide.
To me, the best part of being a guide is getting to relive my own experiences as a new climber and bear witness to the a-ha moments others have when they first develop a love for the sport.
