Dick wanted to be a mountain guide since he was a teenager, after taking a leadership role in his high school outing club and job shadowing at a university outdoor program. A seminal ice climbing experience in Maine’s Grafton Notch sealed the deal, Dick became a man of the mountains. After developing as a climbing instructor for the University of Maine Outdoor Program, Dick began guiding in 1998.
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Dick is a lifelong Mainer, hailing from the Waterville area. He now calls the coast and the Blue Hill peninsula home. He is not just a great guide, but also a well rounded human being. Dick grew up sailing and worked for many years on boats (not only can he climb any mast and tie any knot, he can also run a crane). Music has always been a large part of his life. He played violin for twelve years, and now studies classical guitar. He and his wife built their own home, and have worked for many years to develop their gardens and grounds to the point where they are raising much of their own food. If you are lucky enough to be on one of his multi day back country trips, you will be eating very well.
Dick has guided, climbed, and skied throughout the US, Africa, Japan, Iceland, Europe, and in South America. Favorite routes include Wafer Step in Acadia National Park and Barren’s Direct on Katahdin in Maine, North Ridge Mt. Baker in Washington, Vulcan Cayambe in Ecuador, Damnation Gulley on Mt Washington in New Hampshire, and Dark Shadows in Red Rocks Nevada.
Dick’s specialty is the attention he devotes to his clients; he truly loves guiding. “I constantly find myself thinking about how to make the next experience better for my clients. I consider it an honor to take people out to the cliffs and mountains,” he says. “The wonderful secret of guiding is that I learn as much from my clients as they learn from me.”
Guiding Credentials
PCIA Single Pitch, CWI, SAT, and Lead Climbing Instructor Course Provider/Trainer
AMGA Rock Guide Course
AMGA Advanced Rock Guide Course
AMGA Alpine Guides Course
AMGA Ice Instructor Course
AMGA Ski Guide Course
AIARE Level III Avalanche Certification
AIARE Pro 1
Mountain Weather Forecasting
Registered Maine Recreation Guide
Registered New York Rock/Ice Climbing Guide
Medical and Rescue Credentials
Wilderness First Responder
Rigging for Rescue “The Course” 5 day Technical Rescue Training
NPS Technical Rescue Training