At New River Mountain Guides, our guides are accomplished climbers who are chosen based on their expertise, knowledge of the area, friendliness and the ability to teach. They take their profession seriously, are committed to excellence and proud of the line of work they have chosen. You'll find that their professional approach and warm personalities makes for a rewarding experience. Simply stated, our guides truly set us apart from the rest.
All trip leaders are at minimum certified American Mountain Guide Association-Top Rope Site Managers. To learn more about this certification and why you should expect this from your guide, please check the Top 10 Reasons to hire an AMGA Climbing Guide.
Elaina Smith cranking Hurdy Gurdy Man 5.12b
Elaina Arenz-Smith --AMGA Top Rope Site Manager, First Aid, CPR
Elaina has
pursued climbing as a career for 13 years and has traveled
all over the US, Canada, Mexico
and Europe in search of stellar routes of all
disciplines. Her focus is to be a
well rounded climber whether it's sport, trad or bouldering.
Elaina is currently anAMGA TOP ROPE SITE MANAGER, and is pursuing her dream of becoming one of the few women IFMGA guides
in the United States.While she isn't out on the rocks you can find her running
the day to day operations of the business.
She’s also very active in climbers’ advocacy
groups both on the local and national level.
She sits on the Board of Directors of theNEW RIVER ALLIANCE OF CLIMBERS (NRAC)and is an ACCESS FUND ATHLETE AMBASSADOR,, a core of professional
climbers who publicly represent The Access Fund and reinforce it's mission of
keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment. In 2001 she was awarded the Sharp End Award by The
Access Fund for her outstanding contribution to climbers’ advocacy.
Born: 1974 Hometown: Fayetteville, WV Occupation: Owner NRMG & Graphic Designer Education: BS in Advertising-The University of Texas at Austin 1997 Recommended Routes at the New: Lost Souls, Burning Calves, Under the Milkyway, Springboard, Autumn Fire
Mike Williams working the FA of another project
Mike Williams ---AMGA Top Rope Site Manager, Wilderness First Responder "Mikey"
has quickly become a top requested guide. He's got a way about him that
immediately puts you at ease and is great with kids. He's a super
strong climber but you'd never hear about it from him. Last summer he
quietly ticked off some of the hardest routes in the Gorge and cleaned
up a bunch of unfinished projects all in the upper 5.13 range. Winter
2006 took him to Bishop and Smith Rock, this winter Mike has been
tearing it up at El Potrero Chico, Mexico. Check out his scorecard on www.8a.nu to follow his extensive ticklist.
**HOT FLASH!
Mike ticked a much coveted fourth ascent of Mango Tango 5.14a. Many have
tried this flaming orange arete and most have failed. Congrats Mikey!
You rock!
Born: 1978 Homestate: North Carolina Occupation: Head Guide Education: Wilderness Leadership & Experiential Education--Brevard College 2001 Recommended Routes at the New: Slash & Burn, Thieves in the Temple, The Shining, White Lightning, Thunderstruck, Sacrilege
Stephen Hedgecock our Native Son, Photo by Brian Vincent
Steve Hedgecock --AMGA Top Rope Site Manager, First Aid, CPR Steve
is another local standout who will keep you in stitches while out at
the crag. He is a patient instructor who always gets rave reviews and
will make you want to come back for more. Steve also works at our local
Hoods in the Woods program where he mentors troubled kids with outdoor
recreation. Born:1978 Homestate:West Virginia Occupation:Head Guide Recommended Routes at the New:Two Bag Face, Promised, First Strike, Smooth Operator, Flyin Hawaiian, Wild Seed, Bible Belt
Elissa Colley Cranking it Out
Elissa Colley -- Trad-Mistress
Elissa is a talented climber and quietly goes about her business ticking off project after project. She's currently one of the best female trad climbers at the Gorge and recently returned from spending her winter climbing out West honing her skills. While on her roadtrip she sent her first 5.13 and on-sighted numerous trad lines 5.11 or harder. She's a sweet and kind-hearted soul who never has a negative thing to say and is an awesome instuctor. Born: Homestate:Virginia Occupation:Climbing Guide Recommended Routes at the New:
Brian Vincent
Brian Vincent --Wilderness First Responder + Anaphylaxis + Basic Life Support Skills "Vince"
is like the still water that runs deep. We're always discovering a new
hidden talent. He climbs, makes a mean meal, lives in his van with his
dog Muggs. Lately he's developed a penchant for offwidth cracks, but we
won't hold that against him. Currently Vince is applying to colleges
where he can continue to pursue his education and his passion for
teaching climbing. Born: 1976 Homestate: Virginia Occupation: Climbing Guide Recommended Routes at the New:
King of Swing, NewVeau Reach, Dragon in Your Dreams, Workmans Comp,
Gemini Crack Right, By the Way I Did Your Mom (the climb hahahaha)
Craig Luebben-AMGA Rock Guide and Trad Camp Instructor
Craig Luebben --AMGA Rock Instructor, Guest NRMG Guide
Craig Luebben has been climbing for 28 years, and has opened new routes in Colorado, Kentucky, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cayman Brac, Mona Island, France, Italy, Greece, China, and Madagascar, up to 5.12d and V. He loves to share his experience, and has been guiding and teaching climbing since 1981.
Craig has authored several instructional climbing books, including Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills which won the National Outdoor Book Award in the instructional category; Advanced Rock Climbing (with co-author John Long), winner of the Banff Mountain Book Festival mountain exposition category; Rock Climbing Anchors: A Comprehensive Guide (to be published in February 2007); How to Ice Climb!; and Knots for Climbers which has sold over 100,000 copies.
With over eighty articles published in various climbing magazines, Craig is a senior contributing editor for Climbing magazine. He has published hundreds of photographs in climbing magazines and books, and has presented climbing slide shows across the United States and in Canada.
He has a degree in mechanical engineering and has extensively studied and tested rock and ice climbing protection systems. He has tested and reviewed camming devices and ice climbing gear several times for Climbing and Rock & Ice magazines, and invented the Big Bro expandable tube chocks in 1984 (currently marketed by Trango).
Craig works for the American Mountain Guides Association instructing rock climbing guides, and served for six years on their board of directors. He also works as a guide and safety director for Lynn Hill Climbing Camps. He has conducted self-rescue clinics across the United States and in Quebec, China, and Cuba. He lives in Golden, Colorado, and considers New River Gorge and Red River Gorge to be among his favorite climbing areas.
Arno Ilgner-Warriors Way
Arno Ilgner
--Warriors Way Founder, Guest NRMG Guide
Arno Ilgner distinguished himself as a pioneering rock climber in the 1970s and ‘80s, when the top climbs were bold and dangerous first ascents. These personal exploits are the foundation for Ilgner’s unique physical and mental training program--The Warrior’s Way. In 1995, after a thorough search of the literature and practice of mental training and the great warrior traditions, Ilgner formalized his methods, founded the Desiderata Institute, and began teaching his program full time. Since then, he has helped hundreds of student sharpen their awareness, focus attention, and understand their athletic (and life) challenges within a coherent, learning-based philosophy of intelligent risk-taking. Ilgner considers the joy and satisfaction in the effort – the “journey” – intimately linked to successful attainment of goals, the “destination.” Alumni of his courses now include some of the nation’s most prominent climbers.
Ilgner has run clinics in the north- and southeastern U.S, to California, Canada, and the U.K. He has worked with young competition climbers and written national magazine articles based on his methods. He holds a BA in geology, spent several years operating his own geological consulting firm in the Wyoming oil fields, acted as Chief Financial Officer for an industrial tool distribution company, attended the Army Ranger School, and served a non-combat tour of duty in Korea. He currently resides with his family near Nashville, Tennessee.
