Nathaniel Sydnor

Nathan hails from Appalachia, but came to be a Rock and Alpine Guide at Aspen Expeditions after a decade-long tenure in the American West. While completing a BA in Education at Prescott College in Arizona, he was privileged enough to cut his rock climbing teeth at legendary areas such as Granite Mountain, Indian Creek, and Joshua Tree National Park. His stay in the West has been perpetually fueled by both climbing and academic pursuits. In 2008, he graduated with a Masters of Religious Studies from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. While in Boulder, Eldorado Canyon (The Office) became the perfect physical accompaniment to the rigorous hours of intellectual exercise. In the coming year, his studies will be taking him into the realm of the Ph.D., with hopes of specializing in Environmental, Experiential, and Contemplative Education. As a college or university professor, he intends to utilize both the classroom and the mountain environment as venues in he and his students' quest for knowledge.

As a specialist in the art of rock climbing, Nathan's passion has led him to thousands of routes on countless crags and mountains, ranging from the hallowed walls of Yosemite to the Himalayan granite walls of Bhutan. With a vast resume' of ascents in what he considers some of America's and the world's greatest climbing areas, Nathan has avidly pursued rock climbing on both a personal and professional level. He has guided rock climbing in Washington, Oregon, and Virginia, and climbed in countless areas in the contiguous United States. Climbing has taken him afar as well, to places such as Alaska, British Columbia, Thailand, and Bhutan. Nathan often points out that climbing has taken him to the most beautiful places he has ever seen. He has visited a total of twenty-three countries, and feels that these interactions with culture and landscape have proved to be some of his most valuable education. Additionally, he has recently completed the Single Pitch Instructor level of training with the AMGA.

Nathan gains his greatest satisfaction in guiding by helping his clients find what they are searching for on the rock and in the mountains, and achieve their goals in a safe and enjoyable way. He believes that we all may receive something special when climbing, and thinks of his job as offering others the chance to have this experience. He attributes much of his inspiration for guiding to a great array of teachers, naturalists and rock climbers, the likes of which include Shantideva, John Muir, and Yvon Chouinard.