The native Algonquin word for Mt. Marcy (5344'), the highest summit in New York's High Peaks is Tahawus or 'Cloudsplitter.'

We believe that a good mountain guide has the skill and fitness of a pro athlete, the knowledge of an engineer, the judgement of a doctor, the patience of a teacher and the companionship and inspiration of a favored partner. Cloudsplitter's combination of professionalism and personality ensures a safe, enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides employs only AMGA Certified and NYSDEC Licensed guides and instructors who are seriously invested in the pursuit of professional training and certification, have demonstrated the standards of experience, skill and competency, and demonstrate an equal measure of personable attitude and friendly demeanor.

Jesse, Prodigal Son (IV 5.8 C1), Zion

Jesse Williams is owner/member of Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides LLC. After graduating from nearby Middlebury College (B.A. Environmental Studies, 1994), Jesse started a professional rock, ice and ski guiding career in 1995 with Adirondack Alpine Adventures, Adirondack Rock & River, North American Telemark Organization and Plattsburgh State University. Five years of pro ski patrolling at Jay Peak also gave him valuable mileage on skis and responding to outdoor medical emergencies. He gained valuable alpine guiding experience in the North Cascades and Alaska Range with Rainier Mountaineering Inc, and Alpine Ascents International. He is currently an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor and AMGA Aspirant Alpine and Rock Guide with fifteen years of regional, national and international guiding experience. Since 2001 he has worked independently, forming Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides LLC and based out of Keene Valley, NY. He is in aggressive pursuit of international mountain guiding certification (IFMGA) through the American Mountain Guides Association.

Jesse is additionally certified as a Level 3 Avalanche Forecaster, Wilderness First Responder and a LNT (Leave No Trace) Master Trainer.

Jesse also instructs in Plattsburgh State University’s Expedition Studies program and contracts for expeditions and alpine guiding with AMGA accredited guide services in Washington’s North Cascades and the Alaska Range.

 

Jesse, Trap Dyke, Mt. Colden. photo: Drew Haas / Dacksdescents.com

While he is passionate about Adirondack handcracks, traditional mixed climbs and backcountry terrain, Jesse’s mountain resume includes extensive rock and ice climbs throughout the northern & eastern US, rock cragging throughout the western US, alpine ice on Maine’s Mt. Katahdin; ski mountaineering and alpine rock, ice & mixed routes on the Kahiltna, Ruth and Pika glaciers in the Alaska Range, three Denali (Mt. McKinley) summit expeditions and ski mountaineering in the Alaska and Wrangell/St. Elias Ranges; alpine summit climbs on Mt. Rainier, Baker, the North Cascades and in Rocky Mountain National Parks; water ice in the Canadian Rockies; multi-day ski tours in Quebec’s Chic-Chocs, long free climbs in Red Rocks and Yosemite, big walls in Zion Canyon, backcountry ski tours in the Colorado Rockies and the Tetons and classic alpine climbs in the Chamonix Alps.

Emilie Drinkwater.

Emilie has been a climbing guide & instructor in the region since 2000, frequently working with Adirondack Rock and River, Plattsburgh State University’s Expedition Studies program and Cascade Ski Touring Center. A former collegiate nordic ski athlete (B.A. Anthropology, St. Lawrence University, 1998) and two-time Lake Placid Ironman triathlete, Emilie is an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, a NYSDEC licensed Tier 1 rock and ice climbing guide and a PSIA certified nordic instructor. Emilie is also in aggressive pursuit of additional AMGA Certification.

Emilie, Old Snowy. (Photo courtesy Jim Lawyer / Adirondackrock.com )

 

You may also recognize Emilie from the cover (and pages) of Adirondack Rock- the recently published definitive guidebook to the region. While she is passionate about Adirondack face climbs and backcountry solos, Emilie‘s resume also includes alpine ice on Mt. Katahdin, alpine rock in Alaska’s Little Switzerland, waterfall ice in the Canadian Rockies, multi-day ski tours in Quebec’s Chic-Chocs, desert cragging, long free climbs in Red Rocks and Yosemite, big walls in Zion Canyon, backcountry ski tours in Colorado, hard free climbs in Joshua Tree and long free adventure climbs in the Southeast.

Former intern Brad Carlson joins us occasionally as a program assistant. A fanatical backcountry skier, climber, trail-runner and all-around outdoor athlete from St. George (VT), Brad is a senior class of 2010) at nearby Middlebury College in Vermont where he studies Geography and French. Brad is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and NY State DEC Tier I Climbing Guide and plans to puruse additional AMGA training and certification.

Associate Guides & Subcontractors. Cloudsplitter welcomes the opportunity to work with our friends and fellow guides. As necessary, additional guides who are AMGA Certified (and NYSDEC Tier I Licensed) with the requsite professional experience, may be contracted or employed by Cloudsplitter to assist in programming. Most frequently, we collaborate with our friends at Alpine Endeavors in the Gunks.

Apprenticeship/ Internships. Cloudsplitter is pleased to offer supervised internship and apprenticeship opportunities for upper-level degree students in Plattsburgh State University's Expedition Studies program.