Elaina is an AMGA Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide, and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Provider Trainer as well as a Level 2 IRATA/SPRAT Rope Access Technician.

She owns New River Mountain Guides and splits her time guiding in New River Gorge in summer and Red Rock Canyon in the rest of the year. She is currently a board member of the AMGA.

Elaina was a mentor of mine on my way to becoming an AMGA SPI Provider. She loves teaching and is always calm and extremely patient. I first met her at one of the AMGA annual meeting and I embarrassed myself by acting like a teenage fan of a rock star . I couldn't believe how she kept her encouraging smile listening to all my twitter.

I still acted like a fan when I interviewed her because she is just incredible - how she manages so many tasks is beyond me and I know she will be always one of my role models.

Now let's hear Elaina's stories.

Show Notes:

Mentioned Articles and Videos:

• Almost there adventure podcast: Episode 19 Climbing with Elaina Arenz

• Basecamp A Climbing Magazine Podcast: the epic issue with Matt Samet, James Lucas, and Elaina Arenz

• Sideline Attraction: Episode 20 Elaina Arenz

• Live of Adventures: #4 Elaina Arenz A Climbing life

Elaina's Links:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• New River Mountain Guides

Chapters:

00:00:00 - 00:07:50 - Intro, how Elaina got into climbing and eventually did this epic road trip ending up staying in El Potrero Chico

00:07:50 - 00:14:57 - El Potrero Chico days, owning and running businesses, developing routes, putting EPC on the climbing map, talking about the pros and cons of learning from and climbing with her significant other. Developed the love of finding new sport lines

00:18:57 - 00:25:20 - from photos on Climbing Magazine to role models to work with role models and mentors. what early networking paved the road to later education and career

00:25:20 - 00:42:35 - getting serious on guiding, taking AMGA courses/exams, finding rewards in guiding, and seeing AMGA evolved, forming a pack with Tracy Martin for quite a few AMGA courses and exams on the Rock Guide track

00:42:35 - 00:48:10 - being a female in guiding industry. what are the challenges? changes seen in guiding and climbing communities.

00:48:10 - 00:58:19 - support AMGA's mission, being on the board, push the scope of practice, advocate professionalism, involved in affinity programs

00:58:19 - 01:11:08 - the reality of a guiding career, felt the need to diversify, started rope access work

01:11:08 - end - Elaina's new hobby, short term adventure goals, how to find Elaina and closing thoughts