Show Notes:

Joann’s Links:

• Ladies Weekend Out (website)
• Golden State Guiding (website)
• Sierra Mountain Center (website)
• The Mountain Guides Red Rock branch
• Joann’s instagram

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast,

Happy Wednesday and Merry Christmas! This is your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. Today, our guest is Joann Garbarini, who also goes by Jo. We worked together on a Ladies Weekend Out event back in March 2024, but it wasn’t until months later that I finally got a chance to sit down with her and learn about her stories.

Jo grew up on the East Coast and began climbing in The Shawangunk Mountains as a teenager. She has been hiking and rock climbing for over 20 years all around the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jo spends her time bouncing back and forth between The Eastern Sierra and Red Rock. She loves living and guiding in these places because of the access to climbing. During the warmer months, she loves climbing long alpine routes in the backcountry. As the weather gets colder and snow appears, you can find her climbing in the Owens River Gorge in Bishop or on sandstone in Red Rock.

Joann is a certified Wilderness First Responder, holds an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certificate, and has been trained by the AMGA as an Apprentice Rock Guide. Jo loves guiding clients and sharing her passion for the outdoors with them.

Jo started her career path as a high school teacher and is now transitioning to holding just two jobs—a realtor and a guide. She has found a great balance between these two professions, which leaves her enough energy and time to stay healthy and enjoy her own climbing.

Things We Talked about:

• Jo’s playgrounds nowadays
• Born and Raised in the East Coast. Got into climbing in high school and was mentored by a good friend’s stepdad
• Moved to CA looking for better weather to play in the mountains
• Stopped climbing for a while due to unfriendly atmosphere at the first gym she went to
• Picked up climbing again due to a supportive Meetup group
• From weekend warriors to living in Bishop
• Teacher, realtor, guide – wearing many hats
• enjoy working with motivated people
• was afraid that guiding full time might lead to burnout
• how to balance between two jobs, injury prevention, personal climbing and logevity
• next step to advance her career
• great experience in her AMGA Rock Guide Course
• challenges and rewards in guiding
• guiding is like running a business