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Episode Intro:
Welcome to another episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast.
This is Ting Ting, you host from Las Vegas. In this episode, we sit down with Krystina Maixner, an AMGA-certified rock guide, talented painter, and the owner of Chalkfox Studio.Based in Bishop, California, Krystina shares her inspiring journey from living out of her car in San Francisco to discovering her inner power and independence through climbing and guiding. We dive into her experiences working for NOLS, her decision to transition into a balanced lifestyle of graphic design and guiding, and her passion for educating and empowering other women in the outdoors. Tune in to hear how Krystina combines her creative artistry with herlove for the mountains to build a fulfilling, dual-career life!
Krystina's Bio:
Krystina Maixner is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, graphic designer, and artist based in Bishop, California. She is the founder of Chalk Fox Studio, where she provides brandingand web design for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Transitioning from a background in 3D design to marketing, Krystina balances her remote design studio with her guiding career, maintaining a roughly 60/40 split between thetwo. Having started her outdoor leadership journey with NOLS, she now prioritizes instructional climbs that specifically empower women and families.
Across both of her careers, Krystina is driven by a shared philosophy to help others grow: "education creates confidence".
Links:
Welcome back to theFemale Guides Requested Podcast. I’m your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas.
Today, I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nikki Smith to the show. Nikki is a true powerhouse who wears many hats in the outdoor industry—she is a sponsored climber, an athlete, a remarkable photographer, and a guide.
Nikki has been guiding since 1999, but in this episode, we dive deep into how she found her true niche around 2018 by shifting her focus to affinity spaces. We discuss herincredible work co-creating the successful LGBTQ+ Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course and how she integrates outdoor activities with a group therapy style to better support specific communities.
Nikki also generously shares her personal experiences navigating the outdoor industry as a trans person, the financial realities of this often low-paying profession, andher inspiring work with the Open Aperture photography program, which provides scholarships and mentorship for underrepresented storytellers. We even talk about her current journey to get her Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling to merge trauma-informed practices with outdoor instruction.
I enjoyed tremendously chatting with Nikki during our interview, and when I was editing this episode I thought "wow I could listen to the conversation over and over." Warm, honest, professional Nikki provided many thought-provokinginsights naturally brought me to reflect on my guiding and life.
Without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Nikki Smith.
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Nikki's Bio:
Nikki Smith is a photographer, writer, artist, and American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certified guide who has spent more than two decades working in the outdoor industry. A former U.S. Army Veteran, Nikki is currently a sponsored athlete supported by Mountain Hardwear,Scarpa, Protect Our Winters (POW), and Bronwen Jewelry. Over her climbing career, she has completed more than 200 climbing first ascents and another 200 bouldering first ascents.
As an outdoor and human rights advocate, Nikki is a prominent voice for the transgender and LGBTQIA2S+ community. In 2019, working with Mountain Hardwear, Nikki created the Open Aperture program—a scholarship-based mentorship initiative designed to mentor photographers frommarginalized communities and build a more diverse pool of storytellers.
Similarly, she founded an LGBTQIA2S+ AMGA Single Pitch Instructor program to train and certify aspiring climbing guides from affinity groups.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Nikki has spoken globally for organizations such as Accenture, Patagonia, and The North Face. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to further her work in supporting and leading within the outdoor community.
Links:
www.pullphotography.com
www.nikkismith.com
@nikkik_smith
@pullphoto
Episode Intro:
Hello listeners, and welcome back to the Female Guides Requested Podcast.
This is your host, Ting Ting, coming to you from Las Vegas. I apologize that it took me a little while to publish this episode; I broke my tib/fib in a climbing accident six weeks ago. However, when I relistened to my interview with today’s guest, Patty Lankhorst—a woman who has faced multiple setbacks and always bounced back stronger through sheer grit—I gained the courage and faith to do the same.
The incredibly resilient Patty Lankhorst was, at the time of this interview, wrapping up her 23rd season guiding rock climbing in the iconic Gunks of New York.
Patty shares her powerful journey of entering the guiding profession in 2003 as a young, nursing mother, breaking boundaries in a space that severely lacked female representation. She opens up about overcoming an early “bro mentality” in the industry, navigating client minimization, and battling back from six major knee surgeries to climb harder than ever.
Now a passionate mentor and Head Guide, Patty discusses her dedication to creating safe, supportive, and empowering spaces for women and non-binary climbers, while advocating for diversity and boundary-setting in the outdoors. Get ready for a masterclass in confidence, commanding presence, and a lifelong dedication to the mountains with Patty Lankhorst!
Patty's Bio:
Patty Lankhorst is a lifelong climber who discovered the sport in New Hampshire in the early 1990s. Though she has climbed nationwide, the Shawangunks will always be her home crag.
She began guiding in 2003 to share the empowerment she found in climbing. An AMGA Rock Instructor and newly certified SPI Provider, Patty now trains and mentors the nextgeneration of guides. Having been one of the only female guides in her region for years, championing diversity is her driving force. She actively leads women’s programs to create welcoming, inclusive spaces for underrepresentedclimbers.
Today, Patty serves as the Head Guide for Gunks Guides Climbing School, where she is known for her calm leadership, warm teaching style, and singing custom climbing songs at the cliff. Off the rock, she is an accomplished endurance athlete who continues to race and push her limits even after six knee surgeries.
Links:
Welcome to another empowering episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast! This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today we sit down with the incredibly inspiring Carol Simpson, a trailblazing climber and guide who is proving that age and societal expectations are meant to be challenged. Raised in the 1950s South where athleticism in women was heavily discouraged, Carol didn’t embrace her inner athlete until her late 20s. But once she did, there was no looking back.
At age 42, she found her life’s true passion in rock climbing, a discovery she describes as a profound moment of empowerment. Following her newfound calling, Carol moved out West and founded First Ascent at Smith Rock, which became the first-ever women owned guide service in the U.S. Now at 80 years old, she is still climbing, lifting heavy, running a yoga practice, and even actively training to break the world record for dead hangs for women over 80!
In this episode, we dive into Carol’s rebellious journey of defying gender norms, pioneering spaces for women in the outdoors, the absolute necessity of strength training as we age, and why it’s never too late to ignite your inner fire.
Carol's Bio:
Carol Simpson’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of passion. Raised in the 1950s South, she broke away from traditional expectations, leaving an early marriage to earn her degree and launch a successful commercial interior design firm in Washington, D.C. After embracing a fiercely athletic lifestyle in her 30s—eventually becoming an ACE-certifiedpersonal trainer and yoga instructor—she discovered rock climbing at age 42, igniting her life's true passion.
Relocating to Bend, Oregon, in 1992, Carol pioneered new spaces for women in the outdoor industry. She founded First Ascent Climbing Services at Smith Rock, establishing the first female-owned, AMGA-accredited guide service. Long before it was an industry norm, she led all-female expeditionsacross the U.S. and created the weekly “Climb Like A Girl” group to help women discover personal empowerment on the wall.
Her own climbing achievements are equally remarkable. Her proudest ascents at Smith Rock include sending Latin Lover (5.12a) at age 53, and becoming the first woman over 50—at age 60—to lead the notoriously difficult overhanging crack, Whartley’s Revenge (5.11b). Now approaching 81, Carol still climbs three days a week, continuing to defy expectations and inspire climbers of all ages.
Carol’s Links:
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Episode Intro:
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, welcome back. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today in our fifth installment of the Everything SPI series, I am joined once again by Andrew Megas-Russell, the Climbing Instructor Program Manager of the AMGA, to break down the significant updates to the Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) exam that went into effect on January 1, 2026. The changes are designed to standardize and strengthen consistency across the country.
We explore the transition to a more standardized exam format, specifically the new 35-minute technical drill for top-managed skills and the updated instructional assessment component. Andrew explains the rationale behind moving away from volunteer mock clients in favor of a peer-based instructional model. This shift aims to foster richer professional development and allow for more complex teaching topics.
Additional topics in this episode include: Updated Résumé Requirements, Additional Resources and FAQs, and Tips for Success for SPI candidates.
Episode Intro
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, welcome back. I am your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today we sit down with Liz Schwab, an AMGA Apprentice Ski Guide and Nationally Registered Paramedic based in the Tetons. Liz’s journey is one of technical mastery and resilience, moving from the icy racing slopes of New York to the high-consequence backcountry of Silverton, Colorado.
In a moving and honest conversation, Liz opens up about a reality of the guiding industry rarely discussed: navigating grief. She shares how losing friends to mountain accidents shaped her methodical approach to risk, and speaks candidly about losing her partner to cancer. We explore how she leaned on community and took intentional 'baby steps' back into the alpine to heal.
Beyond her personal story, Liz offers invaluable advice for aspiring guides. She discusses the rewards of all-women’s mentorship and avalanche courses in breaking downintimidation. Finally, she shares grounded wisdom on maintaining a 'backup career' to avoid burnout and protect her soul-level passion for the outdoors. This episode is a beautiful look at finding peace, making hard assessments, and thriving in the industry. Let's dive in!
Liz's bio
Liz Schwab grew up ski racing in upstate New York. She attended college in Durango, CO, trading ski racing for competitive free skiing & ultimately graduating in 2014 witha Bachelors in Physiology and Adventure Education. She then moved to Silverton, CO where she became an EMT and started her avalanche education. Liz has been teaching avalanche courses for both AAA and AIARE programs for 10 years now. In 2020 Liz became a paramedic and worked full time for Silverton Medical Rescue, an EMS and SAR based agency. Liz participated in leading complex emergencyrescue scenes in the San Juan Mountains austere environment for several years before moving to Victor, Idaho in 2023. Liz now works as a guide, paramedic,WFR instructor and ski patroller at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Liz's link:
Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/elizabetheskier/
Episode Intro:
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested podcast, welcome back, this is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. In today's episode, we sit down with Theresa Silveyra, a Portland-based mountain guide whose journey into the outdoors is as disciplined as it is inspiring.
Originally a professional music teacher with a master’s degree in piano performance, Theresa transitioned into the world of guiding after seeking a fresh start away from the burnout of academia. Today, she is a trailblazer in the Pacific Northwest, serving as one of only two female rescue leaders with Portland Mountain Rescue and working with elite guide services like Alpine Ascents. Join us as we discuss her incredible feat of climbing Mount Hood over 100 times, her work in creating the 'Color the Cascades' gear scholarship, and her powerful perspective on why every climber—regardless of their background—already belongs in the mountains.
About Theresa:
Theresa grew up in Southwest Washington with the Cascade volcanoes in her backyard, but it wasn’t until after grad school that she began recreating outdoors and eventually fellin love with climbing. She had the incredible privilege of starting her guiding career in 2021 with the non-profit organization Climbers of Color, co-leading mountain and alpine rock leadership courses for BIPOC participants. In 2022, she stepped into the role of Assistant Mountaineering Director, helping lead CoC's program development through 2024.
For the first few years, Theresa balanced guiding with her career as a music teacher. In 2023, she transitioned away from the classroom to become a full-time guide and dedicate herself to pursuing AMGA certification; she is currently an AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Rock Guide. Thesedays, she can be found guiding her favorite peak, Mount Hood, with Timberline Mountain Guides, or teaching ice climbing in Ouray with San Juan MountainGuides during the winter. She also joined the Alpine Ascents team in summer 2025.
Outside of professional guiding, Theresa is a dedicated volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue, serving as a RescueLeader, Training Committee co-chair, and Board Member. Since 2020, she has also directed Color the Cascades, ascholarship program providing mountaineering gear to women and genderqueer people of color in the Pacific Northwest.
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Episode Intro:
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. Welcome back. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today, we are joined by a true trailblazer, Norie Kizaki.
Bornin a remote Japanese village where her family oversaw a Buddhist temple, Norie’s path to the mountains was anything but traditional. After moving to the U.S. for graduate school and falling in love with the Rockies, she navigated therigorous AMGA certification process to become a mountain guide.
In this episode, we dive into her transition from the corporate world to the outdoors, her experiences as an immigrant in a male-dominated industry, and the deeplypersonal choice she made to prioritize motherhood alongside her professionalaspirations. Let’s welcome Norie Kizaki.
Quotes:
About Norie:
Originally from rural Japan, Norie moved to Colorado in 1996 for graduate school and has been guiding for more than 20 years. She completed her AMGA programs in 2021, marking several historic milestones: she is the first mother to complete the Mountain Guide Program, the first Japanese woman to achieve IFMGA status, and the first woman of color to become an AMGA/IFMGA guide.
In recognition of her expertise, she was named the 2023 Guide of the Year by the American Mountain Guides Association. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Norie spends her winters ski guiding in Japan. She and her husband also sponsor the Kizaki-Wolf Scholarship through the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) to support underrepresented populations in the outdoors.
Show Notes:
Emilie is a an AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide but she likes lots of things that have nothing to do with mountains: cats, true crime podcasts, and books about early Arctic exploration to name a few.
When she is guiding, she’s a generalist and finds equal enjoyment on sunny rock climbs, steep ice, and snowy slopes.
If she’s not home in Salt Lake City, UT, she likes traveling the world….the more unusual the place, the better!
Emilie’s Links:
Episode Intro:
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, welcome back. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today I am joined by a veteran of the guiding world, Emilie Drinkwater. With over 25 years of experience, Emilie’s career has taken her from the rugged ice of the Adirondacks to pioneering leadership programs for women in Afghanistan. As an IFMGA-certified guide and a member of the AMGA instructor team, she brings a wealth of knowledge on what it means to make guiding a lifelong profession.
In this episode, we dive into her transition from the Northeast to the West, the cultural complexities of guiding abroad, and a recent, harrowing health scare that changed her perspective on the risks we take in the mountains. Let’s get into the conversation with Emilie Drinkwater.
Quotes:
Juliana Garcia started climbing the mountains of Ecuador at fifteen years old. Since then, she has climbed and guided many mountains and big walls throughout the Andes, Peru,Bolivia, Colombia, as well as in Pakistan, Alaska, United States and the Alps. She became the first female Latin American certified IFMGA mountain guide and served as the President of the Ecuadorian Association of guides for 6 years.
She is currently one of the instructors of the Ecuadorian guiding school ESGUIM. Juliana is also a Patagonia Brand Ambassador and an AIARE Avalanche Education Instructor and POW ambassador. She served as “board member” at the IFMGA for six years and became the first female and non-European to occupy that position. Recently she was recognized by the IFMGA as an “honorary member”.
Juliana got her “ski guide” diploma this spring 2025 in U.S by the AMGA. She became the first female Latin American to obtain this status as a full IFMGA. She is passionate aboutlearning and sharing.
Episode Intro:
Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast,welcome back! I am your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. Today’s guest is a true trailblazer in the international guiding community: Juliana Garcia.
Juliana is an Ecuadorian mountain guide whose career is a series of "firsts". She was the first woman to pass the rigorous aspirant exams in the Bolivian system and became the first female IFMGA-certified guide in all of Latin America.
Juliana’s influence extends far beyond the technical terrain of the Andes. She served two terms as the president of the Ecuadorian Mountain Guides Association, where she was instrumental in bringing their national school up to international standards. She also shattered glass ceilings at the highest level of the profession as the first woman ever to sit on the board of the IFMGA.
At the time of this interview, Juliana was based in Washington state and was in the final stages of a multi-year journey to become a certified ski guide—a discipline she picked upas an adult to bring high-level snow science and safety back to her home community in Ecuador. (And to no one's surprise, she passed!)
Now, let's dive into Juliana's inspiring life journey—her transition from volcanoes to the Cascades, the power of mentorship, and why she believes the most important tool a guide can have is the ability to listen.
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