The core of a climbing school -- or of any business for that matter -- is its staff, and at ACS we are fortunate to have a staff who are not only excellent, widely-traveled climbers and knowledgeable guides, but also genuinely good people. We are also blessed with a great deal of continuity in our staffing, no doubt a result of the combination of Acadia’s great beauty, the high quality of the climbing here, the work environment, and the camaraderie and friendships that exists amongst the guides themselves. Our guides return year after year, discovering, like many others, that once Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park get inside of you, it’s hard to stay away.

2010 Guides

Eli Simon

Eli Simon is a Certified AMGA Rock Instructor and co-owner of ACS. Eli began climbing in 2000 in his hometown of Camden, Maine. Since then, he has climbed on every continent except Antarctica, including seven big wall routes on Yosemite's famed El Capitan, Fitzroy in Patagonia, and first ascents in Patagonia, Mexico, and Newfoundland. Besides climbing, Eli has sailed extensively, including a transatlantic crossing in 1999. Eli is a graduate of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Eli is a Certified Wilderness EMT.

Pete Fasoldt

Pete Fasoldt is a Certified AMGA Rock Guide and co-owner of ACS. Pete has traveled and climbed extensively throughout North and South America -- from his home turf of the Camden Hills in mid-coast Maine, to the legendary peaks of Patagonia, where he recently summited Fitzroy with ACS Guide Eli Simon. Also an avid sailor, Pete has sailed over 15,000 nautical miles in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Pete is a graduate of Proctor Academy and the University of Southern Maine, where he earned a B.A. in Hispanic Studies & Spanish. Pete is a Certified Wilderness First Responder.

Alexis Finley

Alexis Finley is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and long time employee of ACS. Alexis grew up in the southwestern deserts of Arizona, where he began his rock climbing career and first developed his passion for outdoor education. In 2005 Alexis received a B.A. in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in education from Prescott College. Since then, Alexis has worked as a high school ecology and natural history teacher; led backcountry canyoneering, backpacking and mountaineering courses; and worked as a rock climbing guide on the cliffs in Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, Arizona, California and Mexico. Alexis is a Certified Wilderness First Responder.

Owen Kiley

Owen Kiley began climbing in 1999 in Acadia National Park, not far from his family's home in Bar Harbor. Since then, Owen has climbed throughout the U.S. and in Canada, including first ascents on the southwest coast of Newfoundland. In addition to his work as a rock climbing guide, Owen has guided backpacking and snow mountaineering courses in the Southern Alaskan Range for two seasons (he was once charged by an adult grizzly). Owen is a graduate of Deerfield Academy and the University of Vermont, where in 2006 he received a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Planning. 2010 will be Owen's sixth season with ACS. Owen is an AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager and a Certified Wilderness First Responder.

Zephyr Cady

Zephyr Cady grew up on Mount Desert Island. His childhood was spent exploring and learning Acadia's rugged landscape through its extensive trail network. This led to his passion for the mountains and his love of climbing. All year round, even in the cold of winter, you can find Zephyr out climbing on any of Acadia's many crags. Zephyr has a strong interest in alpine climbing and spent a month living and climbing on the Homathco Ice Field in British Columbia, Canada in the summer of 2007. Zephyr is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. 2010 will be Zephyr's third season guiding for ACS.

Ryan Howes

Ryan Howes has been teaching in the outdoor adventure education profession for 10 years. Ryan has a M.S. in Experiential Education and B.S. in Adventure Education Leadership and Adventure Therapy. Ryan also has over a decade of climbing experience on rock, ice and alpine routes all over North America; from first ascents in the woods of Maine to Huge multi pitch routes in California. Ryan is a certified AMGA Single-Pitch Instructor and has completed the AMGA Rock Instructor course. Ryan is a Wilderness EMT, a Leave No Trace Trainer, and has completed the AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course. When Ryan isn't climbing he enjoys kicking around a soccer ball, and spending time with his partner and her two kids.

Joel Enrico

Joel Enrico is a Maine native but spent the last year traveling the western United States on an extended climbing trip. He visited areas like Yosemite National Park in California, where he climbed the famed El Capitan, Zion National Park in Utah, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, and the Needles of South Dakota. When Joel isn’t traveling the globe he loves climbing right here in Acadia; with it’s flawless granite, unique style, and surreal setting Acadia National Park is Joel’s favorite place to climb. Joel honed his teaching, leadership, and communication skills with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Joel is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and Leave No Trace Trainer. He is excited to share his love for climbing with you this summer on the coast of Maine.

Megan Girbert

Megan Girbert is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a degree in Exercise Science. Megan's climbing career began in 2001 and since then she has climbed extensively throughout the eastern United States. Her favorite climbing areas include the Red River George in Kentucky, Seneca rocks in West Virginia and of course Acadia National Park. In 2007 she completed an Outward Bound course in Linville Gorge, North Carolina. When not climbing she enjoys running, swimming and mountain biking. Megan is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and is certified in Wilderness First Aid. Megan has completed an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course and is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Ian Dorko

Ian Dorko grew up in Central Maine where he developed an interest in rock climbing at an early age. Ian has climbed extensively throughout the US and abroad. Ian attends the University of Maine in Orono and is working towards a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Almost all of his free time is spent climbing at local crags in Clifton or on the Mount Desert Island. Ian is a talented guide and a great teacher, and he is looking forward to sharing his passion for rock climbing with others this summer. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.