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Jessica Adler
InstructorClimbing School InstructorIn 2015, Jessica Adler went bouldering at Stone Gardens in Seattle. Her first time climbing, she climbed till her hands were bleeding. She tells the story with sinister delight, as she recalls, she taped up her hands and returned to the gym the next day. Later that year, she would join a local women's climbing club and meet her climbing mentor, and eventually start alpine climbing.
In 2017, Jess would start teaching basic mountaineering courses through Boealps (a local nonprofit climbing club based out of The Boeing Company's headquarters). And in 2018, she started instructing at Stone Gardens- Bellevue.
She loves alpine climbing, although she claims to hate cardio and the cold. Her favorite climbs in Washington are: Davis-Holland to Lovin' Arms (Index), Lay of the Land (Exit 32), Moonstruck (Tieton) and The West Face (NEWS - WA Pass).
She's also an avid traveler and has climbed in: Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Spain, Morocco, Iceland, Russia, Vietnam, Israel, and across the U.S.
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Jonah Alcorta
SetterRoute Setter
Jonah grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and didnt discover climbing until a trip to Spain in his early teens sparked his interest. He started at a local gym called Adventure Rock learning from a local trad crusher who taught his high school climbing team. It wasn't long until he was instructing and setting at the gym. After a few years Jonah refocused himself on climbing harder and learning everything there is to know about climbing movement.Jonah and his adorable husky would travel the west coast testing his abilities until the pandemic brought him back to the midwest. Shortly after returning, Jonah moved here to Washington to continue exploring movement in his setting at Edgeworks and continuing pushing his outdoor climbing goals at the many new crags available to him.
Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 1 Route Setter -
Truc Allen
OfficeBuyerTruc started climbing 31 years ago and started climbing at EW when it was SG back in 2008. Whenever he's asked the question about what he loves about climbing, he likes to think that he loves the process, or a specific list of climbs, but it's the places it takes him that always truly comes to mind. When Trus isn't climbing, he's either surfing, spending time with the family, working on his photography, or doing a variety of different backcountry and mountain things.
When he first started climbing, his fear of heights was pretty intense. But over the decades, while the fear is still there, he sees it as a pretty big part of what makes the experience (would it be boring if it wasn't scary/exciting?). Focusing on breathing, believing in himself (no matter how much he may be lying to himself) and understanding/trusting the the gear he uses helps too. Truc's favorite place to climb in all of the world would be his home country of Vietnam, with a pretty close second in Fontainebleau, FR. As far as favorite sending snacks? Salami, tin can fish, or good old fashioned trail mix!
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Owner, General Manager, IFMGA Guide
Tod Bloxham was born and raised in Washington State, spending his adolescence exploring the mountains of the North Cascades. By the age of 18 Tod had logged well over 500 miles of North Cascades trails and backcountry and had hiked 2,700 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, becoming the youngest solo through-hiker to travel the entire PCT from Canada to Mexico. As a climber, Tod has been climbing and skiing the backcountry since 1991, logging hundreds of ascents of rock, ice and ski routes in North America and abroad.Life in the outdoors and work must coexist for Tod; professionally, Tod has been guiding since 1999, is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, and as the owner of Edgeworks Climbing, Tod is either helping his beautiful wife show the wonders of the outdoors to their two girls, sharpening his skills on the alpine and trad climbs he pursues, or helping people discover that the outdoors and climbing can be a lifelong pursuit that is inspiring and invigorating.
Certifications / Qualifications:
IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
AMGA Alpine Guide
AMGA Ski Guide
AMGA Rock Guide
AMGA Rock Instructor
Wilderness First Responder
AIARE L1/L2 Avalanche Course Leader
AIARE L3 Avalanche Forecaster -
Sam Bujnarowski
InstructorSingle Pitch Instructor
Sam’s an east coast rock climber turned Northwest all-arounder. His first climbing memory is going to the gym where his sister worked at the age of ten. That experience stuck--from then Sam has relentlessly pursued climbing. At first it was spending time in the gym or trying to practice skills from an old copy of Freedom of the Hills, but it gave way to bouldering outdoors, then roped climbing, trad climbing, and the alpine. Before he knew it, Sam was trying every form of mountain sport he could. Being out in the mountains is a main part of Sam’s life, both recreationally and professionally. Whether chasing alpine peaks, trying to stay warm on ice routes, backcountry touring, or just exploring a new area, he shares a passion for it all. And it was the satisfaction from sharing his passion and knowledge that led Sam towards guiding.
Nowadays, Sam enjoys helping others realize their potential in the mountains as much as he enjoys being there himself. Getting to see people find joy outside is what keeps him going. When he isn’t guiding, Sam’s still out in the mountains looking for his next adventure.
Certifications / Qualifications:
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Wilderness First Responder
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Trinity Collier
Front DeskFront Desk SupervisorTrinity grew up in Issaquah, with both her parents who love the outdoors. Every year at the local fairs the only thing she wanted to do was the rock climbing walls. She finally went to an official climbing gym in high-school and was hooked. She has been climbing ever since.
When not at the gym you can find her doing paddle board yoga at Rattlesnake Lake, playing with her dog, or going hiking.
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Tyrell Dozier
InstructorInstructorTyrell has been climbing for eight years. He likes most forms of climbing but is particularly fond of the thrill of being on the sharp end of the rope. You might see him hanging out half way up the lead walls or cheering on the climbing team during hard workouts.
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Ayrie Dutt
InstructorYouth InstructorAyrie loves climbing and drawing. Shes been climbing for 8 years, and has been competing on a team for 6 of them. She has a silly Australian labradoodle named Freddie. On the side, she also enjoys sketching some of her favorite artists and animals using graphite!
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Route Setter, Instructor, Personal TrainerHal is a fanatic of climbing and any other outdoor-related activity. While bouldering is his primary discipline, he also loves sport climbing and the occasional trad multi-pitch here and there. Aside from climbing, running, backpacking, lifting, photography, and skiing are among the various other activities that he delves into throughout the seasons. Around the gym you can find him coaching the youth team, working with clients on technique or fitness, or forerunning or setting some boulders.
Certifications / Qualifications:
NSCA-CPT
USAC Level 1 Coach
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Climbing School ManagerJacob was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. At the age of 3 his mom and grandpa decided to put him on a pair of skis to see what would happen and needless to say he's been in love with the mountains and adventure ever since.
Usually while on an adventure, Jacob looks up and says, "let's climb that" or "lets ski that" not knowing exactly what mountain it is, but his thirst for adventure and desire to see remote parts of the United States is what leads to all his fun - type II fun that is! When not at work you will find Jacob skiing, climbing, mountaineering, kayaking or biking.
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Director of Climbing School + Guiding, IFMGA GuideKurt grew up in Oregon, started backpacking at age four, and began climbing when he was eight. Since then, he has climbed, skied, and guided throughout the Cascades, Alaska Range, Sierra, Rockies, and the mountains of New England, Canada, Norway, and the Alps. He loves exploring and putting up new routes the Cascades in all seasons.Kurt is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and has been guiding since 2003. He is an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and has served on their Board of Directors. Kurt has also worked as a climbing ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. He founded the Washington Anchor Replacement Project, which replaces aging climbing hardware across the state. Kurt is the author of the climbing guidebook Snoqualmie Rock and a co-author of Backcountry Skiing: Washington.
Kurt loves helping people along their own paths in their outdoor adventures. Whether it’s sharing key beta, technical skills, or teaching his children how to ski, he loves seeing people expand their skill sets, gain self-confidence, and have fun in the outdoors.
Certifications / Qualifications:
IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
AMGA Alpine Guide
AMGA Ski Guide
AMGA Rock Guide
Wilderness EMT
AIARE L1/L2 Avalanche Course Leader
AIARE L3 Avalanche Forecaster
Leave No Trace Master Educator -
Christian Horton
OfficeFinance & HR ManagerOriginally from Massachusetts, Christian moved to Seattle in 1998 and has been climbing and skiing throughout the Northwest ever since. From ski descents of Mt. Rainier to long slab climbs in Darrington, he has always looked for new adventures and new places to explore. His favorite place to climb is Index.
Christian started at Stone Gardens back in 2001 and managed the Seattle gym for the last decade before moving into his current role. He remains committed to making the gym an open space where everyone from brand new to experienced climbers can have fun, challenge themselves and learn new skills.
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Louis Larson
Front DeskFront Desk SupervisorLouis spends most of his free time hidden away in Skykomish Valley cranking on granite slopers. He is Wilderness and Remote First Aid certified, and loves to go on long camping trips. He has experience in bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, and competition climbing. Feel free to say hi!
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Emma Lemert
Front DeskFront Desk SupervisorEmma has been an avid seeker of the outdoors since she can remember. She started climbing 4 years ago on her collegiate climbing team, and instantly fell in love. She was president of the team for 2 years until graduating with a BS in Marketing.
Outside of the gym, she can be found wrestling with mighty boulders in the PNW, and hopes to find her way to some of the fantastic climbing havens around the world. When she's not climbing, you can find Emma on a run, hike, kayak, or skis.
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Jake Love
InstructorTeam Head CoachJake is a passionate (read: obsessive) rock climber with nearly a decade of experience bouldering and sport climbing. Though he spends plenty of his time in the gym, Jake prefers the feel of real rock in his grip, and has spent much of his life climbing at the amazing outdoor locations across Washington State and the West Coast. A boulderer at heart, Jake's favorite place to climb is The Buttermilks, the land of highballs, in Bishop, California.
Jake also runs the YouTube channel BadWater Bouldering with his twin brother. The channel releases free weekly bouldering videos for the climbing community to enjoy. To this day, his proudest video (and send) is Evilution direct on the Grandpa Peabody Boulder in the 'milks. Be sure to say hi if you see him out in the boulders!
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Abbie Madlem
OfficeDirector of OperationsAbbie was raised in the Puget Sound, where she was instilled with a love of the outdoors. She spent her days backpacking, snowshoeing, kayaking - you name it. She first came into contact with climbing as a kid at the pinnacle in REI. It looked super high and super scary, but she got over that fast and once on the wall she didn't want to come back down.
When not climbing, Abbie can be found hiking, biking, crafting, finding new places to explore, or curled up on the couch with a good book.
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Vaun Mcaleer
SetterRoute SetterClimbing is a great vehicle to add to your life. It’s more than exercise, fun, and community. Climbing is about self exploration, virtuous struggle, mental and physical rewards and lessons that you can take with you out into the world, into your home and into your relationships. It’s a dance, an art form and yoga. It’s a wonderful physical tool that bring people close together through team work, courage’s acts, challenging your fears and doubts, adventure, and an ability to connect with nature.
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Zach Neubauer
OfficeAssistant Operations ManagerZach got into climbing in college where he ended up working at the climbing gym. Before moving to Seattle he was working in Germany at an outdoor recreation center. After moving to Seattle he found himself working retail and shortly after at Stone Gardens.
While he primarily wrestles pebbles, he has been known to get on a rope. Outside of climbing Zach likes to drink coffee, cycle and cook
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Zack Novak
GuideIFMGA GuideZack grew up in the middle east and fell in love with the outdoors while exploring the harsh Judea Desert landscapes as a teenager. With well over a decade of Outdoor Education and Guiding, Zack is now proud to call North Bend, WA his home. Zack has a deep passion for education and helping people realize their full potential in the mountains and at the crags.
When he's not out working in the mountains, he is usually out climbing, skiing or riding bikes for fun.Certifications / Qualifications:
IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide
AIARE Course Leader
Wilderness First Responder
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Kyle Rowe
SetterRoute SetterKyle has been route setting since 2010. He started as a volunteer setter in college where he received his B.S in Clinical Physiology, and transitioned into setting part time at a gym in Idaho where he worked for about 5 years until he moved back home to Washington and continued setting for Stone Gardens in Bellevue where he currently sets.Bouldering is Kyle's personal passion/hobby. He's climbed internationally in France and Spain as well as all over the western United States. Kyle believes climbing on lots of different rock types and environments helps with his creativity as a route setter. His other hobbies include hiking, foraging, podcasts, traveling, cooking.
Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 1 Route Setter -
Maryanne Saechao
OfficeRetail CoordinatorShe was born and raised in Seattle Washington, She loves to be outdoors on hiking trips or climbing trips. when she is not outdoors she loves to read books and hangout with her son.
She also loves to spend time with friends and family. She has done climbing routes in Yosemite National Park and Joshua Tree.
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Michelle Scheele
OfficeMarketing DirectorMichelle has been involved with Edgeworks since the spark and the dream planted itself in Tod’s mind while on their honeymoon in New Zealand in 2002. After spending 10+ years working in non-profit fundraising and adding two beautiful daughters to their family (Hailey and Kayla), Michelle officially joined the Edgeworks staff in 2013.
While you won’t often see her sending routes and pulling plastic in the gym, you will find her in yoga classes or belaying/chasing her kids up and around the wall. On weekends she can be found running around the North End, adventuring with Tod and the kids, skiing, or visiting family in Bellingham. Cooking, photography, and travel top her wish list of “hobbies”.
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James Sommerfeld
SetterHead Route SetterJames grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He discovered climbing at Edgeworks Bellevue over a decade ago (when it was Stone Gardens) and dove in head first. Since then, climbing has been at the center of his life. He can often be found packing pads around Index or Leavenworth in search of the next send.Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 1 Route Setter -
Carley Stordahl
FitnessYoga InstructorCarley has been climbing off and on for over 10 years and practicing a variety of yoga for 15. She has a degree in clinical physiology and a minor in nutrition which brought her into the fitness field as a personal trainer, group fitness and yoga instructor. Climbing and yoga have been such a positive influence on her own health and well being, teaching yoga in a climbing gym feels natural and a great next step in her journey.
With her passion for vinyasa yoga, Carley took her 200 RYT in Nosara, Costa Rica in January of 2020. Carley enjoys guiding students to find awareness and connection to the body no matter if you're an athlete or someone who needs a more therapeutic approach. Her classes often focus on alignment, muscle activation and transitions.
She has a love for the outdoors equal to yoga. When she's not teaching yoga class you can find Carley rock climbing or out on a trail in the wild with her two dogs.
Certifications / Qualifications:
200 RYT -
Brad Szlezak
OfficeOperations ManagerBrad does not climb to hunt grades but climbs for the friendships and exploring new areas. His top two favorite places he has climbed are Horse Pens 40 in Alabama and Jackson Falls, Illinois. Typically, you will find Brad on ropes but he does occasionally boulder as well. Outside of climbing, Brad likes to hunt, fish, surf, mountain bike, garden and most of all spend time with Family.
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Zack Wentz
InstructorApprentice Alpine Guide
Zack started his guiding career as a climbing instructor while completing his degree at the University of British Columbia. He studied Forest Sciences with a focus on Snow and Avalanche Forecasting where he researched the effects of vegetation on snowpack instability, which he presented at the 2018 International Snow Science Workshop. He has worked as a guide and avalanche instructor across the American West, Canada, Southeastern U.S., and Sierra, while his personal adventures have taken around the world, including the French and Austrian Alps, New Zealand, and all over North America.
Zack is pursuing full IFMGA Mountain Guide certification and aims to balance guiding with research in avalanche forecasting. Zack enjoys connecting others to the beauty and lessons that the mountains have to offer, but seeks out big splitboarding lines on big peaks in the best conditions. He also works with the Northwest Avalanche Center to provide avalanche awareness classes, and is engaged in improving public safety messaging around avalanche risk management.
Certifications / Qualifications:
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
AMGA Assistant Rock Guide
AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
AMGA Assistant Splitboard Guide
AIARE Avalanche Instructor
CAA ITP Level 2
Wilderness First Responder -
Front Desk Supervisor, InstructorKelsey's first experience with climbing was on Bainbridge Island. Her friend bought her climbing shoes and a gym membership and ever since then, she's been hooked!
Having a career as a teacher, Kelsey is passionate about education and getting students outside at an early age. No matter the season, you will always find Kelsey outside, whether that's skiing in the snow, running in the rain, climbing in the sun, or biking in the wind, fun will always be had!
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Director of Route Setting
Justin began his routesetting journey back in his home state of Massachusetts in 2008. Fast forward 14 years: His passion for climbing evolved into a career. He is a level 4 USAC certified routesetter that has developed routesetting teams across the country and set at high-level climbing competitions all over the US.His focus over the last few years has revolved around the professionalization of route setting and the creation of mentorship and education programs. He strives to constantly push the bounds of commercial and competition style routesetting to expose climbing communities to new styles of movement.
When Justin isn’t setting or climbing, you’ll find him behind the lens of a camera or kiteboarding in the wind.
Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 4 Route Setter -
Ghee Yang
SetterRoute SetterGhee found rock climbing after injuring her knee marathoning. Needless to say, she’s never looked back.Ghee worked and climbed at Stone Gardens for many years before starting route setting. Her favorite aspects of the job include the creativity, collaboration with others, positive vibes, and spontaneous dance breaks. She very much enjoys both sport climbing and bouldering, nearly always finding an excuse to couple climbing and traveling. Some of her favorite destinations have been in South Korea, India, Thailand, Utah and Oregon.
Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 1 Route Setter
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Ziggy Ziegler
SetterAssistant Head Route SetterZiggy grew up a stone's throw from Edgeworks Bellevue and started her climbing journey when the gym opened in 2011. Over the last decade she has worked every job imaginable at this gym and others, from teaching and working the desk to maintenance and safety to currently helping manage the route setting department as the Assistant Head Route Setter.Ziggy has passion for intricate climbing movement and puzzle solving. Taking movement inspiration from 15 years of being in the theatre and dancing, she sets her routes with fun movement in mind. Getting to talk with climbers about her routes is one of her favorite parts of setting.
When not at the gym, Ziggy can be found slacklining, reading, playing with their cats, or playing bass in the local math rock band, Rather Ordinary Dudes.
Certifications / Qualifications:
USAC Level 1 Route Setter
Petzl Work-At-Height Certified - Competent
Petzl Personal Protective Equipment Certified Inspector
