About Apex – Our History

Located in Vail Valley, Colorado, Apex Mountain School is a full service guiding and specialized adventure company. Rooted in the community and the Colorado climbing culture for 20+ years, Apex has developed a reputation for superior rock climbing and ice climbing experiences, backcountry skiing tours, mountaineering courses and trips, SOLO accredited wilderness medicine, avalanche education and ground-breaking corporate team building programs utilized by private groups, small businesses & fortune 200 companies the world over.

Apex’s founding director, Scott Smith, is professionally trained as a mountain guide by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and has extensive disciplinary trainings including wilderness medicine, self-rescue and avalanche preparedness. Scott has been exploring the backcountry of the Western U.S. for nearly 25 years, and professionally guiding for over 10. The opportunity to share his strong passion for the outdoors, as well as for life, is the driving force behind the creation of Apex.

Our guide service comes #1 recommended by hotels and concierge services valley-wide and beyond, and our AMGA / ACMG trained and certified guides take pride in holding credentials and experience unmatched by any other service in the area. Having stood on the highest of summits, our keen sense of client care and risk management, as well as our impeccable safety record, instills the confidence our clients look for in a professional mountain guide – a trademark our reputation is built on.

Experience the Apex difference for yourself. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Our Guides:

Scott Smith

As founding director of Apex Mountain School, Scott guides the occasional private request, as well as overseeing development of group and corporate team building events. The division’s rapid growth is testimony to his driving passion for facilitating change and growth.

Scott enjoys climbing and guiding rock, ice and alpine terrain, as well as backcountry ski touring and descents. When he steps away, Scott heads for the big stone of Zion, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, and The Black Canyon of The Gunnison. Next on his list…Cirque of the Unclimbables, Patagonia, and exploring the endless walls of Pakistan. Professionally trained through the AMGA and guidance of revered world class guides and climbers, his primary focus is on providing the utmost in client satisfaction, while sharing his passion for the mountains. His greatest teacher is his 8 year old daughter, Kylee.

At Apex, proper education and training are key elements of success. Our Director is:

Professionally trained Commercial Mountain Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association – Rock Instructor Course
Professionally trained Commercial Mountain Guide, Rock Guide
25 years climbing experience; 15 years guiding experience
AIARE Level I Avalanche Safety Instructor
Professionally trained in Self Rescue
Wilderness First Responder certified
CPR/First Aid certified
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche trained, American Avalanche Association guidelines
Leave-no-Trace trained
Member American Mountain Guides Association
Member American Alpine Club
Member Worldwide Outfitters & Guides Association
Member Access Fund
20 year Vail Valley resident

Eric Alexander

Eric grew up in Evergreen, Colorado, and has a BA in Environmental Science. He was a member of the school’s Alpine Club and Ski Team, and President of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and has worked for Vail Ski Patrol (including an exchange in France), Vail Ski School, and Vail Mountaineering. His climbing has taken him throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America, and the Himalayas.

In May of 2001, Eric Summited Mt. Everest guiding Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind climber to ever summit the mountain. He has climbed six of the seven continental highest summits, and has led a person with a disability to the summit of each of those continent’s highest peaks, including 2 blind ski descents. Corporate speaking engagements are a regular part of his repertoire.

Eric spends his free time playing with his twin girls, Karis and Aralyn, and adoring his wife, Amy.

Guided first and only blind summit of Mt. Everest
15 years guiding experience
Emergency Medical Technician
National Registry EMT
AIARE Level I, II, and III Avalanche trained
Professionally trained in self-rescue

Curtis Green

Curtis grew up in Ohio and Arizona, and has a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Northern Arizona University, as well as graduate work in Physiology. He climbs rock, ice and alpine, and kayaks big water. Along with river kayaking grade 5 first ascents in Bali and sea kayaking big Pacific Ocean water, he has climbed across most of the U.S., South America, Alaska, the French Alps and in New Zealand, to name a few. He has 5 marathons under his belt and has also run the Yukon Quest Adventure Race.

Curtis is former Associate Program Director for the Professional Development Program of the Pacific Coast Outward Bound school in Los Angeles, and also trained Outward Bound instructors in white water rafting and rock climbing guiding skills.

Curtis enjoys sharing adventures with clients and the friendships that blossom from them. In his free time, he likes to hit the high passes for long cross country tours on his BMW Dakkar 650 Dual Sport bike.

Professionally certified Rock Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally certified Rock Instructor by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally trained Advanced Alpine Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
35 years climbing experience; 30 years guiding experience
IFMGA Aspirant
AIARE Level I Avalanche Safety Instructor
CPR/First Aid certified, former Emergency Medical Technician
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche trained, American Avalanche Association guidelines
Self-rescue trained
Certified Grand Canyon River Guide
Member American Mountain Guides Association
Member American Alpine Club
Member Grand Canyon River Guides Association

Kip Davis

Kip studied Sociology, Special Education and Adventure Education/Wilderness Leadership at University of Oregon.

He moved to Colorado in 1999, and began working for the Rocky Mountain Outward Bound School in Leadville. After thirteen years, he continues to moonlight as a technical trainer for the school’s rock and mountaineering programs. In 2004, Kip became an adjunct faculty member for the Colorado Mountain College out of Leadville. He continues to teach ski courses and technical courses for the Outdoor Recreation Leadership program at the college.

Kip has climbed and explored in the peaks of Europe, Canada, South America, and much of the United States. One of Kip’s favorite climbing areas continues to be Chamonix in France, with a close second being Rocky Mountain National Park. Both places have amazing and challenging terrain, but Chamonix simply wins out due to the accessibility factor and its glaciers.

Professionally certified Rock Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally trained Aspirant Alpine Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally certified Single Pitch Instructor by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally trained Ski Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche trained, American Avalanche Association guidelines
Wilderness First Responder certified
Member American Mountain Guides Association
Member American Alpine Club
Self-rescue trained

Brian McCall

Brian became a staff member of the esteemed Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) in 2007. His background includes more than 12 years of experience in the avalanche industry as a forecaster, ski and climbing guide, and instructing avalanche education courses, and ski patroller at Aspen Highlands.

Brian holds American Mountain Guides Association certification as a ski guide and rock instructor. Brian was also a founding member and director of the Roaring Fork Avalanche Center.

In his free time, Brian enjoys all forms of climbing, ski touring, mountain biking, and just goofing off in his back yard of the Elk Mountains and well beyond.

Professionally certified Commercial Ski Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association
Professionally certified Commercial Rock Instructor by the American Mountain Guides Association
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche Safety Instructor
Wilderness First Responder certified
Outdoor Emergency Care certified

Chad Mickschl

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chad moved to Colorado after graduating from Lake Forest College in Chicago to pursue his dream of living in the mountains. He works as a year round mountain guide, specializing in avalanche education and backcountry skiing.

Chad teaches outdoor education courses for the local community college, ski guides and avalanche forecasts and is an avalanche rescue technician for Flight For Life. Having backcountry skied extensively throughout the mountains of Colorado, Chad feels at home in any mountain range in the state. His skiing has also taken him to the Spearhead Range in British Columbia and the Chugach Range in Alaska.

Professionally trained Commercial Ski Mountaineering Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association – Ski Mountaineering Aspirant Exam
Professionally trained Commercial Rock Instructor by the American Mountain Guides Association – Single Pitch Instructor
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche Safety Instructor
AIARE Level III Certification
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certified
Outdoor Emergency Care certified

Chris Berdoulay

Chris studied Outdoor Education, with an emphasis in Adventure Education and Wilderness Leadership, at Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont, his home stomping grounds.

He moved to Colorado in 1996, and has since worked as a mountain bike camp counselor and tour guide, with at-risk youth in wilderness camps, and led and instructed mountaineering camps for colleges and Outward Bound

. He has faithfully returned to Beaver Creek Ski Patrol yearly, and most recently became a registered EMT-Paramedic for the Western Eagle County Ambulance District.

Although he has climbed and explored in the peaks of Europe, Alaska, Canada, South America, and much of the contigious United States, one of Chris’s favorite climbing areas continues to be Rocky Mountain National Park. “It’s simple – it has some of the most challenging terrain I’ve seen, and it’s a few hour drive away with a cold beer waiting in Boulder for me afterwards. Who could beat that?”

Professionally trained Commercial Mountain Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association – Rock Instructor Course
CPR/AED certified
Wilderness First Responder certified
Paramedic
Professionally trained in Self Rescue
Basic Trauma Life Support certified
Outdoor Emergency Care certified
Level I and II Avalanche trained
AIARE Level III Avalanche certified, American Avalanche Association guidelines

Jon Griffin

Jon grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and lives somewhere between Glenwood and Boulder, depending on the day. He enjoys skiing, rock and ice climbing, kayaking, backpacking and mountaineering. He has lived in Colorado for 21 years and truly enjoys sharing his love for the outdoors!

He recognized his passion for the outdoors while attending Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, then moved to Mt. Hood, Oregon where he furthered his “education”, taking a more serious approach to mountaineering and trad climbing.

Jon loves exploring remote Colorado granite, and has climbed internationally in the Dolomites of Italy, the Bugaboo’s of British Columbia, and dozens of climbing destinations in the western U.S.

Professionally trained in self-rescue
Professionally trained Commercial Guide by the American Mountain Guides Association – Rock Instructor Course
Wilderness First Responder certified
Outdoor Emergency Care certified
CPR/First Aid certified
Member American Mountain Guides Association
AIARE Level I and II Avalanche trained, American Avalanche Association guidelines
Level 1 Ski Patroller

Pem Dorjee Sherpa

A native climber and Sherpa of the Everest region of the Himalayas, Pem has guided many of the surrounding peaks and summitted Everest two times. He holds the honor of being the only man married atop the highest point in the world.

Pem’s climbing and presentation series has taken him throughout many reaches of the globe, and Apex is pleased to have him as a member of our guiding team. His smile is contagious, and his high-altitude mountaineering resume humbling.

Pem is an honorary member of the International Rotary Club and a member of the Everest Summiteers Association. During his travels, Pem raises funds for the medical and educational improvement of his Nepalese village, Chyangba, including his plan to build a school for over 300 children.

Multiple summits of Everest
Multiple summits and guiding ascents of Himalayan peaks
Only man married on the summit of Everest
Professionally trained as a commercial mountain guide
Medically trained
Member Rotary Centennial Everest Expedition
Member Everest Summiteers Association
Honorary Member International Rotary
Licensed Mountaineering Guide, Nepal

Hear what some of our clients have to say about exploring with Apex:

We had a wonderful time. Your attitude, knowledge, and personality helped make this an enjoyable day. If your goal is to find a meaningful way to contribute to others, you have succeeded!

- Andrew Zelby. River Forest, IL.

Overall great experience – just what we were looking for. Thanks!

- Michael Bussman. Chicago, IL.

We still talk about our trip to Colorado and the fabulous experience Carolyn had with you on the Flatirons. Thanks for introducing us to climbing and taking such great care of us! The whole thing was sensational on so many levels. Very educational! Thanks again for a great experience!

- McNamara family. Hillsborough, NJ

This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I felt as an equal the whole time and that my input was important. My guide was incredible on lead each day. His climbing and rope skills are solid, and his patience in teaching me the different techniques to handle the varying cracks made the weekend’s goal possible – summiting Castleton Tower! I felt safe at all times with my guide by my side and any time I had a question he was there to answer it. I feel very lucky to have chanced on your guiding service. It’s not often in life that you find the perfect anything first try. From our conversations before the trip, to the actual climb, to the reflection afterwards – there is not a thing I can think of that you could have done to make it a better experience! I’m already looking forward to planning our next adventure!

- Van Reilley. Kirkland, WA.