Chockstone Climbing Guides are committed professionals.
- Each of our climbing guides brings a wealth of diverse climbing, professional and outdoor experience to our team.
- Our Smith Rock climbing guide staff and instructors are American Mountain Guide Association certified and trained
- We are all local to the region and enjoy sharing our knowledge and our appreciation through many years of climbing together and guiding in Central Oregon.
Jim Ablao
AMGA Certified Rock Guide,
Certified Rock Instructor, AMGA SPI Provider
Jim Ablao has been guiding throughout the western US since 1989 and a climbing guide at Smith Rock State Park since 1999. Over the years he has earned certification as an AMGA Rock Instructor and Rock Guide, he is also an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program Provider, SPI Provider Trainer and AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor Program Provider. He began climbing thirty-five years ago and still exudes a refreshing enthusiasm and passion for climbing, teaching and adventure. He climbs rock, ice and summits throughout the mountains and deserts of the US. His climbing has also taken him to summits and cliffs of Argentina, Chile, S Korea, Mexico and Canada. He has taught and guided diverse terrain with many schools and programs including twelve years with the Colorado Outward Bound School, six years as a guide manager and many years with various “youth at risk” and therapeutic programs. Jim brings diverse experience, his empowering and personalized teaching style into every guiding. Jim lives in Bend with his wife and two daughters.
Gabe Coler
AMGA Certified Rock Guide, IFMGA American
Mountain Guide, AMGA SPI Instructor
Gabe began climbing in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts in his early years, eventually making rock and ice ascents all over New England.
After moving west for college, he cut his teeth in most of the major western climbing areas including: a free ascent of The NorthWest Face of Half Dome, alpine ascents throughout the Cascades, test-piece alpine climbs in the Canadian Rockies and the French Alps.
Gabe has been climbing at Smith Rock since 1999, and has been guiding there since 2003. Gabe is an American Mountain Guide. AMGA Certified Rock, Alpine, Ski and AIARE Level II.
Gabe inspires those around him through his teaching style, personality and his humble attitude towards climbing.
Taylor Nause
AMGA Certified SPI
Taylor started guiding for Chockstone Climbing Guides in 2014. Taylor likes that climbing takes him to different
vantage points. He loves taking people climbing for their first time and sharing their excitement. He has climbed and skied Denali as well as enjoyed long alpine routes throughout the Northwest. Taylor is a gourmet baker of bread and pizzas in his own handbuilt pizza oven. As well as rock climbing Taylor enjoys skiing and sailing. Taylor hails originally from Greenwood Mississippi. Taylor is an SPI certified guide with the American Mountain Guide
Association.
Jeff Struck
AMGA Certified SPI
Jeff has been guiding with Chockstone Climbing Guides at Smith Rock since 2010. Jeff’s started climbing in Colorado, near where he grew up in Arvada, Colorado. He moved to Oregon in 1999 for graduate school at Lewis and Clark. Jeff is a high school English teacher during the school year and during the summer enjoys guiding at Smith Rock in between summer adventures with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys climbing because it forces himself out of his comfort zone, it requires counter-intuitive movement and it challenges his ego rather than giving it a boost. He loves guiding because it gives him an opportunity to teach others how to climb safety while expanding their horizons as climbers. Jeff is an avid reader and bike rider as well. Jeff is a SPI certified guide with the American Mountain Guide Association
Brady Kendrick
AMGA Certified SPI
Brady started guiding for Chockstone Climbing Guides in 2014. High off the ground, building anchors and staring out at the amazing scenery reminds Brady of how much he loves making Smith Rock State Park his office. Brady is also a team climbing coach for Bend Endurance Academy. For the past 12 years, climbing has brought his life a new level of adventure, new places to explore, and new friends along the way. If Brady is not climbing on his free time then there is probably some powder in the mountains to ski, or he has been put to work by his wife on a new house project. Brady is rewarded by the satisfaction of facilitating a climber to face their fears, learn new skills, and accomplish their goals. Brady grew up in the small town of Graham, TX. After college in 2010, he moved out to Summit County, Colorado where he began coaching a youth climbing team and leading climbing trips outdoors. In 2012 Brady and his wife moved into a van for a year in a half. They toured the western U.S., climbing, enjoying our National Parks and looking for what town to call their next home. In 2014, they moved to Bend, Oregon. Brady is an SPI certified guide with the American Mountain Guide Association.
Wolf Porter
AMGA Certified SPI
In college Wolf discovered his love for climbing where he completed his Outdoor Pursuits Program, taking students into the backcountry. This is where he fostered his love of teaching and sharing the outdoors with others. After college Wolf and his partner jumped into their custom built van with their dog “Dude” traveling the US in search of endless climbing and skiing. Since then climbing has taken him to different places all over the world including Japan, Peru and Vietnam. Wolf enjoys teaching others and hopes to share his love for climbing and the outdoors with everyone. Wolf is an SPI certified guide with the American Mountain Guide Association.
Dean Kelly
AMGA Certified SPI
Dean Kelly Originally from the east coast, Dean has been living in Bend for the last seven years. Since moving west Dean has made Smith Rock his second home and favorite climbing destination. Over the last 6 years Dean has been working as a backpacking guide in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Olympia National Parks. He is also a NOLS instructor with a passion for education he works as a split-board and climbing instructor. Dean is an SPI certified guide with the American Mountain Guide Association.
Michael Alfonso
AMGA Certified SPI
Michael discovered rock climbing in high school after gaining an appreciation for the outdoors through adventures as a child. He learned to climb right here at Smith Rock and it remains one of his favorite places in the world to work, play, and explore. Michael enjoys using climbing as a vehicle to explore the natural playgrounds of North America and has spent time climbing in areas such as British Columbia, southern Utah and Nevada, Northern Mexico, California, and all over the Pacific Northwest. With a background in technical instruction, youth programming, conservation, and guided backcountry trips, Michael draws on his breadth of experience to provide his clients with a fun, fulfilling experience no matter what their goals may be. He aspires to instill in each of his clients the same wonder and appreciation for climbing and the outdoors that drives him every day.
