Zack found climbing in 2019 while studying at Tufts University in Boston, MA. As a competitive runner, he already enjoyed training alone. He found himself in the gym most mornings and spent afternoons scaling his dormitory’s brick edges.
In his home state of California, Zack began poking around the coast with a crash pad and discovered bouldering. Once he started getting a little too off the ground for his own good, his parents bought him a rope, which he gladly accepted and put to use. During the pandemic, he took advantage of the newfound time and traveled north to Oregon, where he took a guiding course on a whim. He quickly appreciated the challenge of designing the perfect climbing day for someone else, and he started taking friends and fellow students to any crack or crag within biking distance.
Soon after finishing school, Zack loaded up his Civic and drove to North Carolina to pursue guiding full time. He felt spoiled being so close to quality climbing, and it didn’t take him long to accrue a long list of local routes. Later that fall, in 2021, he became an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor. He traveled to Red Rock Canyon, NV thrice in 2022 to complete additional AMGA rock coursework. This process culminated in October 2023 when he passed his AMGA Rock Exam to become a Certified Rock Guide. Zack is also a Wilderness First Responder with AIARE Level 1 Certification.
When he’s not tied in, Zack enjoys photographing his friends’ climbing, camping, and continuing his eternal quest to find the best ice cream ever created. He is delighted to return to Northeast climbing and experience its magic alongside his guests!
