guides

Names and Bios of Chockstone Climbing Guides

Chockstone Guides are committed professionals. All our guides are American Mountain Guide Association certified or trained. All guides are also required training specific to Smith Rock. Although not mandatory in this country to operate as a guide, Chockstone Climbing Guides strive for the best formal training available combined with strong personal experience. Our guides also bring a wealth of diverse experience, climbing internationally, and guiding throughout the US. Chockstone Guides maintains a low client to guide ratio to ensure the highest level of safety, instruction and success available.

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AMGA Certified Rock Guide

Jim Ablao, owner/guide of Chockstone Climbing Guides, has been guiding throughout the western US since 1989 and a climbing guide at Smith Rock State Park since 1999. He has earned certification as an AMGA Rock Instructor, AMGA Rock Guide, and is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certification Program contracted provider. He began climbing twenty-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 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 theraputic programs. Jim brings diverse experience, his empowering and personalized teaching style into every guiding. Jim lives in Bend with his wife and two beautiful daughters.


"It's always a pleasure to spend a day climbing with Jim. His professional style and AMGA Certification make me feel safe, while his patience and enthusiasm encourages me to climb routes that I wouldn't attempt on my own. Each day with Jim gives me a sense of adventure and accomplishment."

AMGA Certified Rock Guide

Gabe Coler began climbing in the Berkshires of western Massachussetts 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 one day ascent of El Capitan's Nose route, alpine ascents throughout the Cascades, test-piece alpine climbs in the Canadian Rockies, and most recently, alpine ice climbs in the French Alps. Gabe has been climbing at Smith Rock for the last six years, and has been guiding there for the last three years. Additionally he has been an active participant in the AMGA curriculum, having completed his Rock Guides Course and Alpine level 1 Course. He is currently an AMGA Certified Rock Guide. He inspires those around him through his teaching style, personality and his humble attitude towards climbing.

Aaron Web has called Central Oregon home for the last 7 years. He first became enchanted by the challenges of the outdoors growing up first in Colorado, and then Southeast Idaho. Aaron studied adventure and environmental education Prescott College in Arizona. He began climbing in 1995 in Idaho. Aaron has since climbed extensively across the United States, with single day ascents of the North Ridge of Mt. Stuart, a first ascent of the S. Face of Prussik Peak ,West Face and the South Seas/ Pacific Ocean routes on El Capitan, climbs in Patagonia, and Alaska's remote St. Elias range. In his 6th season of guiding, Aaron brings a wealth of personal experience along with professional development courses and certifications into everyday on the rock. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and has completed his level II Avalanche course. He has completed the AMGA Top Rope Site Manager Course and has completed the AMGA Rock Instructor Course. Aaron is noted by fellow guides and clients as being incredibly patient and sharing a great sense of humor. His love of climbing and desire to help others progress makes Aaron one of the most intuitive teachers and supportive guides you will find. .

Danny Uhlman began guiding at Smith Rocks three years ago during his summer breaks from Colby College. During the rest of the year he climbed extensively throughout New England and New York on many granite crags and waterfalls. This schedule also allowed for international travel including climbing trips to New Zeland and Argentina. Since Graduating with a BA in English, Danny has spent most of his time in the mountains; skiing deep powder in his winter home of Jackson Wy, climbing alpine faces in Europe, or traveling to climbing areas throughout the Northwest. Danny's generosity, openness, and genuine desire to share his knowledge, makes him an excellent teacher. He is always seeking opportunities to improve his guiding both on the rock and in the mountains. Danny is an AMGA Certified Top-Rope Site Manager.

Tyler Kamm

Tyler is an AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager . He first began climbing on the bluffs of Minnesota and in the Mississippi River Valley. He has been climbing eleven years since, Looking for bigger adventures during that time, he headed west and has climbed throughout the U.S., Canada ,and Mexico with notable ascents of Mt Slese in the North Cascasdes to the Baraad Dur on Wolf Rock in Oregon, and NOLS Wilderness First Responder. He holds a Certificate in Experiential Education form MHCC. He has been a Wilderness Therapy Instructor leading teens on 14 day expeditions in the Central Oregon back country. Tyler’s newest adventure is as a nursing student here in Bend.

Mark Deffenbaugh

coming soon

Jeff Struck

An AMGA Certified Top Rope Manager.

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