guides

Names and Bios of Chockstone Climbing Guides

Chockstone Guides are committed professionals. Each brings a wealth of diverse experience to our team. Our lead Smith Rock guide staff and instructors are American Mountain Guide Association certified or trained. Chockstone Climbing Guides strive for the best formal training available combined with strong personal rock climbing experience. We are all local to the region and enjoy sharing our knowledge and our appreciation through many years of climbing and guiding in this area.

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Jim Ablao

AMGA Certified Rock Guide

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 our AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certification Program provider an AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor Program 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 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 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."

Gabe Coler

AMGA Certified Rock Guide

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 most recently, alpine ice climbs in the French Alps. Gabe has been climbing at Smith Rock since 1999, and has been guiding there since 2003. He is currently an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and has completed his Alpine Guides Course, and Aiare Level II Avalanche course. Gabe inspires those around him through his teaching style, personality and his humble attitude towards climbing.

"Gabe was friendly, helpful and fun to be with. He paid attention to my strengths and weaknesses and helped me. I would very much enjoy climbing with him again. I learned a lot more in one day with Gabe than I did on two past multi-day courses.”

Aaron Web has called Central Oregon home since 1999. 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 at 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, multiple ascents on El Capitan including the West Face, Zodiac, South Seas/Pacific Ocean routes, climbs in Patagonia, and Alaska's remote St. Elias range. In his 7th year 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 make Aaron one of the most intuitive teachers and supportive guides you will find.

Danny Uhlman began guiding at Smith Rocks in 2002 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 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 Slesse in the North Cascades 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 latest adventure is as a nursing student here in Bend.

Wally Fox began climbing five years ago and hasn’t looked back since. He learned to climb in Joshua Tree National park and since has climbed in the Gunks, Hueco Tanks, Yosemite, Indian Creek, Red Rocks and El Portrero Chico in Mexico. . He has worked for Outward Bound and Second Nature, a wilderness therapy company. Both companies have given him valuable training and experience in the wilderness. He has also completed the AMGA Rock Instructor Course. His passion and motivation for climbing are the same as the day he began. He moved to Bend, Oregon this last June and has finds that Smith Rocks State Park is a great place to bring people of all walks of life out for a day of climbing.

Mark Deffenbaugh

coming soon

Jeff Struck

An AMGA Certified Top Rope Manager.

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