OUR GUIDES
Exemplary expertise and experience…
The Mountain Bureau LLC is an international network of guides with a home base in Winthrop WA downstream of the North Cascades. Our guides are made up of professional rock climbers, alpinists, and skiers, regarded as some of the best technical experts and educators in the outdoor industry. Mountain Bureau LLC guides are licensed and certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and only work within their Scope of Practice. We are the only service in the United States to brand and live by the term “fair-trade-mountain-guiding” and we stand by this foundational principle. We provide a professionally sustainable work environment that supports our staff and directly benefits our clients’ experience and safety.
MARK ALLEN
CREDENTIALS
AMERICAN MOUNTAIN GUIDE (AMGA)
IFMGA MOUNTAIN GUIDE (IFMGA)
LEVEL I & II AVALANCHE COURSE LEADER (AIARE)
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
Mark is the owner of the Mountain Bureau. Born in Northwestern Washington, he has been climbing and skiing in the North Cascades for 30 years. In 2009, Mark became the 64th American to hold full guide status with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA). Mark has built extensive programing on rock, ice, alpine, and ski programs in Washington, Alaska, Canada, Western Europe, and Norway. Mark is the active president of the Methow Valley Climbers a Chapter of the Washington Climbers Coalition and works to sustain climbing environments. In 2013, Mark was nominated for the Piolet d’Or (Golden Ice Axe) Award for his ascent on the Mastodon Face of Mount Laurens in Denali National Park and in 2022 the American Mountain Guides Association Presidents Award for his contributions to the guiding industry. But most of all, likes exploring mountains in the North Cascades.
~AMERICANS OPEN NEW LINE IN ALASKA FA; THE MASTODON FACE,AK
~ALLEN-ZIMMERMAN VIDEO- PIOLET D' OR NOMINATED 2013
~ MARK ALLEN RECIEVES AMGA PRESIDENTS AWARD
~ WA CLIMBERS KICK OFF AK SEASON WITH ASCENT OF MT. BRADLEY, AK
STEFFAN GREGORY
CREDENTIALS
CERTIFIED ROCK GUIDE (AMGA)
CERTIFIED ALPINE GUIDE (AMGA)
ASSISTANT SPLIT-BOARD GUIDE (AMGA)
CERTIFIED SINGLE PITCH INSTRUCTOR (AMGA)
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
It’s no wonder Steffan is the Bureau’s aficionado of Southwest Rock. He has been professionally guiding rock, alpine, and desert canyons since 2009. He is an accomplished big wall climber, establishing 10 new free or first free ascent routes up to IV, 5.12+ numerous single pitch and short multi pitch routes in and around Zion National Park When Steffan is not guiding, he spends his time exploring the remote frozen waterfalls of the desert Southwest, completing demanding alpine objectives in Patagonia and Argentina, looking for fresh turns on his split-board, and working on many side projects. Steffan is the host of the Peak Season Podcast for the Mountain Bureau, The executive Director of the Zion Climbing Coalition and has managed projects in Argentina working on solutions for waterless human waste management in National Parks. Steffan grew up in the Pacific Northwest’s Skagit Valley and the Mountain Bureau is lucky that he returns each season to guide in the North Cascades.
Steffan is currently an Aspirant Mountain Guide which requires passing at least one exam in Rock, Alpine and Ski.
~PATAGONIA: GRANT TO IMPROVE CLIMBING INFRASTRUCTURE, ARGENTINA
CHRIS SIMMONS
CREDENTIALS
AMERICAN MOUNTAIN GUIDE (AMGA)
IFMGA MOUNTAIN GUIDE (IFMGA)
LEVEL I & II AVALANCHE COURSE LEADER (AIARE)
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
Chris Simmons has been guiding in Washington, Oregon, and northern California since 1999. In 2011, He became the 75th American to hold full guide status with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA)and is on the National Instructor Team for the AMGA. Chris has racked up numerous exploratory ski tours in Japan, Canada, and the North Cascades. Chris has had 15 seasons as a ranger for Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson or managing scientific teams in several of the world’s arctic locations. Chris holds a long list of successful guided trips and expeditions including visits to the North Cascades, the Swiss-French and Italian Alps, Ecuador, Antarctica, Canada, China, and the Tibetan Plateau.
~TEAM ESTABLISHES TWIN SISTERS SKI HIGH ROUTE, NORTH CASCADES
