Misty Mountain’s ambassadors are an integral part of our design and engineering process. As these athletes climb around the globe, they carry with them some of our newest apparel and equipment, helping us to design the greatest harnesses built in the USA.
MARY EDEN
Originally a Kentucky girl with an obsession for horses, I moved to Moab, UT and fell in love with the rocks, canyons, and desert life. Why do I climb? I’ll never truly be able to explain the joy I find in climbing. I love the struggle, the community, the challenge, and growth I experience in this sport, and all that good stuff translates over into every aspect of my life. Currently, I am in AMGA Rock Guide Apprentice training for my Advanced Rock Guide course. Life is good in the desert! Good climbs and great people make it even better!
ALAN GOLDBETTER
The best way to describe Alan is as an “adventurist”. From Norwegian bigwalls to the alpine climbs of Patagonia, Alan enjoys climbs that promise good adventure and questionable success, in far-flung locations. For many years, Alan was a professional climbing instructor, and taught throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, sharing the joys of rock climbing with countless clients. Currently, Alan shares his passion for adventure with others through multimedia presentations and via his blog, Adventures of Alan G. On all his adventures, Alan never leaves home without his most beloved and versatile piece of gear, the Misty Mountain Sonic Harness.
LEE HANSCHE
Lee Hansche has been climbing in New Hampshire and around the US for the past 25 years. A passion for nature, movement, and mental fortitude are the primary drivers for his activity in the sport. While recently leaning toward sport climbing, Lee is happy to climb boulders and is thrilled to get out trad climbing whenever possible. Locals know Lee as the manager and resident guide of two Vertical Dreams climbing gyms, a board member with the Rumney Climbers Association, Mountain Project administrator, and generally psyched climber and route developer!
KATHY KARLO
IAN KING
Robert Lavarnway
Robert’s passion for climbing began over 20 years ago in the mountains of North Carolina. His adventures have led him to some world-class climbing that includes Yosemite, RMNP, Eldo, and Smith Rock. He is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and loves to share his passion and knowledge with others. He is a big fan of MMT’s adaptive equipment and utilizes several of their products to provide climbing experiences to people with varied abilities. He currently calls Charleston, SC home where he manages The Climbing Wall at James Island County Park and coaches their youth competitive team. When not out climbing or teaching, Robert plays saxophone in a swing band and studies martial arts.
Tracy Martin
Tracy is a NC native, but currently lives in Las Vegas, NV. She has been climbing 26 years and still craves the adventure of placing gear the most, although she loves the hang time with friends while clipping bolts. A Misty Mountain harness has been her first choice since she first learned to climb, partly because the MMT crew adopted her as a little sister long ago and partly because the trad harness can hold a full rack without losing its backbone and comfort. She has put a many of harnesses to the test while becoming certified as an AMGA Rock Guide. She is also a Warrior’s Way Trainer, Graphic Designer and Pet Portrait Artist.
Paul Nelson
Aaron Parlier
I grew up in Southwestern Virginia, and currently live in beautiful Boone, NC. Having avidly climbed for ten years I’ve enjoyed all types of rock climbing, but bouldering is without a doubt my forte. While exploration and first ascents are my true passion here in Appalachia, I enjoy visiting classic boulder fields both near and far, and getting caught up in personal sagas with some of the Southeast’s finest test pieces. Misty Mountain gear has always been my first choice due to the quality craftsmanship and durable dependability of their products. A lot of heart, soul, and thought go into each stitch and seam, and it’s evident with every use.
Helen Sinclair
A New Zealander living in Boulder, Colorado, Hellen attempts to spend as much time climbing and training as possible. It’s always a difficult trade off, working full time as an EMT, ski patroller, climbing coach, and climbing at every opportunity in-between. The result is a fitness well suited to long hard climbs. Recent successes include free climbing the Rainbow Wall in Red Rocks and the West Face of El Capitan. The future holds some link-ups in Zion and another trip to Yosemite Valley. Sport and Trad climbing at 5.13 and coaching in a bouldering gym Helen loves all climbing disciplines from big mountains to the plastic. Stay tuned by visiting her website helensinclair.com
Sylvan Christensen
Born and raised in Moab, UT, it would only make sense that Sylvan Christensen spends all of his time pursuing Desert based activities. Hot days and heavy bags are a staples of Sylvan’s spire top missions. Activities that Sylvan pursues mostly are highlining, rock climbing, and rope swinging. Sylvan works as a Canyoneering and Rock Climbing Guide in Moab, UT. Spending most of his time on ropes, it’s safe to say that having a trustworthy harness is one of Sylvan’s top priorities!
Noelle Houpt
Noelle Houpt is a rock climber based in Bishop, California. She fell in love with climbing 3 years ago and since then has relocated from the rainy Pacific Northwest so she can climb year round. She now spends most of her days bouldering, alpine, big wall climbing in her Misty Mountain harness, or backpack guiding around the Eastern Sierra. She enjoys making new friends, jamming on the guitar, and drawing. She also works at the local gear store, Eastside Sports. To stay tuned check out her blog at abovethealpine.blogspot.com
Carter Smith
Carter has been climbing pretty much all of his life. He began to focus his energy on training for climbing and competing in 2010. His main disciplines are bouldering and single pitch trad and sport climbing. However, he can be found on larger features like Laurel Knob from time to time.
For work, Carter coaches, teaches, and guides in the climbing industry all around Western North Carolina and the South East in general. While his passion for climbing is what got him into the industry, helping young adults realize their own potential for greatness is what made him stick around. “Climbing is the tool to help people realize their autonomy and confidence–rather than the end goal itself. It’s really not about climbing when it comes down to it: it’s about self-betterment and helping others do the same.”
Recreationally, Carter’s personal climbing achievements are varied. From competing at a national level and double digit bouldering in Boone, to ski mountaineering in Banff National Park and speed climbing big walls in Mexico, Carter follows his psych through the sport. He says, “I try not to force it, otherwise I’d burn out since I work in the industry. If I want to climb in the gym, I climb in the gym. Ice climbing? Sure! I try to find ways to model a healthy relationship with the natural world and the sport as well as keeping a climbing/real-world/life balance–which can be really hard!”