Mattie is one of our most inspirational instructors and guides. Known for her ability to empower her guests to achieve success in climbing beyond their expectations. A guide for twenty plus years, she was the founder of Women That Rock, a pioneering series of women’s climbing camps renowned for getting many women their first taste of rock climbing in a supportive and fun atmosphere. Women That Rock was the pre-cursor to popular programs such as Chicks With Picks.

On the climbing front, Mattie is one of the strongest people we know. Many an athlete at Mountain Athlete in Jackson, Wyoming, where she trains, try to match her strength and composure, without success.

Began rock climbing & leading at Devil's Lake, WI in 1985.  Traveled to climb in Le Gorge du Verdon, France & the New River Gorge, WV 1986.

Graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Moved to Jackson in 1990.

Competed in a few of the early U.S. climbing comps: Snowbird, Chicago, Santa Barbara.

Guided for Exum Mountain Guides: 1993-1999.

Marmot Design Board Member 1995-2000.

Founder & guide: "Women That Rock", the first women teaching women climbing workshop in North America. Seminars were held annually in Jackson Hole, WY, Lander, WY, Red Rocks, NV and Salt Lake City, UT: 1990-2003. We employed some of the best professional women guides in North America to teach in small group settings to all experience levels: Everything from beginning movement to big wall and self rescue skills.  Single to multi day camps.

Ice guide for Chicks With Picks, Colorado & New Hampshire.

Screen Actors Guild Member, climbing stunt woman: 2 films and 1 television series.

Fixed wing, single engine, private pilot license 1995.

 

Mother to two great sons, Alexander 4, & Lucas 2.  Stepmom to another cool guy, Kyle, 24.

Water ice climbing: lead WI5  Canadian Rockies, Colorado, Vermont & New Hampshire.

Big wall climbing: ascents on El Capitan & the Leaning Tower in Yosemite. 

Several wall in a day routes in Zion.

Mountaineering: ascents in the Canadian Rockies, the Cascades, the Swiss & French Alps: the Matterhorn & routes around Chamonix.

Rock climbing: throughout North America from the Shawangunks, NY to California Needles and from Yamnuska in Alberta, Canada to Hueco Tanks, TX.  Other favorite climbing trips: Mallorca & Costa Daurada, Spain.  Kalymnos, Greece. The Italian Dolomites and the limestone of southern France.

Favorite movies: Buckaroo Banzai,  Apollo 13.

Favorite drink: coffee or margarita.

Favorite place to train: Mountain Athlete