Mark discovered his love for climbing when he was a young boy. A native of the Adirondack Mountains he began climbing when he was ten years old. Since then he has climbed in New Zealand, Peru, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and throughout the Northeast. In 2009 Mark became a certified Single Pitch Instructor by the American Mountain Guides Association.
Liz Pierson The Crux Instructor
Liz is an avid climber who began climbing in 2003. Her adventurous spirit and passion for rock climbing has brought her to Maine, Minnesota, Colorado, and New York. Liz was the assistant manager of Unity College’s Willard Climbing Wall and is very excited to be working at The Crux.
Brian Degroat The Crux Instructor
Brian began instructing students over a year ago while working at Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center He has been both rock and ice climbing in various locations throughout the Adirondacks and has spent time bouldering in the Grand Tetons.
Stites McDaniel The Crux Instructor
Stites has been teaching climbing at Pok-O-MacCready outdoor education Center since early 2009 and has climbed in Colorado, New York, and Wyoming.
Molly Smyrl The Crux Instructor
As an instructor at PMOEC since 2007 Molly has led hundreds of students on field and ice climbing trips in the Adirondacks. She is very excited to be bringing her knowledge of climbing to The Crux.
Julie Warren The Crux Instructor
Julie has climbed in Colorado’s Front Range and New York’s Adirondack Mountains. She has enjoyed hiking and backpacking throughout the US and South America as well. She is also an experienced climbing instructor with the outdoor education program at Pok-O.
Donna Joerg The Crux Instructor
As an outdoor enthusiast Donna has been backpacking in places around the United States. She has spent time in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana and Oregon, and Alaska.
Julia Backus The Crux Instructor/Marketing
Julia began rock climbing during her sophomore year of college at SUNY Oneonta. Julia has climbed in various places in New York and is very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of The Crux.
All instructors and staff are Crux Belay Certified.
