Susan Detweiler

Susan began climbing in 1984 while studying biology and environmental studies in college, where she first taught rock climbing in 1987.  Two years later she began working as an outdoor educator and soon became year round in the field.  She worked extensively for Colorado Outward Bound as well as for NOLS and other programs including Colorado Mountain College.  She focused on climbing, mountaineering, winter expeditioning and backcountry skiing, but also taught in the desert.  She also enjoyed working as a staff trainer and teaching various natural history subjects.  Susan has also taught avalanche awareness and has been certified as a Level 1 Instructor with AIARE.

Mountains Suz has guided include Denali, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, summits in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nepal, as well as Mt Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.  Her personal climbing includes ice routes in Colorado and Washington, many months on rock in Arapiles (Australia), Red Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree, the Bugaboos, Yosemite (including big walls), and first ascents of peaks in the Hornopiren area of northern Patagonia.  Suz enjoyed solo climbing an inconsequential new route on the upper section Mt Vinson and emphasizes that this sounds quite a lot more dramatic than it was.

Over the years Suz has guided for the American Alpine Institute, mostly in the Cascades, the Colorado Mountain School, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, and since 2003: Exum Mountain Guides, mostly in the Teton Range.  She recently became a guide for Aerial Boundaries at the new Teton Ice Park.  She maintains her certification as an AMGA Rock Instructor.  Suz also teaches and guides scientists in Antarctica for the US Antarctic Program, an opportunity she first heard about from Head Chick Kim in the 1991 when they both worked as Colorado Outward Bound Instructors.  Since 2003 Suz has spent well over 2 years on “the ice” teaching a variety of survival and field skills including glacier travel and crevasse rescue, guiding researchers on their expeditions, and working on the Search and Rescue Team.  Photos can be found at pbase.com/antarctic_suze

In keeping with her interest in natural sciences, Suz has become a competent naturalist and in 2008 co-taught field winter ecology in the Tetons for Prescott College.  In her own time, she continues to stay current on a range of environmental issues, practice yoga, improve her Spanish, and explore a variety of wild landscapes.

Suz proudly won a ribbon at the Teton County Fair in 2005 for her double dark chocolate cookies and hopes this gives her Renaissance Woman status.  However, Suz, who is right-handed, thinks her greatest accomplishment is having recently taught herself how to write with her left hand… for no particular reason (“It just evolved.”).

The quote “never take a job without and end date” resonates deeply with Suz.  She cannot fathom leaving the contract/seasonal lifestyle or taking an indoor job, instead fully embracing her multi-decade passion to be in the field with people.  Suz deeply believes that if she continues to take very good care of herself and make careful decisions, she should be able to guide and educate climbers and others outdoors for decades to come.  She loves her very simple life in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and calls Jackson, WY home.