Jess was originally introduced to rock climbing as a young child by their dad and has vague memories of top roping with him at Quincy Quarries in Massachusetts. After a long hiatus from most physical activities, Jess was reintroduced to rock climbing while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and minor in Psychology at the University of Maine in Orono. Connecting with rock climbing again sparked energy within Jess that they had not felt in a long time. They found and continue to find climbing interesting, loving that it challenges both mind and body to work together for a common goal.

Jess had a hard time getting into outdoor rock climbing and experienced a lot of fear and self doubt. Luckily, Jess was and remains determined to transmute this fear into curiosity and motivation to develop technical skills to mitigate risk and have fun in mountainous terrain.

After graduating from college in 2020, Jess decided to take a break from academia to pursue a more in depth relationship with rock climbing. Jess had their intern year with Acadia Mountain Guides in summer 2021, where they became a PCIA Single Pitch Rock Climbing Instructor and was introduced to traditional climbing. 

Anxiety and fear were still present, but Jess’s relationship to those feelings shifted through having the opportunity to be brave for other people and help other people navigate their own anxiety and fear around rock climbing. During their intern season, Jess had a few experiences of overwhelm and cried while leading to set up routes for campers. Instead of letting these experiences turn them off from being a guide, they started adopting the mantra: “you cannot be brave if you are not first afraid.” Jess gets the most fulfillment from being a guide through helping people navigate fear and vulnerability, and watching people develop confidence and trust in themselves and each other. Jess is constantly inspired by all of their clients: “from the ones who are very bold and seem to lack fear, to the ones who can barely get themselves to look over the edge without shaking, but try to do it anyway.”

Jess is devoted to living a yogic lifestyle rooted in connection to nature and committed to physical, mental and spiritual well being. In fall 2022, Jess participated in a 200 hour intensive yoga teacher training that they credit for improving their confidence as a rock climber and as a guide. Through using breathing practices, restorative movement, self inquiry and meditation, Jess made big internal shifts that transferred into more calm and grounded energy while climbing rocks and navigating busy social settings. Jess feels rock climbing and yoga go hand in hand, and is passionate about using yoga to counter the stresses we put on our bodies as we climb harder and taller terrain. Jess divides their time between being a rock climbing guide and offering yoga in various locations on MDI and in surrounding towns.

When going out for a session with Jess, you can expect to be met with patience and compassion for wherever you are at in your climbing / life journey. Jess believes firmly in challenge by choice and will gently encourage people to push their comfort zone but understands when it is time to back down and let people opt out of certain activities. Jess is in the process of learning to identify the local wildlife and plants—you can expect them to get very excited when insects land nearby and to point out any plants they see and know to be used as food, medicine or first aid tools.