Elías de Andrés-Martos, Mountain Guide, RMI Expeditions
Elías grew up at the foothills of the Central Range of Spain. These small, glacier carved peaks, always presented Elías the gateway to the greater mountaineering world he would once get into. As a young athlete (four years in the Spanish top 8 in the track event of 400m hurdles) he understood the concept of "disciplined training" as a means for overcoming difficulties and pursue objectives. Astonished by the offerings of the mountains, Elías rejected a well set family business of three generations, the expectation to satisfy traditional obligations and the comforts of a predictable life for the sole purpose of finding himself (and whatever is "up there") on the mountains.
Along with his wife Bridget, his number 1 motivator and partner, Elías keeps finding himself at home on mountains from the Rockies to the Himalayas or from Alaska to the Andes. Having combined a teaching with a guiding career, he is now a full time guide who loves sharing climbing hours or days with people on snow and ice.
- 30+ summits of Mount Rainier via 6 routes (including an “up and over traverse, 1push-18hour climb” via Liberty Ridge)
- 4 expeditions of Mount McKinley
- Peruvian Andes: several 5000m and 6000m peaks
- Argentinian Andes: several 5000m and 6000m peaks
- Patagonia: Southern Ice Field circumnavigation of Fitz Roy Massif
- Climbed all 54 Colorado Fourteeners
- Different alpine climbs in the French and Swiss Alps and Spanish Pyrenees
- Multiple grade V ice and alpine climbs in Colorado, Canadian Rockies and Alaska (including a 1st climb of the 2012 season of "Ham & Eggs" on Moose's Tooth)
- Himalaya: central summit of Shishapangma of 8013m (26290') without oxygen or Sherpa support
- Wilderness First Responder
- A.I.A.R.E. Avalanche Level II
- A.M.G.A. Alpine Guide Course
- A.M.G.A. Ice Instructor Course
- A.M.G.A. Rock Instructor Course
- Mountaineering Instructor (FEDME-Spain)
- Leave No Trace Trainer
- Vail Mountain Rescue Group member
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