Senior Guide
With RMI
Nikki grew up spending her winters alpine ski racing throughout the hills of Michigan, and escaping on family ski vacations to the Rocky Mountains. After high school she moved out west where she landed a job as a Trip Leader at Universities Outdoor Recreation Center. She began shifting her focus from alpine ski racing to backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and climbing as a way to explore the mountains while finishing up her Civil Engineering degree.
Nikki has spent winters all over the west working as an avalanche professional. She currently spends the off season in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she can be found mountain biking, skiing, ice climbing and cooking while working as an Avalanche Forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center.
40+ | Mt. Rainier, Washington, USA | 14,410' (4 routes)
3 | Mt. McKinley, Alaska, USA | 20,310' (expeditions; 1 summit)
Multiple | Alaska Expeditions (Chugach Range, Thompson Pass, Hatcher Pass, Bomber Traverse, Juneau Icefield traverses), USA
Multiple | Mt. Shuksan, Washington, USA | 9,131' (Fisher Chimneys & Sulphide Glacier)
Multiple | Mt. Baker, Washington, USA | 10,781' (3 routes incl. ski descents)
Multiple | Mount Superior, Utah, USA | 11,132' (ski descents)
Multiple | Ski Descents (Utah, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska), USA
1 | Troll Peninsula Ski Expedition, Iceland
Multiple | Rock & Ice Climbing (Montana, California, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, Canada)
RMI Expeditions Guides are required to hold a number of certifications, but many go above and beyond with their technical and outdoor training. We actively encourage (and provide funding for) our guides' continuing education.
November 2, 2025
Program Name
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- Name
Mountaineering
At 20,310 feet, Mt. McKinley is the highest peak in North America and one of the most serious high-altitude objectives on the planet. The West Buttress is the standard route to the summit, and while it involves no technical rock or vertical ice climbing, that framing undersells the challenge. Miles of glaciated terrain, extreme cold, sustained altitude above 14,000 feet, and weather that can pin a team for days at a stretch are what define this climb. Above 15,000 feet the route steepens considerably, with fixed ropes on the most exposed sections. This is an expedition in every meaningful sense of the word.
Unlike most guide services operating on Mt. McKinley, RMI does not set a fixed end date for this program. The schedule moves with the mountain: conditions, acclimatization progress, and team readiness determine when the team pushes higher and when it waits. That flexibility is not a convenience; it is the approach that gives climbers the best realistic chance at the summit. Guides monitor performance and altitude response throughout, adjusting pace and plans as the situation demands rather than against an arbitrary calendar.
The West Buttress Expedition is a major commitment of time, fitness, and preparation. Climbers should expect to be on the mountain for three weeks or more and should arrive ready for the full weight of that. The mountain sets the terms here, and the program is built around accepting that.
November 2, 2025
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-Name
Leadership
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