Associate Guide
With RMI
Leavenworth, WA
Probably something in the Leavenworth area in the back of my parent’s backpack (what a life it was to have someone else walk you up to the top up a mountain!)
Skiing, Biking, Trail Running, Climbing, Backpacking, Baking, Knitting, Reading, Cooking, Dinking Around
Stella is from just over the Cascades. Growing up in Leavenworth, WA, she was fortunate enough to be exposed to the outdoors by her parents through backpacking trips, mountain biking, and skiing. By the time she graduated from high school, being and moving outside had become an essential part of her life. Her love of the outdoors led her to move to Norway for a chunk of time, where she continued to fall deeper in love with long days in the mountains, whether on skis or foot. Originally drawn to a career in guiding with the hope of sharing that passion and love for the outdoors with others, Stella has found it to be an incredibly rewarding profession—one that allows her to connect with people from all walks of life through a shared appreciation of the natural world. When not clambering around Mount Rainier, Stella lives most of the year in Bozeman, MT. On the occasion you don’t find her buzzing around the hills, you might find her baking bread, knitting, or playing cards.
Getting to be in the mountains with a variety of people. Everyone who comes and climbs is there for a slightly different reason, and it is so special to not only hear what that reason is, but then get to be in the mountains with that person, and enjoy it in for their reason, and for mine.
In the past, finding the balance between mountain time and studying (just graduated Spring of ’26). In the future, traveling, working, baking, and continuing to learn in a variety of ways.
I hope that everyone who climbs with myself and RMI walks away with a refreshed respect, wonder, curiosity, and love for the mountains and nature in general!
Multiple | Mt. Rainier, Washington, USA | 14,410'
1 | Mt. Baker, Washington, USA | 10,786'
1 | Mt. Adams, Washington, USA | 12,281' (Southwest Chutes ski descent)
1 | Granite Peak, Montana, USA | 12,807'
Multiple | Ski Descents (Pacific Northwest, Montana, Nordland, Vestland, Møre og Romsdal), USA & Norway
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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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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Leadership
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