Matt Zia's Mountain Guiding Gear & Expert Recommendations

IFMGA Mountain Guide - Telemark skier - Educator - Tinkerer

if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well

Born and raised in New Hampshire, I spent my childhood running around the White Mountains, building a tolerance for bad weather and bushwhacking. I moved West after high school to attend Colorado College where I majored in Environmental Science. In addition to mountain guiding, I’ve worked as a high school math and science teacher, as a ski instructor, and a field instructor, course director and program manager for outdoor education schools in both Colorado and Montana. I live and guide in Bozeman, MT and enjoy exploring the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem on foot, skis, and bike. I am the Executive Director of the Montana Mountaineering Association, a small non-profit in Bozeman focused on providing youth mentorship in the mountains and affordable mountain education. During the summer months, I live in the Tetons, working for Exum Mountain Guides. Between work you can find me spending time baking bread, fixing outdoor gear and building packs, or chasing fresh snow and new routes in the mountains. I’ve been lucky enough to climb around the world, including trips to Patagonia, India, and Canada, but the combination of wild spaces and tight-knit community keeps me grounded in Greater Yellowstone.

Discipline: Mountain Guiding

Specialty: Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Telemark Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Alpine Climbing

224th American to achieve IFMGA certification; 3rd American to complete the IFMGA track on telemark skis Climbing and ski expeditions on four continents; Trips include: USA/Alaska, Canada, Argentina, France, Switzerland, Nepal, India Rock, ice, and mixed climbs up to 5.12+, WI6, M9