Who We Are

Vertex is home to two IFMGA-certified guides — Keith Moon and Cheyenne Chaffee — the only operation with two on staff anywhere east of the Mississippi. IFMGA is the highest credential in the profession: a multi-year certification spanning rock, alpine, and ski disciplines, recognized internationally as the gold standard in mountain guiding.

Founded by Keith, an AMGA instructor with two decades of guiding experience, Vertex was built around one idea: the best guides don't just get you up the mountain — they teach you to understand it. Every trip, every course, is run with that same principle, whether you're taking your first avalanche course or heading into the Alps.

So why choose Vertex Mountain Guides?

You're not choosing between guides who "meet industry standards" — you're choosing a team built on the rarest credential combination in the region, backed by full-time professionals for whom this is a career, not a side pursuit. That's what separates real expertise from a good time on the mountain.