Meet the Expedition Team

Jeremy Frimer (28) is a graduate student in psychology, soon to transfer to UBC in Vancouver, Canada. During his nine years of climbing, he has traveled all over the Americas—from the Alaska Range to Torres del Paine (Chile)—in pursuit of the climbing dream. Jeremy has ticked classics including: The Nose of El Capitan; The Grand Wall and Alaska Highway in Squamish; the Beckey-Chouinard on South Howser of the Bugaboos; and Polar Circus in the Canadian Rockies. But his true penchant is for Alpine Climbing. He has climbed extensively on peaks between 5500m and 6500m in the St. Elias Mountains (Canada) and Peru. On Mt. Logan, Jeremy climbed the East Ridge in 1999 then made the first ascent of Orion Spur (IV 3500m) on the Northeast Face. For context, this was the first independent new route on Canada's highest peak in 23 years. During his four trips to Peru's Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash, Jeremy has climbed peaks such as Santa Cruz, Chopicalqui, Alpamayo, Paron, and Sarapo (5800m to 6354m). Most notably, Jeremy made the first ascent of the south face of Touching the Void famous Siula Grande by his 2001 route Southern Discomfort (ED1, 800m). Then in 2002, he made an attempt on the northwest face of Ulta, retreating one pitch from the summit ridge. The line was completed the next year by Kelly Cordes and Jim Earl, becoming Personal Jesus (ED2: 5.9, M7, 1000m). Jeremy is the author of the upcoming guidebook, Cordillera Huayhuash: Select Climbs and Treks (Elaho Publishing; in press). His photo of the southeast face of Jirishanca is found on the cover of the 2004 American Alpine Journal, accompanying his feature article on the peak inside.


Jay Piggott (23) is an Ecology student based half the year at the University of Otago in New Zealand and the remaining half at University of British Columbia in Canada. Jay first made headlines in New Zealand when he became the youngest person to climb Mt Aspiring (SW Ridge, grade 3+, 3027m) at age 15. However Jay’s achievements are not solely in the realm of mountaineering. His adventurous travels have taken him to 58 countries around the globe on various expeditions and adventures. Jay is an avid rock climber, mountaineer, paraglider, scuba diver and world traveler. Jay has often combined his adventurous exploits with ecological and humanitarian work for organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme in Africa, Mother Teresa’s Missionary in India and the United Nations supported ‘Ship for World Youth’ sailing around the globe. Jay’s climbing achievements in New Zealand include The Grand Traverse (3+) of Mt Cook (3754m), East Face (4+) of Mt Sefton (3150m) and the South Face Central Coulouir (5+) of Mt Douglas (3086m). Jay has also climbed extensively in Thailand, Nepal, Scotland, the USA, Canada, and most recently in Alaska where he and Sam Johnson completed the first ascent of Paikea’s Journey (IV+, WI5, M5) on Thunder Mountain and the first ascent of Divine Providence (V, WI4, M6) Mt. Providence (Click for details of climb). To download Jay's resume CLICK HERE.


Samuel Johnson (25) is a mountain guide living in Anchorage, AK; he has guided the Upper West Rib of Denali. Sam shows his passion for climbing through multipitch Alpine rock and ice routes, high altitude mountaineering, and wall climbing. However, his ultimate penchant and aptitude are for ice and mixed climbing, where he has climbed pure ice to WI6+X, trad mixed routes to M7 R, and sport mixed routes to M9+. Sam has climbed over a dozen WI6 waterfalls including Nemesis, The Weeping Pillar, Pilsner Pillar, Curtain Call, and Rainbow Serpent in the Canadian Rockies; Shiva Lingam, Nuit Blanche, and Icelander in Chamonix, France; and Hard Ice Direct and Di Fronte al Taddimento Direct in Cogne, Italy. Notable ascents of mixed routes include Birdbrain Boulevard (IV WI5 M6 R) and The Skylight (IV WI5 M5/6) in Colorado. Turning to Alpine climbing, Sam has succeeded in making three notable first ascents in the Alaska Range: Smaug's Hoard (IV 5.10 R/X A2+) on The Throne of Little Switzerland; Divine Providence (V WI4 M6) on Mt. Providence; and Paikea's Journey (IV WI5 M5) on Thunder
Mountain. Sam also works as a river rafting guide. He paddled the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River (Class IV+) over the course of 18 days.


Jonathon Clearwater (24) is a research assistant and film producer, currently living and establishing new lines in the rugged Darran Mountains of New Zealand. During his 10 years of climbing, he has developed interests in the full spectrum of the sport: from bouldering to high altitude mountaineering. However, his passion and specific forte remains in climbing hard rock routes in isolated alpine environments. Jonathon's capabilities in this are best evidences by his outstanding summer season in the Darran Mountains, in which he established some of the hardest lines in the region. These include: Ram Paddock Road (5.11b, 9p) and Rock Candy (5.12a, 1p) on Mount Sabre; Liquid Toasted Sandwich (5.10c, 8p) on the South Face of Tiaroa; Brain Dynamics (5.11c, 3p) on the Diamond face of Moirs Mate; and The Whore of Babylon (5.12c) on Babylon Wall. In the Alpine, Jonathon has completed the Grand Traverse of Aoraki/Mt. Cook (3754m; NZ Alpine Grade IV) in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. And in 2004, he was part of an international clean-up expedition on Muztagata (7546m) in the Konlun Mountain range of China. During the expedition, he reached the summit. Jonathon also brings a strong background in film making to the team. During the past year, he produced New Zealand’s first feature length climbing film "Southern Faces".