Colby Coombs

Colby Coombs, 33, of Talkeetna, Alaska, has been instructing for NOLS since 1986. Recently he has spent most of his time founding and serving as the executive director of the Alaska Mountaineering School, and writing several Alaskan climbing guidebooks. An expert mountaineer, he has climbed around the world including in Wyoming, Colorado, Peru and Alaska. He has climbed Denali many times since his first ascent of the peak in 1986.

Producers of the highly acclaimed PBS television program NOVA are climbing and filming on 20,320-foot Denali in Alaska. NOLS is supplying equipment and expertise, including instruction, to the team of climbers. Colby and his wife, Caitlin Palmer, will teach classes on crevasse rescue, glacier travel and other topics. More information is available here.