CAMDEN CLIMBING FESTIVAL
INSTRUCTORS
MEET THE CCF INSTRUCTORS
DICK CHASSE
Dick wanted to be a mountain guide since he was a teenager, after taking a leadership role in his high school outing club and job shadowing at a university outdoor program. A seminal ice climbing experience in Maine’s Grafton Notch sealed the deal, Dick became a man of the mountains. After developing as a climbing instructor for the University of Maine Outdoor Program, Dick began guiding in 1998.
Since then, Dick has guided, climbed, and skied throughout the US, Africa, Japan, Iceland, Europe, and in South America. Favorite routes include Wafer Step in Acadia National Park and Barren’s Direct on Katahdin in Maine, North Ridge Mt. Baker in Washington, Vulcan Cayambe in Ecuador, Damnation Gulley on Mt Washington in New Hampshire, and Dark Shadows in Red Rocks Nevada.
Dick’s specialty is the attention he devotes to his clients; he truly loves guiding. “I constantly find myself thinking about how to make the next experience better for my clients. I consider it an honor to take people out to the cliffs and mountains,” he says. “The wonderful secret of guiding is that I learn as much from my clients as they learn from me.”
RYAN HOWES “RYNO”
CCF’s Founder is a lifer guide with 15 years in the industry. With an emphasis in detailed instruction and developing climbers, Ryan headed guide three guide services prior to starting Northern Vertical in 2015. When traveling and climbing beyond Maine, Ryan is commonly asked by fellow climbers “Why Maine of all places?” and his reply is simple: “Maine has a heartbeat”.
With 25 years of climbing and 50+ first ascents right here in the Camden Hills State Park, Ryan can not think of a better environment to celebrate Maine rock climbing. For more information check out Ryan’s bio.
KRYSTAL TAVARES “TORCH”
Krystal, aka Torch, was born and raised in Maine and is an avid outdoor enthusiast! From a young age, she grew up camping, alpine skiing, hiking, traveling and was a high school athlete. She currently resides in Central Maine with her two sons, has a career in healthcare and is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching. Her passion for climbing developed out of a desire to try a new outdoor activity that involved her love of nature and physical activity. She started ice climbing with Northern Vertical in January 2021 and transitioned to rock shortly after. The rest is history! Krystal has exclusively trained with Northern Vertical for the past three years and is a confident, charismatic, and passionate climber and leader. She loves empowering women to push past their fears and false limitations and climbing is her vehicle for connection. Krystal has ticked off some amazing climbing destinations such as Red Rocks Canyon in Las Vegas, The Gunks in New York (where she did her very first lead climb) and she has climbed the infamous Armadillo on Mount Katahdin and Whitney Gilman on Cannon Cliff, Red River Gorge and Squamish. Although she loves traveling to new destinations, her heart belongs in the Camden Hills where she continues to develop her skills, her love for the sport and introducing this unique area to others.
SHAN RAZDAN
Shan moved to Maine from New York City and now is an aspiring Mainer, although he is well aware of the fact that he has about 24 more years to go! He loves hiking, skiing and climbing in Maine and has a special interest in exploring uncharted trails and routes. He spent an entire winter learning ice climbing, mixed climbing and dry tooling from Ryan and finished the season with skills and techniques to lead winter routes. Shan is a surgeon and enjoys the teaching and learning in his profession, so there is no doubt why he also enjoys teaching the nerdier aspects of climbing such as gear, anchors, belay and rappel systems to beginner climbers. In his free time he continues to work on his climbing technique indoors as well as outdoors. His goal for the summer is to lead traditional rock climbs and tick off some big objectives with Ryan throughout Maine and beyond.
Check out Shan’s Clinic: Wilderness Trauma and First Aid
SANDOR NAGY “SNAGY”
This mechanical engineer timber framer finds joy in movement and the creative pursuit of problem solving. Snagy, is a lifer climber, with extensive climbing and first ascents in Maine, southern and western USA and beyond. Since the early 80s, Snagy has been rock climbing, ice climbing, snowboarding, ultra trail running, and raising two, now adult kids who live out their own adventures “thanks dad”. Helping new and experienced climbers develop climbing techniques into skills is one of Snagy’s specialties — he’s developed indoor climbing wall programs, climbing competitions, and guided groups throughout Maine, utilizing his AMGA training to maximize reward through safety, education and of course, fun!
Snagy plays a big role in Camden’s new climbing development and stewardship. Look for him during the volunteer trail crew and supporting new and existing climbers during Saturday and Sunday’s clinics.
BRANDON GIBBONS
When Brandon started climbing five years ago it was ‘love at first send!’ He immediately immersed himself into climbing adventures and his natural leadership skills became apparent, so he spent two years serving on the board of directors for the North Texas Chapter of The American Alpine Club, as well as, Director of Communications. Brandon is a AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and worked for Rock About Climbing Adventures in Texas. Brandon and his wife recently relocated to Maine and had a baby! He is excited to enter his second season working for Equinox Guiding Service and share his love of climbing with you at CCF.
If you are an existing climber definitely check out Brandon’s Single-Pitch Rescue Clinic.
JASON ASHE
Jason is a US Army Veteran and Maine native who lives with his wife Andrea & beloved senior pup, Chloe. Jason is passionate about adventure-based pursuits such as hiking, backpacking, climbing, snowshoeing, paddle boarding and foraging wild edible & medicinal mushrooms!
These passions turned turned into a rewarding career as a Recreation Therapist, utilizing intense, physical exercise and nature-based therapies for brain injury rehabilitation at the NeuroRestorative Clinic in Standish, ME.
Jason facilitates weekly adaptive hiking and rock climbing sessions for a variety of ability levels and individual needs in collaboration with Evo Rock & Fitness, as well as annual back country camping, fishing and canoeing trips for participants.
Jason is excited to collaborate with the CCF Team to offer outdoor rock climbing, for the first time ever, to people with brain injuries. We hope you are also excited to support this rewarding experience!
SARAH GALL
Sarah began climbing indoors in early 2019 and she soon discovered that climbing would give her the great opportunity to challenge herself in all ways! Early days at the rock gym were stymied by a fear of heights; not making it half way up the wall before clammy hands and a racing heartbeat were inhibiting forward progress. The process of overcoming this fear required a more integrated mind-body connection than other activities she'd pursued to this point. That's what has her hooked!
A native New Englander now local to Portland, she fuels her adventure seeking and nature loving spirit by exploring Maine via hiking, backpacking, and climbing. Her plans for 2024 include a climbing trip in Red River Gorge, backpacking the Grafton Notch Loop trail, and hiking the East Coast Trail in NewFoundland, CA.
Sarah is excited to join the CCF team and work with Torch to deliver an amazing Women’s climbing clinic!
MICHAEL LOWE
Michael began climbing in Boulder, Colorado and the surrounding area in 1979 at age 15. He went on to climb extensively throughout the United States and Europe including big wall ascents in Yosemite (El Capitan) and Rocky Mountain National (The Diamond) by the age of 19.
He was an active member of the community at that time participating in traditional style route development and early preservation/access efforts. After landing in Camden, Maine in 2000 and enjoying sailing, skiing, raising children and other activities, he has rediscovered his passion for climbing and has even recently returned from a pilgrimage to Kalymnos, Greece for some of the world’s foremost sport climbing :)
Michael is one of Ryan’s personal climbing partners and good luck charm because Ryan never falls while Michael belays. Good luck charm or or does Ryan need to push himself harder, haha? Either way, Michael’s climbing experience, stories and personality will leave you excited to climb with him time after time.
2024 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 17th, 2024
9:00 AM: Park opens, set up camp anytime of the day
12:00 - 5:00 PM: Volunteer trail work with the Camden Hills State Park Trails Supervisor, Erik Brooks
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Dinnah at the Picnic Shelter… We are having Tacos!
7:00 - 9:00 PM ish: Kickoff Social with CCF Staff, climbing film and guest speakers at the Picnic Shelter (BYOBeverage)
10:00 PM - 7:00 AM: Quiet hours
Saturday, May 18th, 2024
6:00 - 7:00 AM: Breakfast at the Picnic Shelter
7:00 - 8:00 AM: Orientation for clinics, meet your instructors at the Picnic Shelter
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM: Clinics for all (meeting at Barrett’s Cove Beach on Lake Megunticook)
4:30 - 6:00 PM: Swimming and refreshments at Barrett’s Cove Beach on Lake Megunticook
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Dinnah at the Picnic Shelter hosted by local culinary guru India Mc the Green Bean Cookhouse
7:00 - 10:00 PM: Guest Speaker followed by Dance Party at the Picnic Shelter (BYOBeverage)
10:00 PM - 7:00 AM: Quiet hours
Sunday, May 19th, 2024
*deconstruct campsite prior to departing for the days climbing adventure
6:00 - 7:30 AM: Breakfast pop up in group campsites
7:30 - 8:00 AM: A message from CCF Founder, Ryan Howes and Staff
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM: More Amazing Clinics
4:30 PM: Swimming and refreshments at Barrett’s Cove Beach on Lake Megunticook
THE VENUE - CAMDEN HILLS STATE PARK
First step upon arrival is to check in with Camden Hills State Park Staff at the Entrance Booth for vehicle and camping tags. Make sure to announce you are attending the Camden Climbing Festival, Bub! Then, continue taking the first right to CCF Group Camping sites 3, 4 and 5. These sites are first come first serve and holds up to 10 guests per site.
Bring whatever creature comforts you need for the weekend and help us cut back on waste by bringing personal cutlery, plate, bowl and a cup for coffee and evening beverages!
Depending on what time you arrive on Friday, join CCF crew for volunteer trail work, dinnah, and CCF Kickoff Social at the Picnic Shelter. Look on the map above for an icon that shows a small picnic table inside a shelter. You cannot miss it, Bub!
