Kurt and five friends learned about rock climbing from Bob Reen in 1964 as a reward for completing a 50 mile road walk in under 23 hours. Later that summer they did a 50 mile hike through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He earned the Eagle Scout and God and Country Awards while in Boy Scout Troop 701 and learned to adventure rock climb while working for the Appalachian Mountain Club Trail Crew.
He worked for the IME and EMS climbing schools before starting with Mountain Guides Alliance in 1986. He has guided both here and abroad. His climbing background includes a four day solo ascent of Lotus Flower Tower in the Northwest Territories; the first ascent, with Jim Tierney, of La Pomme D’Or, a 1,200′ ice climb in Quebec; big walls in Yosemite Valley and winter ascents in the Canadian Rockies.
In 1982, sponsored by tip money from students and a generous grant from Eastern Mountain Sports, Kurt took his first trip to Europe with Steve Larson, as representatives of the American Alpine Club. The team participated in the International High Altitude Meet hosted by the Club alpin francais in the Dauphine Alps and climbed the Devies/Gervasutti Route on the Central Pillar of the NW Face of the Ailefroide Occidentale. He has since climbed alpine routes in Alaska and more routes in the European Alps including the normal routes on Mt. Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Eiger. High altitude climbing has brought him to Africa, Mexico and Argentina where he guided Aconcagua (22,841’) in January, 2010. Kurt has pioneered many first ascents on the rock and ice of New England and is mentioned in Guy and Laura Waterman’s book: Yankee Rock and Ice: A History of Climbing in the Northeastern United States.
His wide-ranging enthusiasm for climbing, combined with a sincere and patient teaching ability have helped many climbers develop confidence in themselves and their sport. He is on the Board of Directors of and is a Team Leader for the Mountain Rescue Service and has taught winter survival and improvised self-rescue techniques to members of the US Special Forces. Kurt became an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide in 2001.