E-mail this pageFaculty and Guides
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Laurence Soroka, DirectorDr. Soroka taught in the English and History Departments at Plattsburgh State University from 1988-2000. Before coming to Plattsburgh, he was an owner and guide for "On Ice," a year-round climbing school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Soroka has rock climbed and ice climbed from The Cascades to the Tetons to the Adirondacks and the White Mountains, as well as in the Canadian Rockies. He teaches climbing, skiing, and sea kayaking courses, and "Outdoor Sport and Culture,"The History and Culture of the Expedition. Contact Laurence Soroka |
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Casey Henley, Head Climbing and Skiing InstructorCasey grew up in the Canadian Rockies where he learned to climb and ski. A graduate of The University College of The Cariboo Guide Program and the Mount Royal College Outdoor Pursuits Program, he has guided, climbed and skied throughout North and South America, Asia, Antarctica and Europe, including ascents of Denali, Logan (with ski descent), Imja Tse, Ama Dablam, Mt. Elbrus (with ski descent), Aconcagua, Cho Oyu, Vinson Massif. Casey has instructed and guided for Outward Bound, Mountain Madness, Slipstream Adventures, The Alaska Mountaineering School, The British Army Training Unit and The Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training Program. Being in remote, mountain areas is a passion he loves to share. Known for his mellow, friendly teaching style and demeanor. Contact Casey Henley |
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Barry Brown, Sea Kayak Instructor and Equipment ManagerBarry grew up in the western foothills of the Adirondacks, where he was first introduced to outdoor recreation. That set him off hiking the Adirondacks but also mountaineering on Mt. Ranier and kayaking the Florida Keys and the Maine coast. Barry manages our entire equipment holdings, no mean feat, considering what it takes to care for telemark and backcountry skis, poles, and boots, ice climbing axes and crampons, mountaineering boots, rock climbing shoes, all our ropes and hardware, and a fleet of sea kayaks. In addition Barry is an Adirondack 46er, a Licensed NYS Guide, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Contact Barry Brown |
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Steven Maynard, Head Paddling InstructorSteven started kayaking more than 15 years ago on remote Sea Lochs in North West Scotland. Since then he has paddled, guided and instructed extensively in the United Kingdom, and throughout Europe and North America. Steven holds qualifications in many adventure sports, including sea kayaking certification at the highest level from the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association. Steve enjoys nothing more than helping people improve their understanding of technique and environment to make stronger safer paddlers. Contact Steven Maynard |
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Sarah Henley, Coordinator of Odyssey Freshmen Adventure Programs, Expeditionary Studies Equipment ManagerSarah has been working in the outdoor industry since the early 90's. She has a B.A. in Adventure Education and Social/Cultural Studies, from Prescott College. As a Prescott alumnus, she worked as an instructor for their Wilderness Orientation program. Sarah has climbed and guided throughout North America, as well as in Africa, Asia, Mexico, and South America. She worked and instructed for Outward Bound for six years. Sarah also guided for Mountain Madness and in 2004 she was their Everest Base Camp Manager. Sarah loves being in the outdoors and especially sharing beautiful places with others. Contact Sarah Henley |
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Gary Kroll, Environmental History and History of ExplorationDr. Kroll teaches an array of courses in environmental history, but his primary interest is the history of exploration. He is the co-creator and instructor in the foundation course, "The History and Culture of Expeditions," for our new Expeditionary Studies program. As an environmental historian and a historian of science, Dr. Kroll brings an important perspective to the Expeditionary Studies curriculum. In a past life, and one he still dreams of, Dr. Kroll spent hours blowing glass. Contact Gary: gary.kroll@plattsburgh.edu |
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Melissa Maynard, Foreign Languages and Sea Kayak InstructorMelissa been sea kayaking since 1994. She trained with and worked for Cal Adventures in Berkeley, California from 1994-1997. Upon returning to New York in 1998, Melissa founded Sea Cliff Kayakers and has worked for Maine Island Kayak Company and Manhattan Kayak Company. During the winter months, she has been a guide and instructor for Miramar Adventures in Baja, Mexico. Melissa is a certified American Canoe Association (ACA) Open Water Kayak Instructor, British Canoe Union (BCU) Aspirant Level 3 Coach Sea and 4-star sea kayaker. She holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and an MA in Education from the University of California at Berkeley. Contact Melissa: maynars@plattsburgh.edu |
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Jesse Williams, Climbing and Skiing GuideWith more than a decade of guiding in the United States and Europe, Jesse is now the Head Guide at Adirondack Rock and River. A graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in Environmental Studies, Jesse has guided mountaineering for Alpine Ascents International in The Cascades, The Dolomites, and in Africa, rock and ice climbing for Adirondack Rock River, and telemark and free-heel skiing for the North Atlantic Telemark Organization (NATO) throughout the northeast. Jesse is an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor and holds certifications in for Leave No Trace (Master Instructor), avalanche safety (level 1), and first aid (Wilderness First Responder). Contact Jesse: jessew@kvvi.net |
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Richard W. MacDonald, Sea-Kayak InstructorWith nearly 30 years experience as a paddler, Richard MacDonald has been guiding and teaching paddle-sports since 1989. Rich has kayaked extensively on Lake Champlain, as well as the Northeast and Maritime coasts. Rich is also a writer and naturalist, specializing in the boreal birds of the Adirondacks. Rich is currently a grant writer and graduate student at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Contact Rich: adkrich@prexar.com |
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Jim Sausville, Kayak InstructorIf anybody knows Adirondack whitewater and flatwater, it's Jim Sausville. With nearly forty years of paddling experience on and travels to great rivers from The Moose, in our neck of the woods, to The Colorado, where he's made three descents, Jim is the guide/instructor "par excellence." To be sure he's never too far from the water, Jim restores classic wooden boats when he's not out paddling. Contact Jim: jimboat@northnet.org |
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Emilie Drinkwater, Climbing InstructorEmilie started climbing as a student at St. Lawrence University, where she graduated with a degree in Anthropology. Her first climbs were here in the Adirondacks. After climbing around the country in such areas as Joshua Tree National Park, Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Rocky Mountain National Park, Emilie returned to the Adirondacks to climb and guide for Adirondack Rock and River. Emilie now shares her guiding time teaching climbing courses for Plattsburgh State. Emilie spends part of her summers in Denali National Park climbing long, alpine rock routes in "Little Switzerland." Contact Emilie: edrinkwater@hotmail.com |
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Bob Dickie, Free-Heel Skiing and Canoeing InstructorAs a college student, Bob discovered free-heel skiing when he could no longer afford lift tickets at downhill ski areas. Since his "conversion," Bob has taught telemark and Nordic skiing at Gore Mountain, where he helped establish the instruction program in free-heel skiing, and has skied and explored every part of the Adirondacks reachable on skis. Contact Bob: dickier@westelcom.com |