Guided Rock Climbing Instructors - Southeast Mountain Guides

*NOW HIRING for the 2020 season & beyond! Find more details here. *

Welcome to the home & heart of Southeast Mountain Guides! We are thrilled to meet you.

Our Mission

To help people who want to try rock climbing and to teach people who want to become rock climbers.

Our Standard

Above all, we believe in connecting with people. We achieve this by providing meaningful and engaging experiences in the realm of climbing. We strive to be professional servant leaders who are committed to personal growth and genuine connection with others.

Our Core Values

Connection – Growth – Professionalism – Servant Leadership – Integrity

We strive to connect with people authentically.

We seek to cultivate an environment of growth and betterment.

We support a team made up of professional and caring servant leaders who act with integrity.

These core values guide us as we offer climbing services that minimize risk; encourage learning; are refined, relevant, engaging, and unique; and that promote climbing stewardship through responsible enjoyment of the outdoors.

Our Instructors

All of our instructors for our guided activities are nationally certified through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as Single Pitch Instructors or Rock Instructors. Our instructors are professional, friendly, and knowledgeable, and strive to provide the best service and experience for each and every client. This takes time, dedication, and training towards their craft. Please consider providing gratuity for your instructor (15-20% recommended).

Our History

In 2001 Mark and Kathy Meyer opened up the country’s first Via Ferrata, providing the public with a thrilling, yet easily accessible way to experience high adventure on our sandstone cliff lines. Their daughter Nicole became the company’s first rock climbing instructor in 2004, and she’s been guiding and managing the business ever since. After all these years, the Via Ferrata and guided activities remain the key services offered. Keeping it in the family, Nicole purchased the company in November 2017 and renamed it Southeast Mountain Guides, formerly Torrent Falls Climbing Adventure. Her passion for rock climbing continues to open new doors for climbing and instruction possibilities. But none of this growth would be possible without you. So truly thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Via Ferrata History

The origins of Via Ferrata can be traced back to the Alps. For centuries, simple, protected paths through mountainous terrain connected alpine villages to their pastures. In WWI, Via Ferratas were built to help troops move through the mountain ranges of the Dolomites. Some of those wartime routes were restored with modern Via Ferrata hardware (iron rungs and steel cable) and are now used for recreation.

Our Via Ferrata became the first commercially operated course in the United States on 9-1-01, and has been enjoyed by folks all over the world since then!

Nicole Meyer, Owner

Being a part of people’s lives on a personal level is probably one of the things I love the most about what I do. I love that I get to do this in all sorts of ways, big and small. Although small, the small ways are sometimes the most impactful. These are moments when I get to fist bump the climber who just completed a section of our Via Ferrata course and share in the excited accomplishment. It is also seeing transformation when someone understands and feels more than adequate in tying their figure-eight knot.

I also cherish the big ways. These are when I go to the crag to find previous clients climbing confidently on their own. It is working alongside such an incredible crew that strengthens one another.

But in all, I am impacted by each of you whether small or big! Continuously, I am delighted and encouraged by the moments of shared experiences.

I look forward to the opportunity of sharing experiences with you and when we I do, I am will be striving to meet you where you are to accomplish your climbing goals. I will be pulling from my 14 years of certified AMGA SPI experience & 20 years of time in this craft.

See you soon!

Amy Fegely Taylor, Core Crew Member

Climbing has served as a powerful gateway in my life, leading me towards increased awareness within- of my fears, as well as my own inner strength. I call these the “greater lessons” of climbing. While this self-discovery may have held a strong origin in climbing, the benefits are reaped in every aspect of my life!

What you might see in me from the outside is a girl who loves her woodsy life, work, husband, dog, friends, climbing, and book-worming… but truly, these are fruits of my commitment to personal growth, to which climbing simply opened the door.

Every person is unique in their life journey, and so I understand that the experience of climbing will speak to each of us in different ways. The greater lessons that I learn from climbing may not be the same as what you learn, but they’re all important!

I also know that in order to learn the greater lessons that climbing has to teach us, we first have to take care of the “basics” – by experiencing climbing in an environment in which we are comfortable and prepared.

My goal is to give YOU the tools to experience the greater lessons of climbing for yourself (whatever that may mean for you), by providing the environment and instruction for you to be comfortable and prepared to climb.

What I bring to the table is: a dedication to personal awareness and growth, a decade of climbing experience, professional certification as an AMGA single pitch instructor, and 5 years’ experience working with wonderful clients through a wonderful company committed to unique instruction and personal growth (yep, Southeast!). Most importantly though, I strive to understand and serve you so that you can make the most out of your climbing experience and/or journey. I so look forward to meeting and working with you!

Travis Sapp, Core Crew Member

Travis grew up in North Carolina, where he began rock climbing as a teen. He is a US Army Veteran, an AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide and a Wilderness First Responder. He discovered his love for adventure on a solo backpacking trip to Patagonia and his passion for teaching on a NOLS outdoor educator semester in Wyoming and Utah. Following these experiences, he traveled around the world, climbing in Spain, Patagonia, Morocco, Japan, and throughout the western United States before finding his way to the Red River Gorge. He is dedicated to sharing his passion for rock climbing and respect for the wilderness with others. Travis is an easy going, patient and knowledgeable instructor, who strives to tailor each trip to the needs of his clients.

Our Difference

We believe climbing is life-changing, and it’s our goal to introduce you to that discovery! We take the time to get to know you, to best help you enter or progress in your journey of climbing.

Call Us

Please call us at (606) 668-6613 for more info or to make your reservation.

Email Us

You can also e-mail us for more info on our contact form here.

Text Us

Have a quick question? Feel free to text us at (859) 428-7573.