Primal Quest Assembles Climbing “Dream Team”

In order to ensure that Primal Quest Montana continues the legacy that is associated with the PQ brand, an incredible team has been assembled to design a challenging course befitting ”The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition.”

Case in point, the Primal Quest Climbing Team, which has been brought onboard to scout and design sites for the ropes challenges that will stand in the way of the teams come June. This climbing “dream team” has unparalleled experience in the mountains all over the planet, including Himalaya, Karakorum, and Patagonia. As individuals they are each very accomplished and well known, even beyond the world of mountaineering. Together they make up an amazing team that brings its considerable skills and knowledge to the PQ course.

Jay Smith: With more than 36 years of climbing experience, 27 years as a mountain guide, Jay Smith has been on more than 25 international expeditions, putting up over a thousand first ascents on walls all over the world.  Jay is a rock climbing specialist who counts numerous ascents on El Cap and Half Dome amongst his many accomplishments. He has also climbed the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia, putting up a new route in the process, and faced the Phantom Wall on Mt. Huntington in Alaska, completing it in Alpine Style.

Jay spent 20 years as the Director and Chief Guide for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group with the U.S. Navy Seals. No stranger to the world of adventure racing, Jay was the chief rigger for ropes courses in Eco Challenge 95, X-Games 95, and Primal Quest 2006. He is the owner of High and Wild Mountain Guides and resides in Castle Valley, Utah.

Jay is responsible for creating a team of world-class climbing gurus who will create and direct the Primal Quest Montana ropes course.

Kitty Calhoun: Kitty started rock climbing at the age of 18 and then added ice to her repertoire a year later. Since then she’s summitted some of the most iconic mountains in the world including Cordillera Blanca in Peru, Denali in Alaska, and El Capitan in Yosemite. She has two 8000m peaks to her name, claiming a summit on Dhaulagiri and the first female ascent of Makalu along the West Pillar.

Kitty has been a mountain guide since 1981 and has lead teams in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Alaska, and Nepal. She is currently a regular guide for “Chicks With Picks”, a series of women-only ice climbing clinics and is amongst the most accomplished American alpinists. She makes her home in Castle Valley Utah with husband Jay Smith.

Dave Medara: Born and raised in Maine, Dave started climbing in 1984 at age of 19.  Three years later he moved to Alta, UT and has been guiding and rigging ever since. Dave’s climbing and guiding career have put him on mountains all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. He specializes in long free climbing routes such as “Astroman” in Yosemite and “Monkeyfinger” in Zion. Among his many climbing accomplishments are several first ascents in Alaska and Canada, and literally hundreds of first ascents on 12+ grade routes in the continental U.S., mostly in his home state of Utah. He also has four successful ascents of El Capitan as well.

Dave, who has been a member of the Alta Ski Patrol Team since 1988, works as an avalanche forecaster and educator. He also is credited as the Rigger or Key Rigger on more than 35 commercials, TV shows, and photo shoots.  Dave has brought his climbing knowledge and abilities to more than 14 adventure races as well, including logging more than 30 days of rigging for the 2006 Primal Quest, which took place in Utah.

Dave makes his home in Moab where he and his wife Emma own Moab Desert Adventures.  Last September Dave and Emma welcomed daughter Sierra to their climbing team.

Adam George: With more than 15 years of climbing experience under his belt, Adam has put up routes all over the world, including New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Morocco’s Atlas Range,  and beyond.  He’s climbed in Alaska, Canada, Argentina, Thailand, and all over Europe and the continental United States. A natural climber, Adam is equally comfortable on both rock and ice in mixed environments. He is currently pursuing his AMFG/IFMG mountain guide certification as well.

Adam works as a rock/alpine climbing and ski guide, mainly in the Teton and Wasatch ranges of Utah. He has also been a part of three previous Primal Quest events, having brought his expertise to PQ California, Washington, and Utah. He once again brings his considerable climbing skills to Primal Quest Montana this year.

Angela Hawse: Angela has been climbing for 24 years and worked as a full-time guide for the past 20.   She is an AMGA certified Rock Guide and is close to achieving internationally recognized IFMGA Mountain Guide certification.  Angela has a diverse background in all climbing disciplines and has led and guided ascents throughout the U.S., Alaska Range, Asia and South America.  She has guided four of the “Seven Summits”; Everest, Denali, Aconcagua and Carstensz Pyramid, and has led over 20 high altitude expeditions in Alaska and the Himalaya. She was on the 2006 Primal Quest Climbing Crew and is also a Corporate Adventure Keynote Speaker and Ropes Course Facilitator.

Bill Whitt: This is Bill’s 5th Primal Quest. He’s been a member of the climbing staff since the first PQ. He is a San Juan Mountain guide and a member of the Ouray County Search and Rescue.

Steve Quinlin: Steve is a long time Jackson Hole Mountain guide and has worked the Eco-Challenge and Primal Quest races.

Chris Ann Crysdale: Chris Ann is also a long time Jackson Hole Mountain guide and currently works as a RN in Durango, CO.

Michael Staton: Michael has been part of the adventure race industry for 10 years.  As part of the Dirty Dozen he has helped design, construct and manage more adventure race climb sites then any other climbing staff in the world.  Michael has also been the climbing director for the USARA National Championship 2001, and Climbing Director for Odyssey Adventure Racing since 2006.  His teaching credits include Odyssey Adventure Racing Academy Instructor, Camp Odyssey Instructor, as well as a private AR climbing instructor and certifier.

Michael has also competed in several adventure races and has the distinction of being the teammate for the world’s youngest female adventure racer, Laura Phelps, his sister (Odyssey 1-Day 2006, Age: 14).

In addition to working for PQ, Michael is also a senior engineer at NovaTech in Lynchburg Virginia.