Liz OakesPROFILE

Liz Oakes

October 31, 1981
Aspen, Colorado
Marmot, Dalbello

Ski Mountaineer, Climber, Mountain Guide Aspen, Colorado Liz Oakes grew up skiing and climbing in the Rocky Mountains around Aspen, Colorado. She has since traveled around the world splitting her time between the French Alps, the Tetons, and Alaska. She has made many ski mountaineering descents including the Glacier Rond and the Couloir du Cosmiques in Chamonix; the Pan de Rideau and the Polichinele in La Grave, France; the Fuhrer Finger on Mt. Rainier; and various descents in Alaska’s Chugach range. Liz has also skied from 7,200 meters on Shishapangma in Tibet. She has been featured in various Skiing Magazine articles. Liz has done long free climbs in Yosemite and Squamish, British Columbia and has completed a one-day ascent of the Cathedral Traverse in the Tetons. She has also taken expeditions to the Himalaya including an ascent of Ama Dablam in Nepal and an attempt of Jupono in Sikkim, India. Liz began guiding in 2001 for Aspen Expeditions. She has worked for Exum Mountain Guides in the Tetons since 2002. Liz is currently the director of Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide and Smart Mountain Guides.

Dead red & chocolate
  1. Personal Outdoor Pursuits Skiing
  2. • Ski descent of Mt. Rainier via the Furher Finger (45°)
  3. • Various steep skiing descents in Valdez, Alaska (up to 50°)
  4. • 3 seasons of off-piste skiing and ski mountaineering in the French Alps o Descents include: Pan de Redeau (50°), Polichinelle (50°), L’Orciere de Droites (45° with 1 rappel), La Vaute (45° with 2 rappels), Maisonneuve (47° with 1 rappel), Girose (45° with 1 rappel), Couloir Rama (45°), Glacier Rond (50°), Cosmiques Couloir (45°), and Rectalline Couloir (45°) • Attempt to ski Shishapangma in Tibet (skied down from 7,200 meters at 35° and made multiple runs between 6,400 and 5,800 meters)
  5. • 9 years of backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering around Aspen, Colorado including many multi-day tours Alpine Climbing
  6. • Summit of Ama Dablam on October 28, 2005
  7. • Attempt on Jupono Peak in Sikkim, India (came just shy of 6,000 meters)
  8. • 15 hour ascent of the Cathedral Traverse, which includes; Teewinot via the East Face, Mount Owen via the Coven Route, and the Grand Teton via the North Ridge
  9. • Mt. Rainier via the Disappointment Cleaver route
  10. • Solo ascent of the Middle Teton via a South Face Couloir Rock Climbing
  11. • The Grand Wall, Squamish (IV, 5.11a, 10 pitches)
  12. • East Buttress of El Cap, Yosemite (IV, 5.10b, 11 pitches)
  13. • Central Pillar of Frenzy, Yosemite (III, 5.9, 5 pitches)
  14. • Royal Arches, Yosemite (III, 5.7, 17 pitches)
  15. • The Snaz, Grand Teton National Park (III, 5.9, 8 pitches)
  16. • Caveat Emptor, Grand Teton National Park (IV, 5.10, 8 pitches)
  17. • Irene’s Arête, Grand Teton National Park (III, 5.9, 8 pitches)
  18. • The Open Book, Grand Teton National Park (III, 5.9+, 6 pitches)
  19. • Thin Fingers, Index Washington (I, 5.11a, 2 pitches)
  20. • Incredible Hand Crack, Indian Creek (5.10) • Supercrack, Indian Creek (5.10)
  21. • Ancient Art, Fisher Towers Utah (III, 5.10 A1, 5 pitches)
  22. • Humanality, Thailand (II, 5.10c, 5 pitches)
  23. • Yellow Spur, Eldorado Canyon (III, 5.10b, 7 pitches)
  24. • The West Buttress, Eldorado Canyon (5.9, 4 pitches) Ice Climbing
  25. • La Grave, France (WI 4, 4 pitches)
  26. • Multiple single pitch climbs near Vail, Colorado (up to WI 4)
  27. • Multi-pitch ice climbs near Ouray, Colorado including: The Skylight (WI 4-5, 3 pitches), Slip Slidin’ Away (WI 4, 2 pitches), and Horsetail Falls (WI 4-5, 3 pitches)
  28. • Various climbs in the Ouray Ice Park, Colorado (up to WI 5)
  29. • Redstone Pillar (WI 4, 1 pitch) Guiding Experience
  30. • Chugach Powder Guides, Girdwood, Alaska, heli-ski guide (2007)
  31. • Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson, Wyoming, full time guide (2002-present)
  32. • La Grave, France, tail-guide for multiple IFMGA guides: Doug Coombs, Miles Smart, Pelle Lang, Alois Viehover, Xavier Cret, and Eric Mossiere (2003-present)
  33. • Aspen Expeditions, apprentice guide (2000-2001) Education
  34. • AMGA Rock Instructor Course in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado, May 2003
  35. • AMGA Ski Guides Course in Jackson, Wyoming, December 2003 • AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guides Course in Valdez, Alaska, May 2004 • Observed the AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guides Exam in La Grave, France, March 2006
  36. • AMGA Alpine Guides Course in Wyoming, July 2006
  37. • Completed AIARE Level 1 and 2 Avalanche Courses, and all of the Level 3 curriculum by shadowing a level 3 instructor
  38. • Certified Level 1 AIARE instructor • Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 Avalanche Course, January 2007
  39. • Currently certified as a Wilderness First Responder with CPR for the professional rescuer
  40. • Degree in Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Media Exposure
  41. • Featured as one of 11 athletes in Skiing Magazine’s “Slayin’ It” article, February 2006
  42. • Featured in “Rip Like A Pro! 16 Secrets from Skiing’s All-Stars”, Skiing Magazine, October 2006
  43. • Mentioned in “The Line”, Skiing Magazine, September 2006
  44. • Photographed for various Marmot marketing material including magazine ads and posters from 2004 through the present • MTV Spring Break Special on Aspen, Colorado in 1998: Filmed as a figure skater.