Gary Ziegler's Climbing History

Gary Ziegler: Mountaineering and Climbing History

We have a small select group of very qualified mountain guides headed by Gary Ziegler, co-owner and director of Adventure Specialists. Gary has a long and distinguished climbing history. As a teenager he first climbed the classic Elingwood route on Crestone needle with pioneer Colorado mountaineer, Robert Ormes. He estimates that he has now made more than 100 ascents of this peak.

During student years as a climber at nearby Colorado College, Gary and friends pioneered many first ascents and new routes in the Garden of the Gods, Colorado National Monument, Canyon Lands, and the Grand Canyon.

His later accomplishments in the Peruvian Andes include the first ascents of seven ice peaksover 18,000', a new route on Yarupaja 21,648' and the ascents of 14 other major peaks above 20,000 ft .

Along the way, he earned a Ph d. in archaeology, earns a part of his income from ranching and cowboying and is a recognized authority on the Inca civilization. He has taught climbing and mountain survival to Outward Bound, the Peace Corp, Army Special Forces and guided a National Geographic filming expediton up a 6000 meter peak.

Colorado and Southwest US:

Many first ascents, new routes over thirty years:
All major towers Colorado National Monument (first ascents) Monument Valley, several first ascents and routes on Spider Rock, Totem Pole, Ship rock. Utah: Fisher Towers, the lighthouse (first ascent) Zororaster's Temple, Grand Canyon (second ascent and 1st winter ascent)...many others.
1st winter ascents: 3rd Buttress, Hallet's Peak. Ellingwood ridge, La Plata Peak. Garden of the Gods, Pike Peak, Lost Park: Many new rotes. Over 50 ascents of Crestone Peak and Needle. First climbed Ellingwood ridge with Robert Ormes at age 13.

MEXICO: all the major Volcanoes several times (guiding)

ECUADOR: New Route, south face of Chimboraso

PERU: Cordillera Blanca; Nv. Ranrapalca, Nv. Copa, Nv. Contrahierbas, Nv, Aquilpo (second ascent), Nv, Atlante (1st ascent)
Cordillera Raura: Siete Caballeros (three first ascents) New routes: Nevado Rosa (National Geographic film) Torre Crystal, Nev Nv Kiaco ( 1st ascent), Nv Patron, Nino Perdido.
Cordillera Huaywash: Yarupaja (New route)
Codillera Sur Nv, Chicani, Nv, Ampato
Cordillera Urubamba: Nv. Huancatani, Nv Halancoma
Cordillera Vilcabamba: Nv. Huayanay (1st ascent) October 1996,
Unnamed 5400 m peak, Pumasillo group, May 1997

First Ascent in Peru 1996
Success....A Colorado Mountain Club team led by Adventure Specialist's Gary Ziegler reached the summit of an unclimbed 18,000 ft, peak in Peru's Cordillera Vilcabamba on October 12 . Jim and Megin Mauch, Bill Landsburg and Gary, all from Colorado, climbed the central summit in the Huayanay Massive, a group of Ice peaks near Machu Picchu. From a mule supported camp at 15,000 ft. the group reached the summit in a nine hour climb up steep rock and ice.


		We have a small select group of very qualified mountain guides headed by Gary Ziegler, co-owner and director of Adventure Specialists. Gary has a long and distinguished climbing history. As a teenager he first climbed the classic Elingwood route on Crestone needle with pioneer Colorado mountaineer, Robert Ormes. He estimates that he has now made more than 100 ascents of this peak. During student years as a climber at nearby Colorado College, Gary and friends pioneered many first ascents and new routes in the Garden of the Gods, Colorado National Monument, Canyon Lands, and the Grand Canyon. His later accomplishments in the Peruvian Andes include the first ascents of seven ice peaksover 18,000', a new route on Yarupaja 21,648' and the ascents of 14 other major peaks above 20,000 ft .