Originally from upstate New York, Mike grew up playing sports and spending time outside running, hunting, fishing, and participating in Boy Scouts. Mike ran his first long-distance event in high school and still considers himself an avid runner today. When Mike joined the Marine Corps, he discovered mountaineering while stationed on the West Coast. Today, Mike resides in Colorado, where he climbs, skis, and runs as much as he can while working to advance his guiding career through professional courses. Mike has climbed all over the United States and has high ambitions to continue climbing bigger and more technical mountains worldwide.