Peter Doucette

Bio
Peter Doucette is an AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide and Special Teams trainer for the U.S. Military and Department of Defense. He has been guiding technical climbing since 1998 and specializes in custom guided mountain experiences. Peter is also a member of the Instructor Team for the American Mountain Guide Association and climbs extensively throughout the world having completed numerous first ascents from Alaska to Namibia. His ideal day in the alpine involves ephemeral ice, solid partnership, and good timing. Peter is an athlete for Outdoor Research and has a BS in Education from University of Maine. He lives in New Hampshire.

Personal Statement
Climbing is a thread that runs through many aspects of my life, personal and professional. I’m always up for engaging days in the mountains. Personally, I’m passionate about moving well through technical terrain, long alpine routes, elegant ski lines and being out in the weather. The cumulative effects of shorter climbs and single pitch discoveries have sharpened my abilities and made the big days more enjoyable. Recent ascents in Patagonia and Alaska continue to teach me and opened my eyes to movement strategies and decision making in big terrain. My climbing partners and friends continue to inspire me with their climbing, style, and fortitude in the often cold and usually vertical arenas we share.

Professionalism as a guide and educator has been important to me since I began my career in 1998, working for the National Outdoor Leadership School. I understood early on, that challenges take many forms in the mountains and preparedness pays off. Solid risk management skills, technical proficiencies, and now, more than 20 years of climbing experience, are priceless assets when it comes to decision making that shapes the quality of experiences for partners, guests and clients.

In the last 6 years, I’ve spent several months each year, training Special Operations Teams for the Department of Defense, educating very dedicated individuals on mountain travel, cold weather operations and high angle rescue skills. This has been an eye opener towards understanding the versatility of rope systems, materials, skill sets, and their application. Adapting tools and skills for tactical use and moving larger teams in the mountains with minimal equipment offer compelling challenges that interest me. A favorite recent quote is: “Training is for the known. Education is for the unknown.” By offering the best opportunities I can, for both training and education, honest, informed, practiced, application of these skills becomes possible.

I continue pursuing the best information and exercising my broad skill set. This practice allows me to climb and work in wild environments and terrain all over the world with confidence and efficiency. Informed climbing and guiding, with the comfort, education, and objectives of my clients in mind, gives shape to the many forms that a guided day can take. With the highest level of training and certification available, I am better able to set clients up for success while maximizing the margin of safety.