Who, where, what and why?

We often talk about the Mountain Trip Family. We don't talk about this as hyperbole, but because it really exists. Bill Allen and Todd Rutledge own the business, but the heart and soul of the company are our guides and the climbers we get to spend time with in the mountains.

Mountain Trip is a small guide service based high in the mountains of SW Colorado in the tiny hamlet of Ophir. Ophir is a community of about 190 folks, located at the end of the road for most months of the year, but accessible from both the east and the west when the 11,814' pass to the east is clear of snow. There are no paved roads down here, and with the long, tough winters, the town is full of hearty, adventurous people, and our local playground is often a zoo with the 60+ kids under the age of eight who are running amok.

Backcountry skiing, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, hiking and mountain biking are all accessed literally from our front doors. It is a vibrant community that lives according to the principles of the traditional "village" and everyone helps each other out. It is a special place.

Todd Rutledge began guiding for Mountain Trip in 1994, and followed the lady who would soon be his wife to Ophir in 2001. Bill Allen joined the Mountain Trip team in 1995 and began frequenting Ophir in 2002, and moved to the town in 2006. We assumed the helm of Mountain Trip following the 2004 Denali season, when founder Gary Bocarde decided he was ready for some sunny rock climbing and cycling, instead of working away at a guide service.

Gary always fostered a feeling amongst us guides that we were all part of a greater fraternity and we took that feeling and have taken it a few steps further. Our guides are our best friends, confidants, climbing partners, and mentors. We take good care of them and challenge them to be innovative and to always strive to orchestrate the best possible outcome from any given scenario. They return to work for Mountain Trip year after year, after year, after year. Barring injuries and the occasional need to placate a girlfriend, we have almost a 100% return rate in our guide staff year after year, after year.

Years ago we decided to extend this feeling of inclusion and of being part of something bigger than oneself to those climbers who chose to join us in the mountains on our expeditions. An expedition begins long before you arrive at the trailhead and we strive to give unparalleled personal attention to our climbers from their very first email or phone call. We absolutely love what we get to do, and we love to share all of the knowledge gained over decades in the mountains with our climbers. There are no big egos around here, just passionate climbers who are eager to share that passion with you.

If you have big mountain dreams, or are curious as to what life on a big, cold peak might be like, give us a ring. Novice to the mountain world will find us to be attentive listeners, ready to give you advice as to where to start or how to proceed. Experienced alpinists will find us happy to talk about big, gnarly routes and help plan that next big adventure.

Why Mountain Trip? Because we do take it personally... and it shows!