Experienced & Credentialed
Guides & Instructors
Our Difference
Our climbing instructors are who set us apart from other climbing schools and guide services.
All of our rock climbing instructors have taken courses and/or exams with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and all are required to maintain a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification or higher. The AMGA certifies guides and climbing instructors to the highly respected standards of their organization. The AMGA is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified guides and instructors in the United States. The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is a nationally recognized emergency medicine certification that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote wilderness settings. These trainings and certifications are only the foundation of a good instructor. Seneca Rocks Climbing School goes further by hiring individuals who have a background in education, either experiential or academic. This combination of skills is what ensures you get as much as possible from your rock climbing guide.
All of our instructors are experienced climbers who strive to provide not only top rate instruction but also a fun and enjoyable experience while climbing at Seneca Rocks.
Our Team
Sean Tracy
Sean has been rock climbing for more than three decades. Like many in the region he was first introduced to rock climbing at Great Falls, Virginia. He was hired by SRCS in 2009 and has worked at Seneca every season since. Sean held an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor for several years before taking the AMGA Rock Instructor Course in 2011 and then the assessment in 2016. He is a professional firefighter in our nation's capital. He also works for Veterans Expeditions getting veterans engaged in the outdoors, leading rock climbing and ice climbing trips all over the East Coast. He lives with his wife and two daughters near Shenandoah, climbing, riding, skiing, and passing on a love for the wild adventure.
Certifications
Certified by the American Mountain Guides Association to guide and instruct multi-pitch traditional rock climbing up Grade III in length involving complex approaches and descents utilizing short-roping and short-pitching techniques. Certified by the National Registry of EMTs as an EMT-B.
Arthur Kearns
I started climbing way back in 1976 and have been teaching rock climbing since 1988. I view myself first and foremost as a teacher. Climbing has taken me to many climbing areas across the US, including North Carolina, The Gunks, North Conway, Joshua Tree, Yosemite and many more. Internationally, I have climbed in Canada, Bolivia, Greenland, Norway, France and Morocco. When not guiding, I enjoy mountain biking and telemark skiing in the West Virginia back-country. I also owns and manage The Gendarme climbing shop, next to the school. I am an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor and hold a Wilderness First Responders medical certification.
Certifications
Certified by the American Mountain Guides Association to guide and instruct multi-pitch traditional rock climbing up Grade III in length involving complex approaches and descents utilizing short-roping and short-pitching techniques.
Diane Kearns
Diane knew she found herself in 1989 on her first climb, Mt. Rainier. This experience eventually led her to become a climbing instructor and co-owner of Seneca Rocks Climbing School. Diane tries to fit enough climbing, skiing, and running in between pushing a pencil (accounting type stuff) at SRCS, The Gendarme, Mountain Trails, and Fruit Hill Orchard, her family’s apple orchard operation in addition to being an instructor and guide at SRCS. Diane has climbed on the east coast of Greenland and summited the three highest mountains there. She has been on two high altitude climbing expeditions to Nepal, Baruntse in 1993 and Ama Dablam in 1995. She and husband Arthur climbed on Illimani in Bolivia in 1996 and have made several trips to the western US. Diane also enjoys climbing with the girls; on all-girl ventures she has climbed the Mirroir de’Argentine and the Dibona in the Alps, the Southwest ridge of Mt. Adamant in Canada, and attempted the Southwest Buttress on Denali. Diane was also the first American female to cross Greenland’s icecap in 1998.
Certifications
AMGA Certified Rock Instructor and holds a a Wilderness First Responder certification.
Garry Blevins
Garry is based in Warrenton, VA, where he and his wife have enjoyed the last 20 years raising their two daughters and running their software company. Garry enjoys climbing all over North America. Some of his favorite climbing areas are: Seneca Rocks and New River Gorge, WV; Stone Mountain and Linville Gorge, NC; Red Rocks, NV ; Joshua Tree, CA; and, The Bugaboos and Squamish, BC.
Certifications
SOLO Certified Wilderness First Responder
Tom Cronin
Tom is psyched to model ways to safely move around the cliffs with students. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and loves seeing everyone wearing a giant smile. Tom is an AMGA SPI and Apprentice Rock Guide.
Certifications
AMGA SPI and Apprentice Rock Guide
Tim Murphy
I have been Rock Climbing for 35 years now. I am originally from Silver Spring MD and first climbed at Seneca Rocks in the mid 1990's . I ticked off many of the classic 7's and 8's before heading west . I spent 25 years exploring and climbing around the American West. I lived in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Montana, in my truck, and California. Aside from Seneca, some favorite climbing areas are Indian Creek and the greater Moab area, Gallatin Canyon in Montana, and Red Rocks, NV. When not climbing I enjoy music, mountain biking, and occasionally skiing. I am a co-owner of the DC based East Outdoors climbing school.
Certifications
AMGA Multi Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder
Eunny Jang
I discovered climbing after returning to the DC area from 10 years in Colorado. Building on wilderness and mountain experience as an avid backpacker and through-hiker in the west, and a background in teaching and program management in educational publishing, my focus as an instructor and guide is on the way climbing positively transforms our communities, our relationships, and ourselves—and sharing that discovery with others. Some of my favorite places to climb are Eldorado Canyon, CO; Seneca Rocks, WV; and Red Rocks, LV. I love long rambling routes to the tops of rad things, and am forever in pursuit of longer and radder experiences in the mountains. I am the co-owner of East Outdoors, a climbing school based in DC; an AMGA Certified Multi-Pitch Instructor; and an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Provider training new guides.
Certifications
AMGA SPI Provider, AMGA Certified Multi Pitch Instructor, and WMA Wilderness First Responder
Jakob Hagmann
I got my start climbing through a wilderness medicine and rescue course and have since traveled the country climbing, but Seneca Rocks is the place that feels like home. It is where I learned trad and spent a lot of time getting humbled and building my skills. I am stoked to be guiding here. Helping people feel solid, build confidence, share a few laughs, and enjoy a day out on the rock.
Certifications
No certifications added yet.
Kira Shimokaji
Kira hails from Germantown, Maryland, and has been climbing for eight years. She began climbing in the humid and sticky summer in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Some of the best places that’s she’s had the blessing of climbing in are Indian Creek, UT, Joshua Tree, CA, Bishop, CA, and Squamish, BC. When she’s not out on the rock, she enjoys reading, doing the crossword, hacky-sacking, and planning elaborate trips to see her friends in which she will volunteer to do the brunt of the communal dishes.
Certifications
No certifications added yet.
Natasha Jones
Natasha has been climbing since 2017 and brings a deep passion for movement in the mountains to every day she guides. While she enjoys both sport and trad climbing, her true love lies in ice climbing and gaining elevation in all seasons. Whether on rock or ice, she feels most at home in the mountains and is driven by the experience of moving upward and embracing the environment around her. As an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Natasha prioritizes safety while creating a supportive, confidence-building environment for her clients. Her guiding style is encouraging and intuitive—focused on helping each individual feel capable, comfortable, and proud of what they accomplish. Natasha is especially skilled at working with nervous or first-time climbers. She takes the time to slow things down, break systems into understandable pieces, and build confidence step by step so clients not only achieve their goals, but truly understand what they’re doing along the way. Her goal is for every person she works with to leave feeling empowered, accomplished, and excited to continue their climbing journey. She guides because she genuinely loves climbing—and even more, she loves watching others fall in love with it. Seeing that moment when things “click” for someone is what drives her. For Natasha, climbing became even more meaningful when she learned how to operate independently and confidently, and she’s passionate about helping others reach that same place. Outside of climbing, Natasha is a mom to a five-year-old, a lover of a good cup of coffee, and someone who will never say no to baked goods.
Certifications
Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder
