Wilderness Educator  ·  Trip Coordinator  ·  Climbing Guide

MAX
BALMA
CEDA

Born in New York. Drawn West by desert walls and open sky. I take people into hard places and bring them home changed.

196
Logged
Entries
6+
Years Field
Education
400+
Students
Led
3
Countries
Worked
SCROLL TO EXPLORE
Max Balmaceda climbing guide Utah

SHAPED
BY WILD
PLACES

I grew up in New York — restless, creative, drawn to making things with my hands. I studied art and graphic design, building a visual language and an eye for detail. After graduating, I packed up and headed Southwest, and found what I was looking for: purpose in wild places.

I’ve spent summers working on the water in Maine and the rest of the year navigating desert canyons, alpine terrain, and river corridors across New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and beyond. I’ve led expeditions in Patagonia, taught wilderness navigation in the Gila, coordinated programs for hundreds of students, and guided trips from flatwater canoe to multi-pitch climbing.

I am fluent in Spanish — native/bilingual — and have worked internationally. I’m currently pursuing my AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification and finishing a B.A. in Spanish.

Certifications

Wilderness First Responder — Current
AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Training
LNT Master Educator
Lifeguard / CPR / AED / Emergency O²
NOLS Outdoor Educator Semester — Lander, WY
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor — In Progress 2026

DEFINING
TRIPS

Selected expeditions from six-plus years of wilderness work across three continents.

International Expedition  ·  Chile

PATAGONIA
NATIONAL PARK

18-day wilderness expedition — backcountry travel, bilingual logistics coordination, and immersive expedition management in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.

🌎 Chile🏕 18 days🗣 Bilingual

Wilderness Backpacking  ·  New Mexico

GILA
WILDERNESS

America’s first designated wilderness. Multi-day routes through canyon systems and ponderosa forest — recurring home terrain for student expedition design and faculty-led courses.

🏔 New Mexico🥾 4–5 day courses

River Expedition  ·  Utah

DESOLATION /
GREY CANYON

9-day raft and kayak expedition through one of the most remote river canyons in the American West — Class III whitewater, canyon geology, and expedition-level student management.

🚤 Utah🌊 9 days

THE
LOG

196 documented entries — trad leads, sport climbs, multi-pitch, top rope, backpacking expeditions, river trips, day hikes, and more. Southwest, Maine, Colorado, Patagonia, and beyond.

Route / TripLocationGradeTypeDateNotes

BOOK A
TRIP

Single-pitch climbing instruction, canyoneering, wilderness backpacking, and paddle guiding — primarily across New Mexico, the Southwest, and Colorado. AMGA SPI certification in progress, 2026.

🧗

Rock Climbing

Single-pitch instruction for beginners through intermediate climbers. Sandias, Red Rocks, Indian Creek, Jacks Canyon, Takeout Beach, and more. Trad, sport, and crack technique.

AMGA SPI — In Progress 2026  ·  WFR Certified
🏜

Canyoneering & Backpacking

Route-finding, desert navigation, and multi-day wilderness travel across the Colorado Plateau and New Mexico. Gila, Bears Ears, Robbers Roost, San Pedro Parks, and the San Juans.

WFR Certified  ·  LNT Master Educator
🚤

Canoe & Kayak

Flatwater and moving water instruction. Multi-day river trips on the Rio Grande, Desolation Canyon, San Juan River, and Maine waterways.

Lifeguard Certified  ·  CPR / AED / O²
Inquire About a Trip

All guiding conducted with current safety certifications.
Private, small group, and institutional bookings available.
Bilingual (English / Spanish) guiding available on request.

LET’S
GET OUT
THERE.