Jake Norton Senior Guide, Mountain Experience
In 1999, Jake was a member of the distinguished team that found George Mallory at 27,500' on the north side of Mt. Everest. An incredible find, and he hopes to have the same luck as he searches for Mallory's camera and partner, Sandy Irvine, during an upcoming expedition. During the summer of 2000, Jake was the technical advisor for MountainZone's ski descent of Toqllaraju, located in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Jake recently wrote in a journal: "In terms of climbing philosophy, I find the most joy not in reaching the summit, but rather in the marvel of every step in between. I remember climbing Chopicalqi in Peru with my friend. While humping loads to 17,500’ in the hot sun, we laughed at the apparent absurdity of climbing and wondered why we did it. The next morning, our answer presented itself in the form of an amazing sunrise on an exposed ridge 500’ below the summit. Bathed in crimson, we looked across the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and smiled knowingly at each other. Although we summated shortly thereafter, the most rewarding part of the climb was the beauty of that moment." Jake looks forward to sharing this same type of experience with the trekkers and climbers on his trips. In Jake’s "spare" time he enjoys renovating Victorian homes in Colorado – and climbing in the nearby mountains. You can contact Jake at JakeNorton@mountainexperience.com |
Jake
Norton's first mountaineering
experience came at age 12, with a successful ascent of Mt. Rainier. Since becoming a guide
a few years later, Jake has become an outstanding international guide. His guided ascents
include Mt. Rainier (64 ascents), Mt. McKinley (3 ascents), Cho Oyu (’97), Mt.
Everest (’99) with other guided adventures in South America and Asia to his credit.
Jake has also guided on Mt. Rainier and Mt. McKinley for Rainier Mountaineering Inc.
(RMI).