Matt Bliss has been hiking, climbing, camping and exploring the Shawnee National Forest for over 15 years. He is the author of “Sandstone Warrior” the premier rock climbing guidebook to Southern Illinois and co-author of “Exploring Southern Illinois Wineries”. Matt has been a sponsored rock climber for over 10 years. In this time Matt has ascended some of the hardest climbs in the country and established many of the popular climbs in the Southern Illinois region. He successfully guided a friend with cerebral palsy up a 2,000-foot rock face, situated at 14,000 feet of elevation, in Rocky Mountain National Park, spending four days on the cliff face. He also helped build Saint Louis’ first indoor rock climbing wall and worked there as an instructor for several years. Matt also played a pivotal role in the creation of “So Ill Holds”, a major rock climbing company, and continues to design products for their line. Matt has appeared in several nationally recognized climbing magazines and videos, such as Climbing Magazine and Dosage Volume 4. He is also a current member of the American Mountain Guide Association.
Matt grew up with a strong love for the outdoors and has spent more than 700 nights in the woods, pursuing these passions. He has spent his entire life paddling and fishing the rivers in Southern Missouri and over 10 years fishing and exploring the waters of Southern Illinois. Matt has also studied wild mushrooms for most of this time, harvesting ridiculous amounts of edible mushrooms, including the famous “morel” mushroom. When he is not rock climbing or hiking in the woods, Matt can be found falling through the sky at Southern Illinois’ local skydiving center. He has been skydiving for 5 years and holds a United States Parachute Association, skydiving license.
Rob Livingston
Originally from Sierra Vista, AZ, Rob has called Southern Illinois home for the past six years. He has a Bachelors degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations and is currently working on a Masters degree in International Relations at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Rob is an avid rock climber and backpacker. He has been bouldering and rock climbing for 6 years and has extensively hiked the trails in Arizona. Yet, his favorite backpack is the River to River Trail. His other hobbies include paddling, biking, caving, skiing, and traveling. Rob has been a trip leader and medic for over four years. He is a certified in Wilderness First Responder, CPR, First Aid, and AED.
Alex Holmes
Anne Corbin
Skylar Rice
Ian Pendergast-White
Ian White began his ties with the wilderness at a young age. From about five years old he spent the summers paddling and camping on rivers across the Midwest. After starting college at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale he began extensively backpacking and hiking in the region. Ian graduated with a degree in Forestry. During his undergraduate career he worked as a student supervisor at the SIUC climbing wall and Outdoor Adventure Program. He also spent summers working out of Northwestern Wyoming, at a youth at risk camp, as a climbing and paddling specialist and instructing riflery.
In 2007 he began pursuing a Masters degree in Forestry with a focus on Outdoor Recreation. As he began the academic program he also began managing the SIUC Outdoor Adventure Program, Base Camp, and Climbing Wall. During this time he obtained training and certifications with the Professional Climbing Instructors Association, Wilderness Medical Associates, and the American Canoe Association. Recently Ian became the President of the Illinois Climbers Association, and has begun work with the Jackson County High Angle Rope Rescue Team. When his MS in Forestry is concluded Ian intends to continue his education by pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science.
Nick Beurskens