Andy Scott - Owner and Lead Guide

I was born and raised in West Virginia, and grew up in the outdoors. Some of my most formative memories were playing in the wooded ares behind my house, making tree houses and forts with my siblings, and trying our best not to get hurt.

During a family trip to the Grand Canyon when I was a rising high school freshman, walking up on of the trails after a brief jaunt down from the North Rim, I vividly remember looking around, and thinking how much I desperately wanted to make this, and the outdoors, a larger part of my life. I recognized there that I wanted to spend as much time outdoors exploring as I could. At the time I played team sports, playing football from the time I was 8 until I graduated High School. I loved the physicality of it, that it was a challenge, and that it was hard. You would leave exhausted, and feel great about it. Despite this, I never really jelled in a team setting. I preformed ok enough to gain accolades, captain roles, etc, but always felt like I had one foot out the door. Hiking, backpacking, and ultimately climbing were venues that I found better suited my drive, desires, and ideals.

Following High School, I entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, ultimately graduating in 2016 with a degree in Arabic and Defense and Strategic Studies. More importantly however, I had found climbing. On a summer break before Sophomore year I took a trip to the New River Gorge in West Virginia, and went climbing for the first time with a few friends. I was hooked. I started to devour everything I could get my hands on about climbing, and dove down the rabbit hole.

After I commissioned as an Officer in the US Army in 2016, I was stationed in Georgia, and then Upstate New York. My climbing had to take a back seat to my day job, but I still got out as much as I could, but generally in the winter. I placed my first cams on lead while Ice climbing, and Ice has continued to hold a special place in my heart. After leaving the Army in 2021 and moving to Connecticut, I dove headfirst into climbing, trying to make up lost time. I Started to pursue American Mountain Guide Asscociation (AMGA) certifications, and guide for other companies.

My goal is to make this a company that is people focused. Choosing a guide to take you out into the wilderness is a huge decision, and I strive to provide a service that is well worth your time and money. I appreciate you visiting my site, considering choosing my company, and coming out to climb with us!

Certifications and Qualifications:

  • AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide

  • AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

  • AMGA Alpine Skills Course

  • AIARE Level 1 and Rescue Course

  • Wilderness First Responder

  • CPR Certified

  • Leave No Trace Trainer

  • New York State Guide license #9320

  • BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point

Alex Erickson - Guide

I was raised in Colorado and was an avid outdoorsman from day 1. I grew up hiking all of Colorado’s 14ers and finding a true love for adventure in the outdoors. It wasn’t until I moved to Arizona in 2019 that I truly found climbing, but when I did, I went headfirst into it and climbing more or less consumed my life! I spent the first year of my climbing teaching all my friends how to climb so I could have some partners. In 2023 my wife and I decided to quit our jobs and our Arizona lifestyle to hit the road in our van and see what the rest of the US has to offer! During my time in the van, I realized how much I loved teaching climbing and expanding the climbing community. With this in mind, I decided to go after my AMGA certifications so I could start to guide more professionally. After nearly a year in the van we found ourselves in CT and ready to be stationary for a while. This is where I met Andy. I’m so grateful to be here and to have found an amazing rock climbing community in a place I would have not expected! CT climbing has so much fun and amazing climbing to offer and I would love to take you all climbing!!

Certifications and Qualifications:

  • AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

  • Red Cross Basic First Aid

  • CPR Certified

Sam Somera - Guide

I was born in California, but grew up between Oregon, South Carolina and Rhode Island. In 2019 I graduated from Syracuse University and that same year I moved to Connecticut to teach History and Philosophy at The Hotchkiss School, where I still live and teach. I had always loved spending time outdoors via fly-fishing, camping, backpacking, cycling, and hiking, but I didn't discover climbing until 2021. 

What started as an interest in general mountaineering quickly grew into a passion for all genres of the sport, including rock climbing, ice climbing, and alpinism, as well as a desire to share these activities with others. This passion drove me in 2023 to begin working with colleagues to revitalize Hotchkiss's climbing program. At the same time I also began pursuing my MEd in Experiential Learning and Development at Plymouth State University.

Climbing has taught me some amazing lessons and taken me to some incredible places. Ive climbed from the North Cascades to Red Rocks to the Mont Blanc Massif. Despite this, I'll always love the cliffs, crags, and mountains of the North East where it all began. Connecticut in particular has some amazing climbing and an even better climbing community that most people simply don't know about. I feel fortunate to get to work with Small Cliffs to share my passion for education and climbing with folks in and around Connecticut. I hope to rope up with you all sometime soon! 

Certifications and Qualifications:

  • AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

  • Red Cross Basic First Aid

  • CPR Certified

Matt Voelker - Guide

I am originally from Central Connecticut, and my path to climbing started a little differently than most. Prior to discovering climbing, I spent fort years in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman. That experience gave me a strong foundation in backpacking, navigation, and outdoor skills, and naturally led me to seek out adventure after leaving the service.

I Found climbing in 2022, and it quickly became a big part of my life. I currently work at Central Rock in Glastonbury, CT, and spend as much time as I can outside. Whether its trad routes, ice climbing, alpine objectives, or sport crags, I try to climb as much as I can. For me, climbing is all about the adventure, and guiding is a way to share that passion for adventure with others.

I love teaching and watching people grow more confident and capable in the outdoors. My goal is always to empower others - whether its their first day on rock or working towards bigger objectives - and to help them build the skills and mindset to explore the word around them with passion and self-reliance.

Certifications and Qualifications:

  • CWA Climbing Wall Instructor Level 3

  • Wilderness First Responder

  • CPR Certified