Larry Gumina

I grew up on the New Jersey shore, a lover of the ocean leading a life where mountains felt distant and unreachable. Through the Boy Scouts of America, I was introduced to the wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains in New York and Pennsylvania. Weekend trips during the school year and weeklong summer adventures allowed me to explore these forests and hills, and it was during these trips that I fell in love with the vastness of the outdoors. The deciduous hills of the Mid-Atlantic sparked a deeper desire to see even greater heights and expansive views. “Go West, young man….”

This passion led me to study Environmental Studies, Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation, and Geography at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Over the course of my time there, I spent more and more time exploring the Rocky Mountains, and it was during these explorations that the West was opened to me. I never looked back. Now, after a decade of exploring the Western half of North America, I call Bishop, California, and the Sierra Nevada mountains my home. Yet, my roots stretch much deeper, extending across the vast landscapes of this continent.

With nine years of professional guiding experience, I am seasoned in leading adventures across some of North America's most iconic landscapes. My diverse resume includes guiding in the rugged Alaskan Range, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Brooks Range, as well as the varied terrains of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and the Colorado River. In addition to my guiding expertise, I have achieved significant mountaineering milestones on the towering volcanoes of Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, with a continual drive to push my limits even further, and higher.

My Professional Qualifications and Credentials.

  • AMGA Apprentice Rock and Ski Guide

  • AIARE Professional Level 1 Certification

  • Leave-No-Trace Trainer

  • Educator with Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks

  • BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

    • Minor in Geography. Minor in Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation