Ken Nierenhausen

Ken is an instructor and guide with the American Alpine Institute, specializing in rock, alpine, and ice climbing. Their guiding journey began in 2019, stemming from a passion for sharing the outdoors – often by introducing gym climbers to their first outdoor climbing experiences. Realizing this could be their profession, Ken embraced guiding full-time. They love big expeditions and hard climbing, but they find the deepest joy from guiding others through their initial outdoor experiences. You’ll frequently find them in Moab, Red Rocks, Ouray, and the Cascades. As a proud member of the LGBT+ community, Ken actively works towards making the outdoors a more equitable and accessible space. They help organize events like the All In Ice Fest and hope to further this important work by providing affinity programming nationwide. If you’re looking to get out there in a safe and inclusive space – reach out!