Akio Joy

Red Lodge, MT

<div> </div><div>I’m Akio Joy (he/him), co-owner and guide with Beartooth Mountain Guides. I grew up in the small town of Placerville, California, where I discovered climbing and skiing amid the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevada foothills. At 17, I made my way to Montana, jumped into guiding, and once I finished college, I committed full time to sharing the mountains with others. In 2023 I earned IFMGA certification through the American Mountain Guides Association — a milestone that reflects my dedication to professionalism, partnership, and equity in the outdoors. </div><div>Over more than ten years of guiding, I’ve done everything from technical rock and ice first ascents (WI5+ and up to 5.13) to alpine climbs and big wall routes like the Shield on El Capitan. I also have a passion for ski guiding, avalanche education, and teaching technical courses. Outside of guiding, I hold a B.S. in Mathematics (with a focus in Teaching), and I’ve had the privilege of guiding in many places — from the US and Canada to the Alps, Norway, Turkey, Tanzania, and beyond. </div><div>My favorite place to recreate? Just south of the Beartooths, on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone — there’s something about that landscape that grounds me. Whether I’m navigating ice, rock, snow, or alpine, I aim to bring others into the wild with respect, skill, humility, and joy. </div><div> </div>