Akio Joy

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.

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.

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.