Originally from Lander, Wyoming James has spent the last 5 years in the Austin area with his wife Chelsea enjoying the pleasures of mild winters making mountain biking and kayaking a year round experience. He grew up cross country skiing and backpacking with his parents in the Wind River Mountain range. At age 12 he discovered mountain biking and raced competitively up through college. He began climbing when he was 16 as "something to do on off days from the bike". Climbing has taken over as his main passion leading him into the Tetons, Winds, Yosemite, Mexico, Colorado Rockies and many other climbing areas. He enjoys long traditional routes and has climbed 2 big walls in Yosemite. He began working with OWA as a rock guide in 2002 at Enchanted Rock in Texas. He previously guided and worked for several other programs and has been a Recreation Instructor or Outdoor Educator in some capacity since 1998. He guided for Texas State University where he studied Recreation Administration. Before that, he attended a small Junior College in Idaho and majored in Outdoor Education. He has taken several Wilderness First Aid courses included the Wilderness First Responder. He is certified in Leave No Trace and Defensive Driving.