A native to the Gunks, John Mackey has been climbing locally for ten years now.  First starting off ice climbing in the ravines of the Catskills then promptly moving on to rock climbing in the Gunks, Adirondacks and the White Mountains.  While hard mixed routes are his favorite in the winter, John loves the backcountry routes that the Northeast has to offer. John has also hiked countless peaks in the Catskills and Adirondacks.  He is a New York State Certified Rock, Ice, Hiking and Camping guide with Wilderness First Aid/CPR training.