Mike Paugh

Mike is the head guide & owner for Ascension Climbing Guides. He hails from the river basin town of Parkersburg, WV where there aren’t too many rocks to climb but grew up always in the woods having adventures in the Canaan Valley and Monongahela National forest vicinity as well as camping and experiencing white water rafting adventures down the New River Gorge. Mike has been climbing since 2004 first cutting his vertical teeth at Seneca Rocks, WV and guiding off and on since 2006 when he took his first AMGA course.

Mike loves several disciplines of climbing.  He highly enjoys projecting difficult sport lines and methodically thinking out the crux, but his idea of rock climbing nirvana is a 3000 foot 5.7 with great traditional protection and aesthetic movement. Students and clients that Mike has taken out climbing find his sense of humor, patience and attention to detail in safety are key in their reviews and return to climb with him. He is a huge proponent of the American Mountain Guides philosophy of “seek qualified instruction.”

Mike credits his love and passion for rock climbing through the likes of individuals like Tom Cecil, Doug Downs, Jim Taylor & Kurt Smith for being mentors throughout his climbing career.

He graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor’s degree/RBA with an emphasis in Geographic Studies. Mike is an American Mountain Guides Single Pitch Instructor, holds current CPR/AED/First-Aid and Wilderness First Responder certifications.