Chuck Boyd is owner and lead guide of Vertical Realms,LLC. 

 

Chuck has devoted most of his life to climbing, skiing, exploring the high mountains, and sharing this special world with others.  An avid mountaineer and rock climber, Chuck has climbed the big walls of Yosemite, and the mountain ranges of Peru, Pakistan, India and Tibet, and exotic locales like Morocco's Todra Gorge and Thailand's dramatic sea cliffs.  He has rock climbed extensively throughout North America, Canada, and Europe at places like Red Rocks, Nevada; Squamish, British Columbia; Ceüse and the Verdon Gorge in France; and, Siurana, in Spain.

 

Chuck has also pioneered a number of important first ascents, here in New England, and elsewhere around the world including: Shipton Spire, Baltoro Region, Pakistan, an expedition sponsored by The North Face, with Greg Child, Greg Collum, and Greg Foweraker.

East Face, Nevado Cayesh, Peru with Neil Pothier and Mark Richey.

In 2004, Chuck summitted Mount Everest via the North Ridge.  

2008 Attempted K2 the worlds second highest mountain 8611 m, and Broad peak the worlds 12 highest mountain at 8051m.

2014 Two first ascents of unclimbed peaks in the Ladakh region of India, Telthop 6185 m, and Lungmochey Kangri 6070 m.

 

Other notable big-wall climbs include:

El Capitan, Yosemite, (Salathé Wall, Zodiac)

Half-Dome, Yosemite (Northwest Face Regular Route)

Washington Column, Yosemite (The Prow)

Sentinel Rock, Yosemite (Chouinard-Herbert)

Red Rocks, Nevada (Rainbow Wall)

Zion, Nevada (Touchstone Wall)

 

Equally at home on ice and snow, Chuck is attuned to the rhythms of the mountains. He lived in Toulouse, France for about four years and gained extensive high-alpine ski mountaineering experience, which included guiding ski patrollers and others, in the French Alps and the Pyrenées.  He is also familiar with many of the classic ski tours and climbs in the Swiss Alps, Austria, France, and the Dolomites as well as many of the popular backcountry excursions here at home, in New England.

 

Chuck is appreciative of the rewards the mountains have bestowed on him and gives back to the community by working to preserve the mountain environment and maintain access to Connecticut's climbing and recreational areas. He is an active board member of the Ragged Mountain Foundation, a non-profit organization.