Scott Harris, founder and owner of Mountain Madness, is the most experienced guide in Texas and a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.  Scott is a guidebook author to Enchanted Rock and nobody has established more new climbs at Enchanted Rock and the Austin Greenbelt... some so hard that they’ve never had a second ascent!

Scott climbed the first 5.12 in central Texas with his ascent of Road to Nowhere in 1985 and the first 5.13, Barracuda, in 1986.  His two 5.13c’s established at Enchanted Rock in 1986 on the Sci-Fi Wall, Bade Runner and Andromeda Strain, have never been repeated.  The most accomplished crack climber in Texas, he has climbed every 5.12 crack at Enchanted Rock (on natural protection) including the first ascents of Shocker, 5.12a/b (x), and Shrike, 5.12b (x).

Scott has established 5.12’s at both Mt. Lemmon in Tuscon and in Boulder as well as the second ascent of the first 5.13, Lemmonade, on Mt Lemmon.  He has been to Italy four times to climb in the Dolomites and ascended the classic 2,000' tall Tofano de Roses with James Crump in just a day. 

In the early days of Mountain Madness, Scott was part of a grassroots effort to bring the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the central Texas climbing community together.  That effort resulted in a memorandum of understanding between the two groups under which climbers were recognized as a legitimate and welcome user group at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.  Scott was also instrumental in forming, and was an original member of the Central Texas Climbing Committee (CTCC); an elected body that today continues to maintain the stewardship of climbing areas at Enchanted Rock.  Without the efforts of these avid and visionary “godfathers of climbing”, rock climbing as we know it today would not exist at Erock.

John Conner has been climbing for nearly 12 years from west coast to east coast and is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. He made his first climbing trips to Joshua Tree National Park while stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. Since then he has climbed throughout the country, in areas such as: the Sierra, Taquitz, Lover's Leap, Red Rocks, the Tetons, Devil's Tower, Whitehorse, Cathedral and Cannon Mtn in NH, the Gunks, and Acadia NP in Maine.

Not just an accomplished climber, John served as a Marine officer from 1995-2000, after which he returned to academics and earned his Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from UT-Austin. When not climbing trad routes, John teaches algebra at Cedar Park High School.

Our resident rocket scientist is AMGA Site Manager, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder certified and is a member of the American Mountain Guides Association.

Eric started climbing in 1990, became a climbing instructor for the BSA in 1999 and in 2003 earned his Climbing Director Certification. He currently holds the BSA Assistant Climbing Director position for the Alamo Area Council in San Antonio and is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.

Eric has been affiliated with Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years. After earning Eagle Scout rank, he continued with scouting as an adult leader of venture programs. His main scouting focus includes working with boys in areas of hiking, backpacking, camping, and climbing - areas that help boys gain knowledge and appreciation of the outdoors. As a C.O.P.E facilitator, he works with scouts on developing teamwork and leadership skills, problem solving abilities, communication, decision-making, trust and self-esteem in a ropes course environment.

In addition to his notable BSA credentials, Eric is a TPWD Certified Lead Guide for Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Megan Parry has been climbing for about 10 years from West Coast to East Coast and is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. She made her first climbing trips to Joshua Tree National Park while teaching high school in southern California. If Megan's bio sounds a lot like John's it's because they've done most of their climbing together and share many of the same favorite spots-Lover's Leap, the Tetons, Red Rocks, and the Gunks, in particular.

Megan is teaching high school again in Manor, Texas after several years working for education non-profits and the Texas Education Agency creating curriculum, conducting teacher professional development, and evaluating innovative education programs.

Megan's soft-spoken, easy going manner and her ability to coax even the most timid climbers to the top make her a very popular guide.

Ralph Vega has 10 years climbing experience in the United States and Mexico and is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor.  Ralph owned and operated a guide service for seven years at Potrero Chico, the internationally renowned climbing area by Monterey, Mexico.  Ralph’s specialty is developing new sport, multi pitch and traditional climbing areas and he has bolted over 150 new routes and first ascents both in the United States and Mexico.  His work has been published in the American Alpine Journal.

A man of many talents; Ralph is a sushi chef, part time musician and holds a third degree black belt... so pay attention when he tells you where to put your foot :) 

Mike Klein started climbing in New England 25 years ago.  In that time he has traveled extensively in North America doing many classic lines in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, California, and Mexico.  While he enjoys repeating established climbs, his greatest climbing interest is in establishing new routes in Texas and Oklahoma.  Mike has been one of the top climbers in Texas since 1986.

Mike’s tremendous people skills make him one of our most popular guides.  As a climbing instructor, Mike’s biggest payoff is seeing the thrill people get when they have exceeded their personal expectations.

Kent Fryburger learned to climb with Mountain Madness in 1986 and has been guiding for Mountain Madness and coaching competitive gymnastics since the following year.  Kent is now the owner of Hill Country Gymnastics in Fredericksburg and has been in business since 1997.  Kent has coached gymnastics with such Olympic greats as Svetlana Boginskaya, and Vladimir Artemov.

Kent has climbed extensively across the western United States including Yosemite National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Hueco Tanks and New Mexico.  He has also spent time climbing on the cliffs of Scotland.  Kent’s gymnastic work with young children and extensive climbing background make him an ideal climbing instructor, especially for the young.