Our Expert Guides: Your Path to Adventure in The Gunks & Catskills

Book your day with Eric HERE

Eric began his climbing journey in the 90’s, when a friend invited him to a local climbing gym. The first visit was free, and it beat studying—what started as a casual decision quickly evolved into a lifelong passion.

Since 2002, Eric has lived and worked full-time in the Gunks, guiding climbers of all levels and sharing the area's iconic routes with visitors from around the world. In 2024, he founded Gunks Guides & Climbing School as a way to offer high-quality, personalized instruction grounded in local expertise and years of hands-on experience.

Teaching is at the heart of Eric’s work. He thrives on introducing new climbers to the sport in a supportive, engaging way—helping them build confidence while developing a strong foundation of skills. For more experienced climbers, Eric offers in-depth technical instruction designed to expand their capabilities, improve safety, and deepen their understanding of climbing systems and techniques.

In addition to guiding and teaching, Eric is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program Provider, authorized to certify new climbing guides through the American Mountain Guides Association. He takes pride in mentoring the next generation of instructors, fostering a professional standard of excellence, leadership, and responsibility in outdoor education.

Even when he's not working, Eric is rarely far from the rock. Most of his vacations are climbing trips, and on his days off, you'll likely find him exploring new routes in the Gunks or riding his bike through the region.

Book your day with Patty HERE

If you’ve climbed in the Gunks recently, you might already know Patty—and if not, now’s the perfect time to meet her! With 23 years of guiding experience in the Gunks, Patty brings deep local knowledge, a calm and encouraging presence, and an exceptional ability to support climbers of all levels.

She’s also a leader in the climbing community as one of the few female AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Providers in the country, and she runs empowering women’s climbing programs that help build skill and confidence in a supportive environment.

“Patty’s class completely changed the way I approach anchors. Her teaching style made everything click.”
— Recent Top Rope Anchoring Student

Want to experience a day on the rock with Patty or another one of our expert guides?

Book your day with Matt HERE

Book your day with Franz HERE

With over 30 years of climbing experience, Franz Buzawa brings deep knowledge, calm presence, and a passion for the craft to every day on the rock. He’s climbed extensively across the U.S. and internationally but feels most at home on the crags of the Northeast and New England. 

Franz specializes in helping climbers build a strong foundation rooted in sound technique and critical thinking. His teaching focuses on the fundamentals—tools of the trade, movement skills, tactics, and managing fear—with the goal of helping clients become confident, capable, and independent climbers.

Off the rock as an artist and designer, he takes an interest in visual culture and likes to seek out beauty and order in unexpected corners of the world. He also designed the Gunks Guides logo, bringing his creative eye directly into the visual identity of the school.

Book your day with Aaron HERE

Book your day with Gregory HERE

Born and raised in New York City and trained as an actor (and climbing guide!), Greg brings unbridled stoke, empathy, and maybe some showtunes to your guided day!  Greg has a wide base of experience in various gravitational arts, from rock, alpine, and ice climbing to backcountry skiing and expeditionary mountaineering.  Join him for single pitch rock climbing, learn to lead, anchor building, navigation, hiking, survival, or glacier travel/crevasse rescue!