Abbie Morrissey

Abbie grew up on the east coast and discovered her love of climbing and guiding in Boone, North Carolina. She worked and set at Appalachian State University’s climbing wall and guided outdoor trips for peers. Abbie then took a year off to guide for Hobbiton Outdoor Education Centre in Eastern Cape, South Africa, where she guided climbing, backpacking and team-building trips. She gained her Single Pitch Instructor certification from the American Mountain Guide Association and guided in NC and UT. Abbie then worked as a wilderness therapy guide in UT for two years leading mostly climbing itineraries for teens. She gained her Masters at SOU and was most proud of her graduate assistantship as the climbing wall manager. She opened a brand new gym on campus, hiring and developing student leaders and establishing mentorship that extended from classroom to crag. She was a teaching assistant at SOU in various outdoor leadership courses such as undergraduate and graduate research methods. Her thesis was on the role of ritual and ceremony for young outdoor leaders. She then obtained her Apprentice Rock Guide certification through the AMGA and is hopeful to gain her full Rock Guide certification in a few years. Abbie is thrilled to join the TCA team this year, combining her joy through mentorship, love of teaching and her passion for the sport within such an incredibly inspiring community.