What are people saying?

It is with my absolute pleasure that I post the absolute highest review for Willard Mountain Guides. John is a complete master of the mountains and is able to craft a perfect experience for an adventurer of any age or skill level. Whether you are looking to have a simple mountain hike with a knowledge guide or if you want to push yourself to the limits with multipitch excursion up sheer ice - Willard Mountain Guides is the guiding service for you. WMG is one of the safest and most professional services in the northeast. I whole heartedly and fully recommend them for all types of adventure!

I had an amazing experience ice climbing with John. I have been climbing for a few years and was not just looking for an exciting day, but technique instruction. John was an excellent teacher and really helped clean up my ice climbing skill set. If you are brand new and looking for someone to show you the ropes or an experienced climber looking to push your limits I highly recommend Willard Mountain Guides.

"My first guided experience in the mountains was with John and I can confidently recommend him to anyone! He was knowledgeable, experienced, and tailored the course to my abilities/skills. I felt safe the entire time and learned sooo much through his guiding and teaching. 100% recommend!"

"John brings the stoke! He's a great instructor who brings a ton of enthusiasm for climbing and creates a supportive environment for learning. +++"

“Going ice climbing for the first time was absolutely one of the most exciting things Ive ever done in my life. So exicting that my friends and I booked another climb right after meeting John at Willard Mountain Guides. He’s such an amazing person and I would not trust anyone else with my life when it comes to climbing. His experience and knowledge make it so fun every time we go out. Get out there and have some fun!"”

John Willard is an incredible guide! I highly recommend him for any rock/ice/mountaineering expeditions. Great guy, you will have a blast!

Finished a day if Ice Climbing and a 2 day Mt.Washington tour and summit. Being versed in the outdoors, I was amazed at what I was still missing. World Class guide service who truly cares about your experience, safety, and fun! We did climbs I never thought I'd have the opportunity to experience. From beginners to experienced climbers, Willard Mountain Guides offers it all... all year long! If you're looking for an intro, a refresher, or to take your craft further, this is the spot. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an amazing experience. Capable of accommodating terrain with all ability. A+ service and we will absolutely book again. Happy Climbing and bring a camera!

John made me a better ice climber. Went on a trip with him and a friend last weekend to Smuggler’s Notch. He showed up on time with current knowledge of the area we’d be climbing and the conditions. He inspected our gear, and offered to let me use a few of his newer pieces – with no rental fee. After a quick drive to the site and a short approach, he brought us to a beginner area to warm up and review our technique. He offered simple, intuitive tips that immediately improved our performance. After another short approach to a different area, we got involved in the most spectacular climb I’d ever been on. From the bottom, it appeared to be a challenging route, but after implementing the techniques John suggested, the climb went very smoothly. We felt safe the whole time. It was a great confidence booster. We climbed a little longer than I expected, which was great, and then made our way to a local brewery for some wings and beers. Fantastic day. It felt like climbing with a friend.

TLDR - Climbing with John is climbing with an expert but also a very kind and patient friend. I did an ice-climbing day (my first ever) with John near Conway, NH. He gave me a detailed gear list to bring and was patient and responsive with my questions. During climbing his instructions were detailed and practical, but not overwhelming. He constantly gave tips to improve my technique, and encouraged me as I was getting tired and my technique started deteoriating. I look forward to doing more climbing/mountaineering with John soon!

Absolutely loved my day out with John. Very knowledgeable, personable, and fun--he was excellent at balancing my learning goals with having a ton of fun out on the ice. Highly recommended him to anyone looking to try out ice climbing or dial in techniques!