Co-Founder
Spencer Huffman is a seasoned climbing guide and co-founder of San Diego Climbing School. With over a decade of experience in leadership and program facilitation in the climbing industry, Spencer is passionate about mentoring the next generation of climbers.
Spencer holds certifications as an AMGA Rock Guide, Single Pitch Instructor Provider and Wilderness First Responder, bringing technical expertise and a deep commitment to safety to all of San Diego Climbing School's programs. His career includes impactful roles with North Carolina Outward Bound School, where he contributed towards building a strong climbing program that sustains its impact on instructors and students today. Spencer has a personal affinity for high desert climbs in Red Rocks where he brings clients on ultra-classic routes to share his stoke while working with The Mountain Guides and Golden State Guiding. His passion for mentorship can be heard in his collaborative podcast “Everything SPI” on Ting Ting’s Female Guides Requested show.

As co-founder, Spencer combines his technical knowledge and facilitation skills to ensure that every participant receives a high-quality climbing experience. His vision for San Diego Climbing School is rooted in the belief that climbing can be a powerful tool for personal growth and community building. When he's not climbing, Spencer enjoys surfing and researching how to create the best cup of coffee.
Wilderness First Responder & CPR
American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Rock Guide
AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor Provider

Janet’s first climb was on Sierra granite when she was a teenager on a backpacking trip. It was love at first touch. She had to return to the concrete confines of New York City but soon found her way back to California and eventually to San Diego, where she has lived since the early 2000’s. Janet is an avid climber, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and lover of all things outdoors. When she is not on a wall, she can be found in the mountains, ocean, rivers, canyons, desert, or at home gardening and hanging out with her three kids, one dog, two cats, and five chickens.
Climbing presents challenges—mental, physical, and technical—that enable people of all ages and stripes to grow and build community. For Janet, it has been a source of inspiration and grounding through thick and thin. She is motivated by the desire to share this with others, particularly those who have less access to the outdoors and other opportunities in life.
Janet has a passion for teaching and has worked in various settings with children and adults across the spectrum of physical and mental health and ability. Aside from outdoor education, Janet has many years of experience teaching cognitive science to college students. She is interested in how the brain represents external space during movement and navigation, and is a strong believer in the benefits of climbing and other active outdoor pursuits to brain development and long-term health.
American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

Co-Founder
Caroline is an accomplished outdoor educator, facilitator, and co-founder of the San Diego Climbing School. With over a decade of experience instructing and managing outdoor programs, Caroline specializes in blending technical skill development with community-building and personal growth. She is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder. She has over 700 field days guiding a wide range of activities across the country, including climbing, backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking.
Caroline spent several years working with Outward Bound in California, North Carolina and Florida where she guided extended wilderness expeditions designed to foster resilience, leadership, and teamwork for high school/college students, adults, educators and veterans. More recently, she served as the Program Coordinator for the University of San Diego’s Outdoor Adventures program, where she led local and regional outdoor experiences for students while mentoring emerging outdoor leaders.
Growing up in San Diego, Caroline developed a deep appreciation for the region's natural resources and rich biodiversity. She completed her Master’s degree at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, where her focus on social entrepreneurship shaped the mission of San Diego Climbing School. Caroline is particularly motivated to create accessible opportunities for underrepresented groups to engage with the outdoors in San Diego.
When she’s not climbing or teaching, Caroline enjoys surfing, reading, gardening and spending quality time with friends and family. Her vision for San Diego Climbing School is to empower individuals and communities to connect with nature, themselves, and each other through meaningful climbing experiences.
Wilderness First Responder & CPR
American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

Through climbing, Vishal discovered a path toward finding flow, pursuing personal growth, and building supportive communities. While he finds deep satisfaction in his own movement on stone, he finds true fulfillment in supporting others as they navigate their own climbing journeys. Whether you are looking to explore outdoor climbing for the first time, hone your movement skills, or dial in your technical systems, Vishal provides instruction that is custom-tailored to your goals.

As an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Vishal focuses on making the vertical world accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability. His approach is rooted in the belief that everybody and every-body can climb. He views his role as a bridge, connecting technical climbing knowledge with individual needs, recognizing that everyone learns and climbs in unique ways. This inclusive philosophy underpins all of his work, from supporting adaptive climbers to promoting outdoor access for local, underserved communities.

In his own climbing, Vishal is irresistibly drawn to long, traditional routes and splitter cracks, particularly in roofs. Off the wall, you can find him behind the lens as a landscape and adventure photographer, exploring analog processes and creating visual tributes to the people, places, and activities that facilitate a state of flow.
Wilderness First Aid & CPR
American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

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San Diego Climbing School