About KA Guiding
A Thoughtful Approach, Grounded in Practice
KA Guiding is rooted in Squamish and shaped by decades of experience in the outdoor industry. Our work prioritizes sound judgment, intentional progression, and respect for people and place. We focus on curated, personalized climbing experiences that support skill development, confidence, and long-term engagement—whether clients are new to climbing or refining advanced objectives.
Founded by Kinley Aitken
ACMG Rock Guide, Owner and Lead Guide
I’ve called Squamish home for nearly twenty-five years, with climbing as a constant thread—first as a personal pursuit, and eventually as a career in guiding and coaching. I’m drawn to climbing for the problem-solving, movement, and presence it demands, and for the way it continues to offer challenge, perspective, and joy over the long term.
My climbing experience spans five continents and a wide range of disciplines, including long trad routes, hard sport climbing, big walls, and remote alpine objectives. Equally important to me is maintaining a growth-oriented mindset—staying curious, engaged, and balanced across climbing, work, and motherhood.
Alongside guiding and coaching private clients, I’m a lead instructor with Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Guide Diploma Rock Program, and an instructor and examiner with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides’ Training and Assessment Program. Teaching and mentorship are central to my work, with a focus on meeting climbers where they are and supporting durable skill development over time.
KA Guiding is women-owned and operated, founded in 2020 with the goal of offering highly personalized, thoughtfully curated climbing experiences rather than one-size-fits-all guiding. My professional background also includes whitewater raft guiding, ski patrol and backcountry skiing, industrial rope access, and entertainment rigging and stunts—experience that informs my approach to risk management, systems, and professionalism.
Above all, I’m committed to sharing climbing in a way that is intentional, respectful, and grounded—helping clients build skills, judgment, and enjoyment that extend well beyond a single day on the rock.
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Tall:
-The Nose, El Cap, Yosemite. 17 hours
-West Face, 5.11c, El Cap, Yosemite
-The Rostrum, 5.11c, Yosemite
-Chouinard Herbert 5.11c, Yosemite
-Steck Salathe 5.10, Yosemite,
-Moonlight Buttress, 12a, A2, Zion, Utah
-Shunes Buttress 11c, Zion, Utah
-Primrose Dihedral, 5.11, Canyonlands, Utah
-Honeymoon Chimney, 5.11, Castle Valley, Utah
-Drifting, 11c, Red Rocks, NV.
-Southern Lights, 5.11c, Squamish
-Freeway, Squamish 5.11c, Squamish
-Road to Amritsar, 5.11c, Squamish
-Cerberus 11d, Squamish
-Risky Business, 5.10, CMC Valley, Rockies
-Marriage Box, 5.12b, Echo Canyon, Bow Valley, AB
-Zig Zag, 12b, Yamnuska, Bow Valley, AB
-East End Boys 12a, Yamnuska, Bow Valley, AB
-Screams from the Balcony 11c, Mt. Rundle, Rockies, AB
-Love at First Sight & Goblin Arete 5.11c, Lake Louise, Rockies, AB
-Windmills of the Mind 5.11, The Ghost, Rockies, AB
-Dirty Dancing 5.12, The Ghost, Rockies, AB
-Wolverine Petting Zoo, 12a, Stanley Headwall, AB
-Livin’ In Paradise 12a, Stanley Headwall, AB
Alpine:
-Minotaur Direct 5.11+, Bugaboos, BC
-Sunshine Crack 5.10+, Bugaboos, BC
-The Becky Chouinard 5.10+, Bugaboos, BC
-Serra One, 5.10 , Waddington Range, BC
-Serra Two 5.10, Waddington Range, BC
-Tiedman Tower 5.10, Waddington Range, BC
-Homage to the Spider 5.10, Mt. Louis, AB
Squamish Trad:
-Zap Crack, 12d
-Man from Del Monte, 12c
-Flight of the Challenger, 12c
-Astronomy, 12b
-Made from Fire, 12a
-Shock Collars for Christmas, 12a
-The Oracle, 12a
Squamish Sport:
-Project Grizzly, 13b
-Otra Vida, 13a
-Mata Hari, 12d
-Vorpal Sword, 12d
-Animal, 12c
-Charge of the Light Brigade, 12c
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15 years - Thompson Rivers University, Lead Instructor
10 + years - Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, Instructor / Examiner
Guided in the Canadian Rockies, Smith Rock, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Red Rocks, Skaha, Marble Canyon
Rigging and Film Work in Chile, the Waddington Range and Squamish
Occupational First Aid Level 3
These experiences inform how we guide and the standards we hold as a company.
Intentional progression
We build skills and confidence deliberately, prioritizing learning that lasts.Judgment before performance
Good decisions matter more than grades, summits, or timelines.Respect for people and place
We guide with care—for our clients, our team, and the environments we move through.Longevity in climbing
Our approach supports sustainable participation, physically and mentally.Inclusive professionalism
High standards, clear expectations, and a welcoming, ego-free culture.
“For me, climbing is a moving meditation—an exploration that deepens connection with nature, people, and personal growth. And, of course, it’s a lot of fun.”
— Kinley