Matt Chrestman - Southern Mountains Rep
Matt has been fortunate enough to call the Highlands and Cashiers area home for most of his life. He learned the basics of being a good climber from an old crusty former Outward Bound climbing instructor while in college and has not stopped venturing out since then. He cut his teeth on Whiteside and Laurel Knob where, if you ask him, there is no greater place to learn to be a climber. Having travelled North America climbing rock and ice, the lessons learned on his hometown rocks were irreplaceable. He feels that the ice season could be a little more consistent and longer but hey, it's the South. While Matt is stereotypically a trad climber, the ice is a close second for stealing his climbing heart. He has been known to dabble in some light mountaineering, alpine rock adventures, and albeit blasphemous, he has climbed one sport route; the 18 pitch Flyboys in Mazama. Matt currently lives in Highlands with his very supportive and wonderful wife and their two beautiful children.