Blackbird Acquires NASTC Rock Climbing School & Rock Guide Service
2024-05-28 | Lake Tahoe Rock Climbing
This week, Blackbird Mountain Guides announced that they have acquired NASTC Rock Climbing School and Rock Guide Service in Lake Tahoe. NASTC was founded by Jenny and Chris Fellows and is widely respected as one of the leaders in Rock Climbing guiding and instruction in the Lake Tahoe area.
Over the years, many mountain guides around Lake Tahoe have benefited from working for NASTC. One of these guides is Zeb Blais, former Avalanche Course Leader and ski guide at NASTC, and now the owner and founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides. With the acquisition of NATSC's Rock Guide Service and Climbing School, the relationship and trust built over the years between the Chris and Jenny Fellows and Zeb Blais, has truly come full circle.
Jenny Fellows, NASTC’s Co-Director, said:
"We are very pleased to be selling to Zeb and Blackbird Mountain Guides. They run a highly respected backcountry ski, avalanche, mountaineering, and rock-climbing school. We have known Zeb for many years and respect him very much.
Blackbird is a standout company in the mountain guiding world and has proven itself in the local and international guide community by employing a strong roster of AMGA-trained and certified guides.”
Zeb Blais, Blackbird’s owner & founder, and the Blackbird team are equally delighted about this acquisition, saying:
"We are beyond excited to be carrying on the legacy NASTC has built for rock climbing guiding and instruction in Lake Tahoe. We are committed to upholding the quality and reputation that the Fellows have built over decades.
We are deeply humbled by Chris and Jenny’s trust in the Blackbird team to build on their legacy. We share their commitment serve NASTC’s long-standing clients with highly trained guides and outstanding customer service.
We're also enthusiastic about the opportunity to offer our now combined, loyal clients new climbing programs with the greater permit areas that Blackbird has to offer."
Post acquisition, Blackbird will offer the same, well-loved programs that NASTC has offered for years, while offering several new programs previously unavailable for NASTC climbers. New programs include:
- Lover's Leap Private Climbing
- Climbs in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, including
- Crystal Crag
- Bear Creek Spire
- Temple Crag (the Celestial Aretes Venusian Blind, Moon Goddess and Sun Ribbon), and other climbs.
