James grew up exploring the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, where he started rock climbing and slacklining in 2010. When he graduated high school in 2013 he skipped his graduation ceremony to make it to river guide training. Since then it has led him to a lifepath dedicated to the pursuit of learning and sharing transformative experiences in the outdoors. James lived and loved the seasonal lifestyle, working as a guide and rope access technician in places from Grand Canyon to Yosemite National Park. Upon graduating from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Parks and Recreation Management, James came to NOLS as an Instructor-in-Training in 2018. He then took the River Instructor Course in 2019 and currently teaches hiking, canyoneering, rock-climbing, whitewater rafting, and rescue skills. When not leading courses for NOLS, James can be found driving his van around running rivers, fly-fishing, climbing rocks, ID'ing flora/fauna, planning epic expeditions, and walking across the sky on highlines.