Jonathan Otto AMGA
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
City: Chengdu
Province: 51
Bio: Jon Otto is a climbing instructor & guide, educator and story-teller. Jon fused his passion for climbing with his interest in Asia to create an innovative lifestyle and career that focuses on the outdoor industry. Jon’s interest in China cemented while doing a year abroad at Peking University in 1990. He joined the Peking University Mountaineering Team, did his first Himalayan-style climb, and wrote China’s first rock climbing guide, “Climbing Beijing”. Jon is also a path breaking exploratory mountaineer who pioneers new ascents, including the east ridge of Mt. Mustagata (7546m) in 2000, the second successful ascent of 6250-meter high Mt. Siguniang (4-Maiden’s Mountain), and the highly technical east face of Crown Peak in Sichuan province, amongst many other first ascents. In the early 2000s Jon pioneered moderate grade routes up Banji Peak and Mt. Chola, both of which are now two of China’s most popular peaks to climb. Jon is a talented and passionate teacher. In 2003 he started training and creating opportunities for upcoming guides and trekking cooks in Xinjiang, Tibet and Sichuan. Jon is presently the director of LeadClimb Mountaineering and Resource Center, based out of Chengdu, which is dedicated to providing high quality climbing courses for people of all abilities and ages. In addition, he works for the professional outdoor brand KAILAS as a technical design specialist. He is trained as a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT). Jon has a propensity for environmental protection. In the 1990s he assisted in the design and construction of the “Living Water Garden”, an international award winning environmental education park in Chengdu. In 2013 Jon started the Mountain Responsibility Team (MRT), an environmental platform with the purpose of improving environmental management practices and Leave No Trace ethics amongst the outdoor community in China. Jon has an addictive enthusiasm towards climbing, education and the environment, and a general good-will attitude.
Countries
Regions
- Sichuan
Certifications
- AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Specialities
AMGA: American Mountain Guides Association
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) is a 501(c)(3) educational non‐profit that is dedicated to supporting the American mountain guiding community. Their mission is to be the leader in education, standards, and advocacy for professional guides and climbing instructors.
As the leading organization of America’s most vibrant, inspiring community of climbers and skiers, the AMGA offers you cutting edge knowledge and hundreds of years of collective experience that you won’t get from any other climbing organization.