Our Team
Carlo Traversi - Founder and Owner
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: All the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to meet, work with, and climb with in the process of building this wonderful facility.
What Climbing Means to Me: I’ve dedicated the last 16 years of my life to climbing and it has captured my mind and heart in so many ways. The climbing community is my global family. The cliffs, crags, boulders, and climbing gyms feel like home.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Work hard, be honest, and treat others with respect.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Yosemite, CA.
Sarah Lindner - General Manager
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Our first all-staff meeting! Cam was walking around capturing some video, and everyone was buzzing with excitement. The energy was great and the potential of our team was just bursting.
What Climbing Means to Me: Bouldering has offered me focus, patience, challenge, and community.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Call your Mom, write a letter, check on your friends!
My Favorite Place to Climb: I really enjoyed the Happy Boulders in Bishop! It’s not hard to come by stunning views there, but I particularly appreciated being able to try out some of the taller boulders and feeling a new type of discomfort. Positively thrilling.
Jonathan Konkel - Assistant General Manager
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: The first Masters Competition series. The excitement and noise from the crowd was so infectious, making my first experience as an emcee hard to forget.
What Climbing Means to Me: I started climbing at 25 years old and never looked back. The most rewarding and addicting lifestyle I've ever been a part of. The community is so accepting and has given me lifelong friendships.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: You'll never soar with the eagles if you surround yourself with all these turkeys.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere in Tahoe.
Rayy Salazar - Cafe Manager, Desk Associate
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Bringing my nephew in for the first time and getting him excited on climbing.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing teaches me how to push my limits and try hard when success is not guaranteed.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: People who say they can and people who say they can’t are both usually right.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere in Tahoe!
McKay Williams - Facilities Manager
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Meeting the rest of the crew and seeing the smiles on their faces for the first time :)
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing to me means freedom. From the very first stone monkey documentary I saw to every single piece of rock I’ve climbed since, climbing is true freedom in its simplest expression.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Be kind and ask for help when you need it.
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Cirque of Towers, WY.
Aidan Hewitt - Camp Counselor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: When my friend brought me to The Boulder Field for the first time and the community, boulders, and energy immediately caught my attention. I knew I would be here for a while.
What Climbing Means to Me: Bouldering has made me challenge myself more than I ever have both physically and mentally. It has also brought me into a special community of accepting and fun people who all share a passion.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Having a good mindset in life opens the doors to a life you will always want to live.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Tahoe, Joshua Tree, and TBF.
Caspian Dritz - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Me and a couple of friends were hacky sacking between some sets of weighted pull-ups. Vince managed to perfectly float the sack so it softly landed on an I-beam above the gym area. (It’s still there, try to spot it!)
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is a challenge for my mind and body. It provides time for me to focus, meditate, and learn. While also opening the doors to wonderful people and experiences.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: When you hurry to something, that means you no longer care about it and want to move on to other things.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Bishop, Tahoe, and TBF!
Chris Moody - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Flashing my first pink problem! DJ said, hey I think you can do that one, and I gave it a shot!
What Climbing Means to Me: For me, it’s about being connected with yourself, others, and nature!
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Stay grounded, stay present.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Bear Canyon in Bozeman, MT.
Chris Valenzuela - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Learning technique from other climbers, making friends, and bonding through climbing with my kids.
What Climbing Means to Me: I enjoy climbing because it provides me with an outlet to test myself physically, mentally, and share the experience with my two kids.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Spend time doing the things you love.
My Favorite Place to Climb: I'm still exploring places to climb, but I'm a happy climber as long as I'm with good friends in nice weather.
Daisha Padilla - Camp Counselor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Every moment at the Boulder field is memorable, from dancing freely in the yoga room , to those sessions where you get to dance to a song in between sets while loving and supporting one another on the routes. I genuinely find myself in awe of how incredible it is to share movement with people you admire and enjoy. I definitely adore the energy, motivation and support that climbing with the community brings!
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is a bewitching discipline, it challenges me deeply, all the while bringing me a sense of confidence, peace, and accomplishment. Overall it is both a mental and physical joy! Always pushing me to grow :)
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: The beauty that exists dwells within the one perceiving it.
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder field, of course.
Emma McFadyen - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Every time I get to watch a family member or friend send a route that really challenges them. It’s pure love, and such a rush of excitement. And meeting new climbers each day.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing means growth, love, community, a challenge, a puzzle, peace, and always learning. It connects the body and mind, teaches me to enjoy the journey, to be thankful for the fun, to be okay with failing a lot, or even moving “backwards” when the body needs it.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Romanticize the present.
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder Field!
Gabriel Flynn - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Too many good memorable moments to count, every day is memorable when I step into The Boulder Field. But one of the best is when I got an opportunity to set routes for a day alongside the best setters in the world (aka my friends).
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing to me is an escape from the outside world. Climbing has taught me life lessons, self-reliance, and enjoying the process. Climbing is the unknown and I love it.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: When you are feeling small, that’s the time to go big.
My Favorite Place to Climb: S. Lake Tahoe, Joes Valley, and The Boulder Field.
Georgia Russell - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first day. Learning about bouldering. Pushing my limits in a new way. Being open to seeing failing as a part of improving. Four hours later, I was hooked.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is the one place I can turn my brain off and just be. It’s like active meditation.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: If it won’t matter to you in a day, a week, or a year, should you let it affect your time now?
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder Field and Rocklands. Looking forward to going back to South Africa for a climbing trip.
Karene Liu - Cafe Barista, Desk Associate
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first big fall was here—it’s a very cool moment when you realize you can fall and be perfectly fine.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is a fun and rewarding way to challenge and improve myself and build confidence in my own body; it keeps me physically grounded. It also offers a wonderfully friendly and diverse community.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: As long as you’re learning, you’re not failing.
My Favorite Place to Climb: TBF, but I’m looking forward to discovering and exploring new places in the future, especially outdoors!
Katya Yanovska - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Coming to the gym for the first time and being in a complete awe of all the climbs! I remember being very excited and eager to try everything.
What Climbing Means to Me: Challenging myself both mentally and physically and constantly pushing my limits.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: "Just go up!" (It never works.)
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder Field and the climbing wall at Sac State. Going to explore more outdoor bouldering spots in the near future!
Kelly Meusborn - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first day back to TBF once it reopened in 2021; that first day back here climbing I will remember forever. I missed it!
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing to me is this amazing adventure where I get the opportunity to meet new people and grow in so many ways. With climbing, I learned to see obstacles that seemed previously insurmountable as possible.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Climb like you are ballet dancing, but on a rock.
My Favorite Place to Climb: I am still exploring! I am enjoying climbing wherever I am with my friends, figuring out and sending problems together!
Lalique Montesini - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Walking into the gym for the first time and feeling my jaw drop as soon as I saw the infinite colorful problems on the walls, as well as a massive urge to get better as fast as I possibly could.
What Climbing Means to Me: For me, climbing is a method to tune in with my body and align my system into focus. It’s a way to integrate play into my daily life while also strengthening my body and mind. I find that it boosts not only my self-esteem but also my creativity which then greatly aids me in other facets of my life!
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Stop trying to be liked by everybody, YOU don’t even like everybody.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Any fun-looking wall or rock I spontaneously come across!
Lily Chernioglo - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: The first time I finished a purple route I had a group of people cheering me on and it was so special and encouraging.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing means challenging myself in new ways. It’s a pleasant environment where I can disconnect from a busy day. It’s a way for me to feel stronger and connect with others who also love climbing.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Trust your feet
My Favorite Place to Climb: Yosemite, CA. The boulders are challenging but so beautiful.
Lukas Hall - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Attending TBF Masters Citizens Comp was one of my favorite experiences at TBF! It was so much fun to try all of the challenging comp sets, participating in the events, and spending time with friends. It was inspiring to watch the pros compete in the finals afterwards! The MC was pretty funny too!
What Climbing Means to Me: I’m grateful for climbing because it connects me to nature and the earth. Climbing has allowed me to meet so many inspiring people and visit beautiful places. I love flowing on the wall. It’s my biggest passion and I love it so much!
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Be honest in all things.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Tahoe, Bishop, The Sonoma Coast, and TBF of course!
Maraya Jones - Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: In the first few months of dating my partner, one of my most cherished memories together was learning new bouldering techniques from him and then finishing our date with a cup of coffee and a competitive chess match at the TBF café.
What Climbing Means to Me: My entire childhood and early adulthood was positively impacted by the time I got to spend outdoors with my family and with the Girl Scouts at Skylark Ranch. I learned everything from archery to orienteering, but favorite activity was always climbing. The confidence and courage gained from years of indoor and outdoor climbing have given me strength when times are hard.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: "Your education is the most valuable possession you have." -Glenn Jones (My Dad)
My Favorite Place to Climb: Sedona, AZ
Michael Cunningham - Head Coach, Desk Associate
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Meeting the climbing team for the first time and seeing just how much psych for hard climbing there is in the next generation.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing, for me, is more of a way of life than a sport. I live and breathe climbing, almost everything I do revolves around it. Working to achieve mastery in coaching and climbing constantly pushes me to improve myself and give back what I can to my community.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Have the courage to live your life authentically, even in the face of adversity. You can know people differently when you don't hide parts of yourself to avoid being hurt.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Leavenworth, WA
Nadya Dooley - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: A group of friends and strangers cheering for me on a hard route, and then me cheering them on too (happens often!).
What Climbing Means to Me: A simple way to overcome fear and anxiety, and to feel focused and strong, through the process of struggling and joy. Also a way to go to amazing places, meet amazing people, and experience the best camaraderie.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Squeeze your abs so hard you feel like you'll throw up. And, breathe.
My Favorite Place to Climb: The Buttermilks, Yosemite, and Donner Summit. I love that granite life!
Noah Chavez - Senior Route Setter, Team Coach, Trivia Master
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Judging the flash competition for Pros and seeing so many incredibly strong climbers all gathered in one place, flashing problems that would take me dozens of sessions to send. It really lit a fire under me to train harder and push myself to get stronger.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing provides me with endless opportunities to push myself mentally, physically, and creatively.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Try really hard.
My Favorite Place to Climb: I love climbing in Rainbow, Tahoe more than anybody, except maybe Josh Lowy.
Skyler Harrod - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Every single time I come to The Boulder Field I make memories and meet such amazing people that I hope to know forever. I will always remember the open and welcoming atmosphere that greeted me on my first day there.
What Climbing Means to Me: To me, climbing is a form of meditation. It helps relieve my anxiety and is my favorite way to work out. Meeting awesome people is also a huge bonus!
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: “Just have fun, you have the rest of your life to worry about things.” -My Grandma
My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere there’s a big rock.
Spencer Fitzpatrick - Desk Associate
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first send on a pink.
What Climbing Means to Me: A physical challenge, a mental puzzle and sense of accomplishment.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Never attribute to malice, what can be easily explained by misunderstanding.
My Favorite Place to Climb: TBF of course, and the crags at Emigrant Lake.
Quinn Brown - Route Setter
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Losing the three point competition at TBF 🏀
What Climbing Means to Me: Pushing and pulling and pinching on plastic and also rocks.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Bishop Buttermilks
Aileen Quinn - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: It was an awesome experience getting to help organize the Pretty Strong screening event with The Boulder Field and CRAGS. It was a huge fundraiser success that brought together the climbing community and raised significant funding for local outdoor climbing stewardship initiatives.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing demands you to be present in the moment, and to practice recognizing the difference between fears that are reasonable to keep us safe, and fears that were invented in our minds to hold us back.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: We all have great qualities within us, we just need to work on polishing them a bit when they get dusty.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Smith Rock is my favorite place to climb, because there are gorgeous views in every direction, and the routes are plentiful!
Ashley Ramsay - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: I spend a lot of my free time climbing at TBF climbing with my friends, taking yoga classes, participating in the various events including the 1st Friday of the month Trivia, but the most memorable moment at TBF would be when I competed in the Spring 2023 climbing competitions! The competitions were so exciting and gave me a reason to push myself to the next level, and it was fun to see my friends do the same. I remember being in the best climbing shape during that 3-month span and I would love to participate in future competitions!
What Climbing Means to Me: I have only climbed as an adult, and honestly, I feel like the climbing gym is like an adult’s playground! It makes me feel like a kid again, like I'm back in college where it's so easy to make friends because you see the same people almost every single day. So many people I’ve met through at TBF have become instant friends because of our similar interests and love for the outdoors! I love our climbing community and am so grateful for TBF!
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Indoors, TBF! Outdoors, anywhere in Tahoe!
Athena Rhodes - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: I have practiced yoga at The Boulder Field many times and have found the classes fun, invigorating, and just what I needed.
What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing has been such an amazing adventure for me. I love getting outdoors, hiking in, and sending. I’ve found such power in being able to look at a route and find the right moves up the wall. It’s amazing how far you can push your body and your limits just to get up a project.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: No matter what the decision you make, just make one and give it your all.
My Favorite Place to Climb: I really love climbing at the Auburn Quarry, it’s local, it’s easy to get to. I love how the atmosphere feels like a gym with all the routes lined up and so many climbers!
Jay Cahill - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Discovering that they really do have EVERYTHING under one roof.
What Climbing/Yoga Means to Me: Falling is half of the process.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Just relax.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Into a hammock.
Teresa Mallory - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Taking Jays Yoga class was very humbling. Absolutely loved the energy.
What Climbing Means to Me: Resilience.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Choose growth through life's biggest lessons: being broke, health issues and love.
My Favorite Place to Climb: Outdoor, Utah
Thuy Do - Yoga Instructor
My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Working on a project with a stranger and then making a new friend afterward made my day.
What Climbing Means to Me: Any self-doubt or uncertainties can be left on that hold to move upwards and onwards! And falling is essential for growing as a climber.
Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Don’t be afraid; lean into the discomfort!
My Favorite Place to Climb: Lately it’s been at the local parks so that I can be with my kid nieces to help them get stronger in their climbing and overcome their fear in heights!