Cecelia Mortenson

Mountain Guide, Instructor

Cecelia has been adventuring in the mountains for over 20 years and guiding for the past 15.  However, the favorite time to play in the mountains is in the winter - when skis underfoot allow for some of the best adventures and great days out with friends and guests.  

She guides rock, alpine and skiing around the world.  Locally here in the Selkirk mountains of Canada - but also in Alaska, Europe, South America and in the Cascades – which is the range where she learned to climb. Cece has guided or climbed on six continents, including Antarctica, where she was the lead field mountaineer for the US Antarctic Program. 

Over the years, Cece has guided expeditions to Aconcagua, Denali, multi-summit tours to Bolivia, classic tours in the European Alps, traverses of the Northern Patagonia ice-cap, climbs of the volcanoes of Mexico and led numerous climbs up Rainier, Baker and other more technical peaks of the Cascades.

She is the 9th female certified IFMGA Mountain Guide in Canada - and currently one of twenty women in North America.  Cece lives the life of a migratory bird: passing spring in Alaska or the deserts of the SW, summer in Squamish and the mountains of Canada and the Cascades, fall is the season for travel to Europe or Asia and winter will bring Cece back to the mountains of Canada where she works as a ski guide.

In her free time, Cece loves to search out perfect crack climbing in Squamish or Zion, ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies, or seeks out deep powder skiing in the Columbia Mountains of Canada. In those rare moments when it’s time to rest and take a break from the mountains, Cece enjoys cultural travel, yoga, a good book and hanging with friends from around the world. When journeying into the mountains with Cecelia, you will immediately sense her passion for climbing, guiding and ultimately, for inspiring others to live life to its fullest.

2 expeditions to the Himalaya – including summiting Ama Dablam, the crown jewel of the Khumbu

Ski mountaineering trip to the remote Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan

Traverse of what is arguably the most aesthetic peak in British Columbia – Mt. Waddington

Ascent of Mt Fairweather in Alaska – from the ocean, a 6-week ski mountaineering traverse on the Taku, Juneau and Stikkine ice fields in Alaska

Explorations on skis and by foot in the Japanese, New Zealand and the French Alps.

She has been involved with GOI since 2006 and enjoys working with and training young scientists in safe mountaineering skills.

Girls on Ice Cascades 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Girls on Ice Alaska 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Girls on Ice Canada 2018, 2019