Maarten was born and raised in The Netherlands, allowing him to explore Europe through backpacking and bike touring. At the age of 18, he moved to Ontario with his family to enjoy Canada’s natural wonders and embark on a new adventure. 

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Since moving to the Bow Valley in 2013, Maarten has been working through the ACMG program towards his IFMGA Mountain Guide certification. He is currently certified as an ACMG Alpine Guide and enjoys guiding ice and mixed climbing throughout Alberta and British Columbia in the winter. During summer time, the mountains keep calling, through rock climbing and alpine adventures. Maarten is sponsored by The North Face Canada, where he helps promote the brand and continues to contribute to the legacy of the "Athlete Tested, Expedition Proven" formula of The North Face Summit Series.  

  

Maarten lives in Exshaw, Alberta in the Bow Valley with his wife Lin and their cat Freya. He has pursued ice and mixed climbing throughout North America, usually going for long walks to seek out new climbs, or scenic alpine picnics. Some of his best days out are somewhere in the big mountains with a close partner, nothing but the rope, the rack and the packs on our back. Maarten's travels have taken him beyond western Canada, to Nepal, the Yukon Territory, Scotland and Québec, where he has established new alpine routes over the last decade. He has also travelled to Alaska, Morocco, Egypt and Iceland. 

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Alpine ascents (no bolts)
• Tiny Changes, Khang Karpo, Rolwaling Himal, Nepal; First Ascent (TD+ AI4 M5, 1200m)

• The Wild Thing, Mt Chephren, Can. Rockies, (single push) (VI AI5 M7, 1200m)

• Infinite Patience, Mt Robson, Can. Rockies, (VI M5 WI4 5.9 2200m)

• Calculus, Ben Nevis, Scotland; First ascent (VIII, 8)

• East Ridge, Mount Logan (5,960m) (VI WI3 50°)

• Greenwood/Locke, Mt. Temple, Can. Rockies; Winter Ascent (V+ M6, 1200m)

• Canoeing to Cuba, Storm Mountain, Can. Rockies; First ascent (IV WI5 M6, 500m)

• La Chenille, W face of Acropole, Québec; First ascent (WI6+r M6 A0, 165m)

• Grand Central Couloir, Mt. Kitchener, Can. Rockies (V AI5 M5, 1200m)

• Andromeda Strain, Mt. Andromeda, Can. Rockies (V AI5 M6, 700m)
• Zeitgeist, Mt. Bell, Can. Rockies (IV+ M7- WI5r, 520m)

• Eye of the Storm, Storm Mountain, Can. Rockies; First Ascent (WI5 M6, 700m)
• Northeast Ridge, Mt. Alberta, Can. Rockies (V 5.10, 1000m)
• Greenwood/Jones, Mt. Temple, Can. Rockies (V 5.10, 1200m)

• Bogdar, Mount Logbard, St.Elias, Yukon; First Ascent (IV AI4 5.3 50°, 1,000m)
• Basecamp Buttress, MacArthur Peak; First Ascent (V AI3 5.8 60°, 1,000m)
• West Buttress, Denali (6,190m), 16hrs round trip from 14k' camp (AK grade 2, 50°)

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Ice & mixed climbing

• Ophidiophobia (mixed pro), Waiperous Creek, , Can. Rockies; First ascent (WI4+ M7-, 140m)
• Âme du Nord (trad pro), La Rivière Nipissis, Québec; First ascent (IV WI5R M6, 125m)

• Retour aux Sources (trad pro), Sault-au-Cochon, Québec; First ascent (WI5 M6, 195m)
• Fourchette Sternales, La Riviere Nippiness, Québec; First ascent (WI5, 160m)

• The Cod Delusion (trad pro), Sault-au-Chochon, Québec; First ascent (WI6 M6+, 105m)

• Man Yoga (mixed pro), Stanley Headwall, Can. Rockies (WI5 M8, 250m)

• No Use in Crying (trad pro), Upper Weeping Wall, Can. Rockies (WI5 M7, 200m)

• A Witch’s Brew (trad pro), Icefields Parkway, Can. Rockies; First ascent (IV WI4 M5+, 330m)

• Le Mulot, Ste Marguerite River, Québec (WI6+r, 200m)

• Repentance (trad pro), Cathedral Ledge, New Hampshire (WI5 M6, 100m)

• The Asylum (bolt pro), Kicking Horse Canyon, British Columbia (WI5 M7, 180m)
• Virtual Reality, Icefields Parkway (WI6, 200m)

• Rainbow Serpent, Ghost Wilderness (WI6, 100m)

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Guided ascents

• Curtain Call (WI6, 120m), Icefields Parkway, Alberta

• Weeping Pillar (WI6, 330m), Icefields Parkway, Alberta

• Superbok (WI5, 180m), Field, British Columbia

• Hydrophobia (WI5, 150m), Ghost Wilderness, Alberta

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