img

Tap Richards

Guide

A native of New Mexico, Tapley “Tap” Richards, has been a professional mountain guide since 1992. Tap grew up with the ski slopes of Taos and Aspen as his backyard — his thirst for the outdoors and adventure have been a defining aspect of his life ever since. It’s no surprise that he chose guiding as a profession; he is motivated by the rich life experiences that come with stepping away from conventionality and the comfortable solutions to life. Tap’s ability to compose the necessary skills and techniques in challenging situations, while creating a quality experience for each team member, is an engaging combination. His guiding career has taken him to Alaska, South America, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Australia, Antarctica, Tibet and Nepal. Tap was a member of the 1999 and 2001 Mallory & Irvine Research Expeditions. He has reached the summit of Mount Rainier over 140 times. He was the 2001 award winner of the David A. Sowles Award from the American Alpine Club.