International Climber in Plattsburgh

A well-traveled mountaineer is teaching at Plattsburgh State University College.

Story and photos by Tats Kasama

In our first meeting in November 2006, Casey Henley's words made me suspect my ears and memory. He said he would not be available for a couple of weeks because he was "going to Antarctica."

English is not my first language, and though I thought I knew the word "Antarctica," I checked my dictionary after the meeting in case I had misunderstood. The dictionary said what I had thought.

In fact, he had visited there twice, and also climbed Vinson Massif (4,892 m), the highest mountain in Antarctica. "It [the peak] is a very, very beautiful place. Very remote, very cold, but this is such an amazing place," Henley said when re-interviewed in March. He was in Antarctica for one month during winter 2006-2007.

Henley, wearing a fleece sweater and knitted cap, being slim and fit, and having stubble on his face, I would have thought he was a mountaineer or explorer when I saw him, even if I hadn't known any information about him.

He has been a Plattsburgh State University College (PSUC) instructor since January 2005, but may be different from what people generally imagine about college instructors. He is a nature expert, and his title is head climbing and skiing instructor of expeditionary studies department. "He is the man who has climbed all over the world," Larry Soroka, chair of expeditionary studies, said. He has climbed the highest mountains in the world and skied down them, as well. He climbs not only mountains, but also icy walls and rocky cliffs.

One afternoon he was talking about Monkey Face in his office with Jason Broman, a PSUC student. Broman was thinking about climbing the rock that looks like a monkey's face, which is located in Smith Rock State Park of Oregon, and Henley was giving him advice.

Broman, a senior expeditionary studies student, talked about Henley as if he was a big brother. "He's pretty mellow, definitely easy going, funny." Broman climbed Cutthroat Peak in Washington with Henley.

"He led the whole thing in the entire climb," he said. "He did all the root finding, and helped how I'm gonna find my way all up this."

"He's like a mirror for people to realize that they could do well to be as humble as him."

Soroka talked about his first impression of Henley. "He was humble, and it remains true today. He's like a mirror for people to realize that they could do well to be as humble as him." Soroka also said Henley is like "a perfect package" with his humbleness, knowledge and experience.

Soroka said he and Henley recently climbed Pico de Orizaba, the highest mountain in Mexico, and met some other climbers who also had climbed high mountains in the Himalayas. "They were proud clearly that they had done it, but Casey, he didn't have to be proud," Soroka said. "It was an interesting contrast. He was just listening to them, and very casually said, 'Oh, did you do this way?' and they looked at him as though, 'How do you know this thing?'"

Henley was born an only child on May 2, 1971, in Quebec. He said his parents are one of the three groups of people who affected him the most, as well as his football coach in high school and college friends. They taught him not to have an ego, and treat everyone equally.

Having grown up in the Canadian Rockies, he started climbing mountains when he was five, and climbing rocks as a teenager. He belonged to outdoor clubs in high school and college. At Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, he studied physical education of outdoor pursuit and adventure travel guides.

In his childhood, he dreamed of becoming a pilot, wilderness ranger, professional basketball or football player.

"It doesn't matter how high they are. It doesn't matter if it has a name or not. It's just having fun in remote, beautiful areas."

He has also worked for Mountain Madness, a guiding company based in Seattle. In late March, he will guide clients up Mount Everest. He said he would reach the peak, "if the clients are strong enough."

He is one of the lucky people who have made hobbies turn to jobs. He loves mountains from the bottom of his heart. "It doesn't matter how high they are. It doesn't matter if it has a name or not. It's just having fun in remote, beautiful areas."

He also loves sharing his passion for the outdoors with students. "He gives more than he has to give to students," Soroka said.

"I think Plattsburgh State is lucky, really lucky. And I think that, students at Plattsburgh State, they don't know how lucky they are to have him as a faculty member. I hope they appreciate him."

Where do you like to go mountain climbing?

Mountain Madness

Mountain Madness was founded in 1984. It offers programs, such as skiing, hiking and climbing, all over the world.

Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC

This is the only company that can take you to interior Antarctica by a big airplane Ilyushin 76, Russian military aircraft. It flies from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Patriot Hills, Antarctica. Several flights and ski tours including Vinson Massif and South Pole, are available from Patriot Hills.

South Pole flight: $33,500
Ski South Pole All the Way: $59,000
and more!