Husband and wife team Andy Puhvel and Lisa Coleman are the directors of the Youth Climbing League (YCL), and they’re psyched! For 21 years, they ran Yo! Basecamp, an outdoor rock climbing school for young people ages 11 to 18. Together they have over 75 years of outdoor rock climbing experience. That's a lot of climbing!


When he was 17 years old, Andy was already a record-setting big-wall speed climber in Yosemite and a national difficulty and speed climbing champion. Throughout his career he has established 5.14 first ascents, bouldered V11, and free-climbed many of the best hard big walls in the Western states. Now in his 50s, Andy has been climbing at a 5.13 level for nearly 40 years. Recently he has been dedicating himself to establishing the most difficult first ascent big walls in the High Sierra, discovering new lines and leaving a legacy of amazing routes for future generations to enjoy.
Lisa loves all things outdoors, especially those things involving gravity in the mountains: 5.13 sport routes, El Cap’s Salathe Wall and the Nose, Astroman, and Denali are on her ascent list; ski and mountain bike racing have given her plenty of descents, too. Now in her late 50s, she is a more psyched and dedicated rock climber than ever, sending numerous 5.13 routes around her home town of Bishop, and inspiring all those whom she comes in contact with. Before founding Yo! Basecamp she was a senior instructor for Outward Bound.
Both Andy and Lisa hold master’s degrees in education and California teaching credentials.