Taylor Reilly

As manager and guide for Rock-About, Inc., Taylor wants to teach the sport of rock climbing in a professional, safe, and exciting outdoor atmosphere that all skill levels can enjoy!  Taylor has spent more than a decade developing skills that encompass all forms of climbing in the outdoors and continues to this day.  He is an Enchanted Rock Certified Lead Guide, has a National Association of Interpreter Certification, Leave no Trace Certification, and is a previously certified and qualified EMT and firefighter.

Taylor was first introduced to rock climbing by his father in 1997, at the age of 13 with Rock-About, owner and guide Rick Watson at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.  He quickly learned that the best way to learn to rock climb in the outdoors was with a professional guide.  Taylor was born and raised on the Texas Gulf Coast in Baytown, Texas.  Though he always felt more at home in the Texas Hill country of the Rio Frio Valley where he spent his summers.  He spent his teen years making road trips to Enchanted Rock SNA and Reimer’s Ranch whenever possible to perfect his skills.  After taking more classes with Rick, Taylor employed himself with his child hood summer camp, where he facilitated the ropes challenge course and learned how to run a fun and safe top-rope site.  He first guided at Enchanted Rock when he was 17!

Taylor’s first trip to the Colorado Rockies was also in 1997, on a family vacation.  Here he first saw the high elevation tundra of Pikes Peak and fell in love with the mountains.  After several more trips with the family and a driver’s license, Taylor started making summer climbing road trips to the Rockies and the Southwestern United States.  During these trips, Taylor hiked 14’000 ft. Pikes Peak and Uncompahgre Peak with a lot of traditional and alpine climbing in between.  After high school Taylor was trained and certified as an EMT at Lee College, Baytown, Texas and a firefighter at the Texas A&M academy.

In 2003, Taylor moved to Austin, Texas to pursue a college degree and live closer to Enchanted Rock and the beautiful Texas Hill Country.  He established a climbing crew with friends from El Paso, Texas and began training daily on the Austin Greenbelt.  There Taylor met Kirk Holladay and Bird Dog from Rock-About and they told him about El Potrero Chico, Mexico where you can climb 3,000 ft. limestone.  Almost immediately, Taylor and his buddy Chris made their way to El Potrero.  Since then, he has returned multiple times a year with friends and the Rock-About crew.  In 2004, after taking an advanced course with Bird Dog, Taylor was hired by Rock-About, Inc. and certified as an Enchanted Rock Lead Guide!

In 2007, Taylor’s curiosity for the environment, lead him to Texas State University where he received a BS in Geography and Minor in Nature Tourism, class 2010.  During the summer 2009, through Texas State University, SCA (Student Conservation Association), and Americorps, Taylor worked as a wilderness ranger for the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, Hume Lake Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (USFS); Sierra Nevada, California.  There only his partner and himself were responsible for over 10,000 acres of mountain wilderness, 25 plus miles of trail to maintain by cross cut saw and back country methods, environmental and Leave No Trace interpretation, resource management, search and rescue, fire lookout, and much more.  During his off time, Taylor multi-pitched climbed in Kings Canyon National Park, hiked and climbed through out Sequoia NF, rafted the Kings River, hiked and climbed in Yosemite and Joshua Tree National Parks, and met lots of friendly people in the Sierra Nevada!

Since 2007, Taylor has been taught the art of bolting first ascent climbing routes by “The Master”, Alvino.  Since then Taylor has volunteered establishing climbing routes and trails at the Reimer’s Ranch Travis County Park, North Shore area and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for all skill levels to enjoy!  In spring 2007, Taylor, his brother Drew, and friend Ben attempted 14’er Crestone Needle, Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado.  After returning, Taylor planned a trail maintenance project in the Sangre De Cristo’s. He then acquired a non-profit sponsorship to fund the project.  Then in 2008, Taylor, Bird Dog, and Ben set out and accomplished the trail project and were rewarded with an attempt of 14′er Kit Carson Mountain!

Taylor has been employed at Whole Earth Provision Company, an Austin based climbing and camping outfitter, since 2003.  He has also been employed by Red Bull Energy Drink in marketing logistics for local and regional sport, music, and entertainment events since 2005; events such as “Flug Tag” Austin, Texas, 2007; “SXSW” Austin, Texas; and many more.  Taylor also coordinated, designed, and rigged large technical ropes systems for Austin based aerial dance company, Blue Lapis Light.  This included performances at the Austin Downtown Federal building, and the historic Austin Power Plant.  Taylor also worked rescue for GoFast Sports and Beverage Co. at their annual Royal Gorge Bridge BASE jumping games in Canon City Colorado, 2007.  Here, Taylor and others performed the only successful rescue of a BASE jumper at the Gorge!  With Kirk Holladay and Rock-About, Taylor has also rigged high ropes systems for the San Antonio Spurs “Coyote” mascot, lots of fun!

Besides climbing Taylor would rather be horseback riding, kayaking, hunting, cooking, and having a really good time all the time!