Eric Odenthal, the owner of Windgate Adventures LLC, still remembers the feeling of his first time climbing in Kane Creek at eight years old– nervous and excited all at once.
It’s that feeling that drives him to create that experience for others with his independently owned rock climbing and canyoneering guiding business that offers a friendly experience in Canyon Country.
“The most comfortable I feel is on the rock,” Odenthal said. “It’s my happy place. I can share that with others and never get burned out.”
Odenthal’s love of people, stories and conversations has kept Windgate Adventures strong for 14 years.
Early vacations in Moab, learning to enjoy the heat of the summer as a river rat, jobs working at Five Ten remotely and guiding locally, and his love of climbing led Odenthal to start his own guiding business in Moab–though he didn’t always see the success at first.
“I can’t run a business,” he remembers thinking. “I can barely make breakfast!”
He stepped out of his comfort zone, learning the skills of organization, time management, marketing, and payroll. He originally started as a photography tour company–Odenthal feels connected to using the medium of photography to experience the landscape.
He’s grateful to other business owners who have helped show him the ropes, such as Faye Hutchins]of Spa Moab and Indigo Alley and Angela Houghton, who started Moab Yoga. He reflected on dynamic business breakfasts at Red Rock Bakery, sharing tips and tricks from others starting their own business.
“I’m solo, so I don’t have anyone to fall back on,” Odenthal said of his need to reach out for advice.
Odenthal offers advice for business owners: maintain self-motivation, consult wisdom from “The Four Agreements, A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz, and stay aligned to the reason and goals for starting the business.
In addition to tending his own business, Odenthal has learned he needs to take care of the community resource of the landscape. Over the years, more and more people have come to enjoy Moab’s surroundings; it’s important to minimize the impacts of recreation to keep the landscape beautiful.
Focusing on “Leave No Trace” and climbing-specific ethics, he’s hoping to recreate responsibly and teach others to do the same.
He also contributes to establishing and maintaining climbing routes. Replacing bolts, adding new routes, and cleaning routes are all part of the task of tending the source of his business: the availability of rock climbing. He does a majority of those services with money from his own pocket.
What makes a Windgate Adventures tour special, according to numerous reviews, is the social nature of their guide. Odenthal has some clients that have been his friends for decades.
A traveler himself, Odenthal seeks to build connections with visitors from around the world, becoming friends over the course of a six hour trip. Generously sharing his life and genuinely caring about theirs helps him make long-lasting relationships.
“If I can open their eyes to the outdoors, they appreciate it even more,” Odenthal said of his clients.
Book a tour with Windgate Adventures online at Windgateadventures.com or call (435) 260-9802 or find them on social media.
