Bob Gaines began rock climbing at Joshua Tree in the 1970s. Since then he has pioneered over 500400 first ascents in the park.

Bob began his career as a professional rock climbing guide in 1983 and is an American Mountain Guides Association Certified Rock Instructor. Bob is the coauthor of Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual, which is the textbook for the AMGA's single pitch instructor program.the owner of Vertical Adventures Rock Climbing School, which offers classes and guided climbs at Joshua Tree. In 2008 Vertical Adventures was voted the #1 rock climbing school in America by Outside magazine.

Bob has worked extensively in the film business as a climbing stunt coordinator. He has coordinated over fortythirty television commercials, and he was Sylvester Stallone's climbing instructor for the movie Cliffhanger. Bob doubled for William Shatner in the movie Star Trek V, as Captain Kirk free soloing on El Capitan in Yosemite.

An AMGA Certified Rock Climbing Instructor, Bob currently teaches the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course at Joshua Tree. HeBob has worked extensively training US military special forces, including the elite US Navy SEALeal Team 6, and is known for his technical expertise in anchoring and rescue techniques.

Bob is also the author of Best Climbs Joshua Tree National Park, and Best Climbs Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, Rappelling, Advanced Rock Climbing, and the co-author of Rock Climbing Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks (with Randy Vogel) andof Climbing Anchors and the Climbing Anchors Field Guide (with John Long). Bob splits his time between his residences in Irvine and Joshua Tree, California.

Bob's other passion is fly fishing. He currently holds 12 International Game Fish Association world records.