Watt was recognized as the 2024 American Mountain Guides Association Guide of the Year, signifying outstanding dedication and integrity in the mountain guide profession. After accepting the award in Colorado, she acknowledged that this accomplishment reflected an evolution and broader vision of what guiding can be.

Along the way to establishing her new niche as an award-winning outdoor guide, she had to overcome her own obstacles, including a dose of self-doubt brought on by the judgment of others who questioned her decision.

“There’s always a risk of social judgment,” said Watt. “But there’s also an incredible opportunity for self-discovery. In order to reap the benefits of that self-discovery—who you are, the multiple layers to you, and what you can actually accomplish—requires you to take risks.”

During her senior year at Colby, Watt began reflecting on what she truly valued and the life she wanted to lead. While her psychology major provided academic fulfillment, it was her broader Colby experience that shaped her passions. She quickly realized that she could not imagine sitting at a desk all day. Her interest in science and staying active drew her to attend physical therapy school after leaving Mayflower Hill.

Becoming a rock-climbing guide was more challenging than she expected. “To be 50 years old and say, ‘I want to be a climbing guide,’ felt ridiculous,” she said. “But I really wanted it, so I spent a lot of time and effort working on overcoming my self-doubt.”

For Watt, that nagging doubt has been a recurring challenge, particularly in navigating a major career shift later in life. Much of this doubt stemmed from internalized beliefs about physical ability and age. “You have this gray-haired woman saying she is going to guide you up a giant cliff. There can be some doubt there that I work hard to overcome.”

Some of the challenges were purely practical, like the lack of health benefits and low pay. With support from her spouse–a fellow Colby graduate, Christopher Watt ’87–she pursued her second-career goal.

With every climb, she became more determined. Her turning-point climbs were the ones she once doubted she could complete.

She takes great satisfaction when people she guides overcome similar fears and doubts to complete a successful, challenging climb. Only after surpassing their perceived limits can they begin to believe in themselves, she said. Watt cherishes the moments when clients come down from the climb with a look of joy and astonishment on their faces.

As a female guide in a male-dominated field, Watt faced other challenges.

Watt has made it her mission to break down barriers and encourage more women to explore the world of rock climbing.

Her work has paid off. Watt’s receiving the Guide of the Year award validates her skills and dedication while inspiring other women to break barriers and pursue adventurous hobbies.

One of Watt’s peers shared, “Working primarily with Mooney Mountain Guides, she has been integral to the trajectories of countless climbers in the Northeast. Coming into guiding as a second act in life, she creates an inspiring and welcoming classroom for new and developing climbers, and she has been particularly active in welcoming women into climbing in recreational and guiding contexts.”

Watt works to break down the barriers for female climbers by telling her story and finding opportunities to correct misinformation or misunderstandings about climbing. “It’s just about encouraging people to try it once and reassure them about the systems built in for risk management.” Nothing is entirely safe in climbing, but guides mitigate the risk significantly with the systems they have in place.