Meet The Team

He/Him

Owner/Founder

Mick has traveled the world over in search of the perfect mountain experience. After working for years under other companies? ethos and philosophies, nothing quite fit with his personal convictions and passions. In 2006 he set out on his own to make his vision of the holistic mountain experience a reality for anyone who shared his passion for the outdoors.

Having traveled all over the U.S. as the son of a railroad employee, Mick is accustomed to movement and new views. Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Taiwan, Europe, South America, Tanzania are some of the places and cultures that have shaped and influenced Mick. Currently, Mick resides in Seattle, WA managing Kaf Adventures and continuing to hold the vision of this ever evolving company. He works tirelessly to continue to provide world-class experiences that provide knowledge and a greater perspective of the great outdoors.

Mick’s true passion is education. He has found a unique passion for educating aspiring instructors and guides in the U.S. You will find him outside helping new leaders gain confidence in their ability to make decisions in complex environments.

When he is not in the field (where he spends over 100 days a year) you can find him creating electronic music and making people dance. Mick has a habit of making those around him smile, and you might just wonder when he sleeps!

Mick is an AMGA certified Rock and Alpine Guide, SPI Program Provider, AMGA Instructor Team Member, LNT Master trainer, a Wilderness First Responder, a certified Level 3 Avalanche graduate, an instructor for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, and speaks Spanish and a little Swahili.

He/Him

Instructor / Guide

Woody Jacobson grew up in the Seattle area where he was fortunate to partake in backpacking, rafting, skiing, and climbing trips all around the Pacific Northwest with family and friends. He first got into guiding in 2013 while he was studying politics at Whitman College. There, he took an AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor course and began teaching indoor rock climbing courses to fellow students as well as guiding outdoor climbing trips.

For four years, Woody lived in China most of the year, where he guided outdoor education trips and spent the rest of his time rock climbing, traveling, and studying Mandarin Chinese. However, he couldn’t resist summer in the Pacific Northwest, and he returned home every year for the beautiful weather and Cascadian adventures. Woody is based in Seattle these days, although he hits the road for climbing and skiing trips up and down the West Coast and returns to China every year to guide Kaf Adventures’ crack climbing trip in Liming.

Nature and adventure are two of Woody’s biggest passions, and guiding allows him to share these passions with other intrepid people. He can’t imagine a better office than the beautiful forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Woody is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and Leave No Trace Trainer.

He/Him

Instructor / Guide

I’ve been based in the Portland area my whole life. Growing up here, I enjoyed the surrounding wilderness from a very young age. I was lucky to have a very outdoorsy family. I started skiing at the age of three, and it is my true passion in life. Skiing has done a lot for me in life, I even give it credit for opening my mind to all the other activities that I now cherish, such as rock and alpine climbing, as well as mountaineering. You can be sure, if there is snow on the ground I will be skiing.

I believe in community, and love the chance to help grow while building this outdoor community. It’s given me so much, so it means the world to me to be a part of it. I was 19 when I started leading my friends out on backpacking trips. That set me on a path to guiding as a career. I wanted nothing more in life than to keep learning in the mountains and then to share my knowledge with everyone else. That’s been my slow and steady progression since then. I got my professional start working my way through the AIARE program. From there, I have been actively trying to improve my skills in the mountains to a high standard. I’m happy to say I have found a home at Kaf Adventures and hope to keep growing with Kaf for years to come.

She/Her

Instructor/Guide

Carly grew up learning how to snowboard on the tiny, icy hills of Wisconsin.

She spent 5 seasons guiding backcountry skiing/snowboarding, ice climbing, and rock climbing throughout Colorado, and as an instructor for teenage outdoor programs throughout Colorado and Utah. Her summers are spent working on rivers throughout Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Alaska, and Arizona. Her winters are now spent in the Pacific Northwest where she teaches avalanche courses and occasionally works as an outdoor education instructor for a local university.

She/Her

Instructor/Guide

SaRah has travelled extensively Internationally and in the US, participating in various outdoor activities to gain knowledge and experience. Exploring the world in areas that are off the beaten path brings her great joy.

In 2019 SaRah was a recipient of the Women’s Mentorship program through NWAC and SheJumps. Since then, she has been pursuing a career in the avalanche industry. She is passionate about teaching others how to explore the backcountry safely and promotes inclusion.

SaRah is a Wilderness First Responder. She is fluent in Spanish and can speak Bahasa Indonesian.

She/Her

Instructor / Guide

Gen has been an avid traveler and adventurer throughout her life. While attending college in Australia she fell in love with rock climbing. She became so enamored with it that after graduating, she moved to China to explore new route development in Liming and Yangshuo. Since then, the pursuit of climbing led Gen into a professional full-time career in outdoor education and guiding. She splits her time between the PNW and California, where she also instructs month-long expeditions with high school students.

When she’s not in the field, she enjoys showering, hanging out in Seattle with her housemate’s Instagram famous chickens, and going on adventurous climbing trips.

Gen has completed an Advanced Rock Guide and Alpine Guide Course through the AMGA. She also holds a Wilderness EMT certification, and AIARE 1/Avalanche Rescue education.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Quincy's journey into the mountains began as an undergraduate in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, where old trad crags invoked a deep passion for climbing and the lifestyle. Since those early days, this passion has led him to big formations and big adventures across the United States, including major objectives like Moonlight Buttress in Zion and El Capitan in Yosemite. Over the years Quincy has guided everything from desert sandstone to Northwest glaciers. His specialty lies in alpine rock and steep corny couliors.
Quincy is psyched on making the outdoors accessible to everyone. He has dedicated years to the adaptive snowsport space, working with adaptive programs like the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES). When not in the mountains you can find Quincy playing a funky bass line, Appalachian folk tune, or cutting a rug.

Quincy is currently an AMGA Apprentice Rock, Alpine and Ski Guide and an AIARE Course Teacher.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Alex grew up in Kansas City, MO before moving to California for college (B.A., Claremont McKenna College) and graduate school (M.S., University of California, Davis). While in college, Alex competed in varsity cross country and track and field and was an USTFCCCA All-American in 2014. He also began rock climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing in the San Gabriel range of southern California while at Claremont, developing a passion for long days in the mountains. Alex began working in the outdoor industry full-time following the completion of his graduate work and has experience as a guide, ski patroller, ski instructor, and shop tech. He has guided in Washington, Alaska, and California and has spent considerable personal time in the Austrian and Italian Alps and Dolomites. Some of Alex’s favorite routes to guide include the Fisher Chimneys on Mount Shuksan, the West Ridge of Forbidden, and the North Ridge of Kulshan. In addition to his work as a guide, Alex is also the head grant writer for Full Belly Brasil, a NGO focused on food and water security in Brazil, and maintains an active role in ongoing geochemical and sedimentological research. His certifications include AAA PRO I, AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Rock Guide, NREMT and various state EMT licenses (MT and NM), and LNT Trainer.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Eric grew up in various parts of New York State, spending time in the wilderness with family and
friends as a kid, and learning how to snowboard on ice in southern Vermont. He spent a few
years in Colorado, dabbling in higher altitude resort riding, before heading back to Seattle,
where he has called home ever since moving here to attend college 20+ years ago.
When Eric is not teaching at the University of Washington, he is supporting youth outdoor
education programs around Washington throughout the year. He has done field work for youth
as a wilderness & rock climbing instructor, as well as an operational leadership role supporting
trips, instructors, & families from headquarters. For Eric, helping learners to move towards self
actualization, wherever they are along their journey, makes facilitation enriching.
Eric is local to the Snoqualmie Pass area, where he works as a ski & snowboard patroller,
search and rescue team member, and backcountry tours in pursuit of both the best & the worst
conditions.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Ryan has called many places across Germany and the United States home but settled in Tacoma in 2019. Ryan’s love for the outdoors began early in life with family hikes in the Alps.
Ryan began snowboarding while in High School in Vermont but made the jump to skis once moving to Washington. He is an avid rock and ice climber, trail runner, and can often be found making trips to Canada to pursue those passions. After taking a glacier travel course, Ryan found the desire to educate in those spaces. Since that course, Ryan’s passion for sharing knowledge of the outdoors and risk management have grown. He has followed that passion by seeking out intuitional knowledge through AIARE and AMGA courses. He is an Apprentice Rock and Alpine Guide, a Wilderness EMT, and an AIARE Instructor. Ryan is also a member of Seattle Mountain Rescue and Mount Rainer Nordic Patrol.

He/They

Instructor/Guide

The outdoors is my saving grace. I was a trouble maker growing up with way too much energy. I’m from a small town called Bath Michigan, where we actually had bath tub races. Following high school, I joined the Marine Corps and found myself traveling the world. Some of my hobbies included scuba diving and cycling. I did just over four years in the Marines and had decided I wanted to be a special education school teacher and PE teacher.

After the Marines I attended Central Michigan University and earned a bachelor’s of science in education for special education, health education and physical education. During this time I joined The High Adventure Club at CMU and we taught ourselves how to rock climb and ice climb and would take trips to Red River Gorge in Kentucky and Seneca Rocks in West Virginia.

My wife was accepted to the University of Washington for a prosthetics and orthotics program so we made the easy decision to move out West. At this point climbing and mountaineering was everything to me. While my wife was studying, I was climbing. After finishing my wilderness first responder training, I became a volunteer backpacking guide and instructor for 1-2 week trips with 11-17 year old students. I was hired on after our first trip and then I worked various outdoor education programs summitting Mt. Olympus, Mt Rainier, and rock climbing at Smith Rock.

After spending a few years in Seattle and Portland, we moved to a small mountain town in Colorado where I became a full-time special education teacher. I found myself enjoying the long winters because of the amazing snow. The snowboarding was great and we were surrounded by 14ers to climb and ride. After three years in Colorado, we moved back to Oregon where my wife took a position at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and I became a snowmobile guide in the winter and a mountaineering guide in the spring and summer on Mt. Hood, thanks Kaf! My favorite sport is whitewater kayaking so when I’m not climbing, I’m in a kayak chasing waterfalls and big rapids. I’ve recently picked up kite surfing and I would really like to paraglide off of Mt. Hood one day. I own and manage a real estate and vacation rental business on the side, and substitute teach in Sandy and Welches.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Raised around the farmland, rivers, and streams of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. David grew up outside from dawn to dusk, constantly involved with sports. While working for the states of Pennsylvania and Oregon he developed a drive for working outside with Natural Resource Management/ Wildland Fire. After moving to Vermont, he searched outside peakbagging, bouldering, and climbing upon available weather breaks. In 2001, David started backcounty skiing, and is now AIARE, AAI, American Red Cross, and state government trained. The majority of his experience hails from the Central Oregon Cascades and NW Wyoming. He strives to educate in an approachable, fun, and engaging style.

When David isn't leading winter programs with Kaf he enjoys working in the forest, backcountry skiing untouched snow, spending time on the beach, and camping. He prefers a rural landscape, and dislikes cold hands. David is pleased to be working with Kaf Adventures since 2022. Change the aspect, change your life!

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Denis grew up in Southern California with seemingly limitless access to all the outdoor activities the Santa Monica mountains and California coast had to offer. Childhood trips with family frequented the Sierra range for winter and summer adventures.

Denis started climbing in the mid-90s while still living in California, initially drawn to long winter snow routes and summer alpine rock scrambles, and quickly developed a passion for technical rock and ice climbing and ski mountaineering across the western United States.

Among Denis’ favorite outings are the Pacific Northwest volcanos, which to date includes well over 100 summits of Mt Hood, water ice across Colorado and Montana and big summer rock adventures in the Cascades and Sierras mountain ranges.

Denis’ passion for the outdoors is palpable. He loves sharing knowledge and experiences with others in the outdoor community, and has immense gratitude to the countless climbers who have taught and mentored him over the years. He has racked up his own long history of mentorship and volunteer climbing instruction, and has found guiding to be an incredibly rewarding way to create connection with and within the mountains. Denis is a certified Wilderness First Responder and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, and is currently pursuing an aggressive agenda of AMGA certifications across the rock, alpine, ice and ski mountaineering disciplines.

When not climbing and guiding, Denis is part of a small team that develops search and rescue technology – predominantly for the ski industry. Denis has two sons, both of whom now out-ski him, and he looks forward to the day they’ll be able to invite him along on their own climbing adventures.

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Instructor/Guide

Sam grew up in the foothills of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, alpine skiing every chance he had. But it took moving to the wheat fields of Walla Walla, Washington for him to discover his passion for climbing and backcountry skiing. Since then, he has taken every opportunity to explore steep ski lines in the Rockies, the sandstone towers of the Southwest, and most recently the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest.

His only greater joy comes from sharing the outdoors while he learns from and teaches others. As a Colorado State University Biology Education graduate, Sam enjoys applying his education to help meet others’ goals.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Mat discovered his love of climbing while living in the Northeast, taking his friends up multi-pitches and honing his skills at crags like Rumney and the Gunks. For over 9 years Mat was a weekend warrior, using climbing to decompress from his 9-5 corporate Healthcare job, and exploring crags around the US and abroad as much as possible. Throughout that time, Mat developed a passion for teaching his friends climbing systems and helping them overcome their fears on the wall. He knew that one day he wanted to turn his passion into his career and share his love of climbing and teaching with others.

After quitting his job in 2023, he and his fiancée spent a year traveling around the US, Canada, and Southeast Asia to hike and climb. During their travels they became enamored by Seattle and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, which they now call home. Since moving to Seattle, Mat has fully immersed himself in climbing instruction, teaching both youth and adults, and has loved taking clients up exciting outdoor objectives in the PNW!

While not guiding, Mat enjoys dreaming up new recipes to cook and working on upgrades for his van/home on wheels. He frequently travels back to Thailand where his family is from (and to climb on the beaches of Tonsai), and is fluent in Thai.

Mat is an AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide and Wilderness First Responder.

She/Her/They/Them

Instructor/Guide

Growing up on Florida’s flatlands, I always longed for the mountains—to trade palm trees for peaks and winter warmth for alpine winds. After undergrad and graduate studies, I made the westward move and spent five transformative years with Outward Bound, guiding and teaching young adventurers all over the High Sierra. From there I followed my itch for rock and glacier guiding, working in alpine terrain where the stakes feel higher and the views far vaster.

As a guide and educator, I’m drawn especially to glaciers—they are the grand, dynamic classrooms of the wild, and I feel a deep urgency to work with and on them before they vanish. My true calling lies not in the four walls of a traditional classroom, but instead in the open air, where every route, ridge and glacier becomes an opportunity to teach about environment, responsibility and human potential. I’m stoked to bring that spirit to the Kaf team, helping adventurers connect to place, challenge themselves and learn deeply along the way.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

Growing up in central Pennsylvania, Sam spent many of his formative years exploring the woods, streams and rock climbing near his home. After high school, he attended the University of Vermont where he studied mechanical engineering.

Sam’s first experience with outdoor education came from a NOLS course. Ever since that experience, Sam has pursued a career in the outdoors. He has worked throughout the country teaching backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and working as a wilderness therapy guide. Over the past several years Sam has begun adding more commercial guiding into the mix as well as work as an EMT.

He/Him

Instructor/Guide

A native of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. Patrick has called many different states home for a short time, and even lived for a few months in Bahrain and China. He began guiding full time during the summer of 2018 leading rafting, canyoneering, and climbing trips in Moab Utah. Since, Patrick has instructed trad, self rescue, and sport climbing courses, mountaineering and crevasse rescue, alpine and backcountry skiing, as well as guided via ferrata, backpacking, and hiking.

He works during the early season as a guide on expeditions up the West Buttress of Denali. Patrick’s favorite part of guiding and teaching is the amazing way that the outdoors brings together people from all over as equals and friends and builds bonds through challenges and adventure.

As a child and teenager, Patrick spent time backpacking, trail running, mountain biking and nordic skiing. He studied marine biology in college where he learned to surf and SCUBA dive. After finishing school, Patrick spent six years in the US Navy as a diver, picking all sorts of things up that sank, and fixing submarines. The Navy brought Patrick to Washington as his last duty station where Patrick fell in love with rock and alpine climbing and backcountry skiing. Here, the mountains pulled him away from the ocean.

After being honorably discharged Patrick spent the last five years teaching skiing during the winter and guiding full time during the summer. Patrick has worked in Moab Utah, the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the Cascades, taught downhill skiing in China, and more recently worked in the Alaska Range. After bouncing around the mountain West for a few years, Patrick decided to permanently relocate to the Washington, where plenty of precipitation brings deep snow to ski during the winter and still somehow manages to keep the glaciers from receding too fast to play on during the summer.

When Patrick isn’t guiding or teaching outside, you can find him trail running, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, cooking, reading, or traveling ridiculously long distances to catch a wave or SCUBA dive. He makes ends meet during the off season, doing part time remote work as a legal assistant for an immigration law practice. Patrick is an assistant rock guide, apprentice alpine and ski guide, single pitch instructor, and a PSIA certified ski instructor.

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Instructor/Guide

Michael developed a love for the outdoors hunting and fishing as a youth on the East Coast. During university he got into backpacking with friends exploring the Appalachian Trail. After university, while working in the investment industry Michael developed a deep love for climbing at the Philadelphia Rock Gym that made a huge impact on his life. He moved to the PNW and began working as an outdoor educator and guide.

For the past 8 years, Michael has worked with groups from youth to adults in various course types. He has experience with backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, and snowsports. His favorite part about guiding and outdoor education is being able to witness and support people along their journey to accomplish their goals and dreams.

Michael is actively pursuing his AMGA guide certifications and is most recently stoked on ice climbing. He currently resides in Wyoming and enjoys the Rockies however happily travels to both coasts whenever to pursue adventure.

Besides outdoor pursuits & adventures, Michael enjoys cooking with friends, listening to records, gardening and road tripping in his Chevy Astro van. If he is not in the mountains, he is trying to get to the ocean to catch some waves.

Michael is currently a Wilderness EMT, AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide, LNT Master Educator, NOLS field instructor, PSIA certified ski instructor, volunteer Search and Rescue for Fremont County, and has avalanche level 1 and rescue course education.

She/Her

Instructor/Guide

Katie has spent the last decade connecting folks to the outdoors as an educator, coach, and guide. She has led canoe and backpack expeditions in Northern Minnesota and the Rocky Mountains, taught field science in Colorado, coached competitive youth climbing in Seattle, and guided climbing up and down the West Coast.

Katie now splits her time between the desert of Joshua Tree and the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest, working as a rock and alpine climbing guide and freelance writer. She is curious about the intersections between climbing and life, and she learns more about herself every time she ties into a rope. In her work as a guide, she seeks to facilitate self-discovery, empowerment, and community building through climbing.

One of Katie’s favorite parts about being in the mountains is that there is always something new to learn! She’s committed to personal growth and professional development, and she’s now operating as an AMGA Assistant Rock Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide. She is also a Wilderness First Responder, LNT Trainer, and has completed a Level 1 Avalanche and Rescue Course.

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Instructor/Guide

Ryder has 15 years of mountain experience across the globe. He has established first ascents in some of the best climbing destinations in Asia. In China, he has organized climbing expeditions to the remote parts of the eastern Himalaya and put up new routes across four of the most rugged provinces in the country–including one of the China’s longest rock climbing routes.

He has also spent time climbing across great ranges of North America from the Coast Range to the Sierra Nevada. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and occasionally leads adventurous travelers on trips in western China.

Ryder is a Certified Rock Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association, holds a Wilderness First Responder Certification, and has earned his AIARE Level 1 in avalanche safety.

He currently splits his time between Liming, Yunnan Province, China and Seattle, Washington.

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Instructor/Guide

Zach grew up in Baltimore Maryland where he was able to backpack and ski on the east coast from a young age. After moving to the west coast he quickly became obsessed with rock climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing. He currently lives in Bend Oregon where he spends most of his time in the Oregon cascades or at Smith Rock. When he isn't skiing or climbing Zach enjoys playing tenor saxophone, mountain biking, and trying to find the best burritos.

She/Her

Instructor/Guide

Since moving to Seattle, WA from London, UK, Chloe has devoted her time to providing rock instruction and guiding in the Pacific Northwest. She is invested in making space for underprivileged and underrepresented communities in adventure sports and is excited to create more opportunities to explore the outdoors and climbing.
She finds joy in all forms of climbing but particularly likes alpine, multi-pitch routes with great snacks and even better company. Some of Chloe’s best climbing memories include days out at Index and Leavenworth, WA and Smith Rock, OR. She loves granite and her favorite place to climb is Squamish, British Columbia.
Chloe is committed to professional development and excellence and is currently certified as a Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.
When not guiding, you can find Chloe hosting craft nights, gardening, dancing with friends, or spending time with her cat, Phoenix.

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Instructor/Guide

Berndt is passionate about outdoor instruction and risk management. He has a strong instructional background as a 20+ year Fire Lieutenant/EMT, community college educator, and mountain rescue volunteer. He enjoys sharing rock and snow experiences with Kaf Adventure’s guests and has been doing so since 2016. Berndt is an Apprentice Rock and Alpine Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association.

When Berndt isn’t working at the fire station or participating in Kaf experiences, he can be found skiing, climbing, or hiking with his family throughout the Northwest. He enjoys walking dog friendly trails with his 2 dogs, Phoebe and Carly.

His favorite international trips have been Via Feratta tours in the Italian Dolomites, rock climbing in Kalymnos, Greece, and week-long ski hut tours in the Fairy Meadows of British Columbia.

Berndt is an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, EMT, and Leave No Trace Trainer.

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Instructor / Guide

Wyatt grew up in Seattle, and first found his love for the outdoors with climbing in early college around Index and some brief excursions to Washington pass in the North Cascades. Moving to Ohio for Graduate school he spent his free time traveling to the Red River Gorge and New River Gorge for some rock climbing and continuing building his stoke. Returning home to Washington he was eager to build his confidence and joined Kaf Adventures alpine mentorship program where he really opened up his eyes to what was possible in the mountains.

Going through the mentorship program eventually set his path onto guiding where he is now pursuing mountain guide certification through the AMGA. When he is not slogging his way up glaciers or the forested old growth of the Cascades, he likes spending his free time in a coffee shop or with his small cat!

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Instructor/Guide

Despite growing up in the flat suburbs of Chicago, John gained a love for wild places early in his life. After earning a degree in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College, John began turning that love into a career. He has worked throughout the country, and internationally, guiding rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing and avalanche courses, sea kayaking, hiking, and even a few biking trips. He has spent much of this time teaching adventurous sports to high school and college aged students.

As an instructor with Kaf, John strives to get to know each student so he can provide unique learning opportunities and have the adventure meet the students where they are. John also serves as the Portland Program Director for the Northwest School of Survival and manages the partnership between NWSOS and Kaf, as well as managing all of the Mt Hood programs.

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Instructor/Guide

Whether at an open bivy on an alpine ridgeline, a cozy tent in a glacier camp, or a circle of close friends and family around a campfire, outdoor places are where Kevin feels most at home.

Thanks to the love and support of his family, a pre-walking Kevin began his wilderness exploration from on top of Dad?s shoulders, and he quickly developed a nearly precocial ability to sleep on the ground. His self-powered downhill skiing career began at age three, and he had to learn quickly to keep up with his older brother. Grateful for a solid foundation of nature appreciation, Kevin went on to work with large mammals and earn a Wildlife Biology degree from Colorado State University.

Throughout this pursuit, Kevin also challenged himself with new technical outdoor skills in climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. He found his purpose encouraging nature preservation and facilitating interpersonal growth and discovery, and believes it best to actualize this by supporting peoples’ outdoor goals.

Beginning on the lakes, rivers, and trails of northern Wisconsin over a decade ago, Kevin leads all varieties of outdoor trips. Some of his latest experiences include working in wilderness therapy at New Vision Wilderness; climbing, mountaineering and skiing in the Cascades; ice climbing in Canmore, BC; backcountry skiing throughout the Selkirks; climbing in Peru and Mexico; and mountaineering in Ecuador.

Kevin now resides in Minneapolis, MN, and is excited to connect with a new outdoor community in the Twin Cities while maintaining his Kaf Adventures family travelling to work in the Cascades and abroad. He will be living in Tanzania in 2025, so feel free to pay him a visit!

Kevin is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, AMGA Aspirant Mountain Guide (Rock, Alpine & Ski), AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Course Leader, Outdoor Emergency Care Technician, and Leave No Trace Trainer.

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Instructor/Guide

Born and raised in rural Oregon near the town of Corvallis, Kelly developed an early affection for the outdoors, spending countless hours exploring the woods behind his house.

Kelly has been working full time in the guiding and outdoor education industry since the 05/06 winter season. Current and former employers include Utah Mountain Adventures, White Pine Touring, NOLS, and Westminster College, among others. In 2012, Kelly finished his M.S. in Outdoor Education at the University of Utah. Kelly has worked as a Course Leader for several AIARE avalanche education providers, and he joined the AIARE Instructor Trainer team in 2019. After moving to Oregon, he began teaching AIARE courses on Mt. Hood for Kaf Adventures.

Despite all the time in the mountains, however, the true pleasures in his life are his partner Kat and son Zander.

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Africa Guide

Wilfred was born at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the town of Moshi, Tanzania. The challenges of summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro have inspired him his whole life. He has guided many groups to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, but his life dream had been to climb Mt. Everest, considered by many to be the most difficult and harshest mountain in the world. He achieved this goal in 2012.

Wilfred received training from Kilimanjaro Tanzania National Park, (KINAPA), and is a certified KINAPA guide and Wilderness First Responder. As a highly committed, professional mountain trekker, in 2012 Wilfred was qualified to become part of a Mt. Everest expedition team. He was one of the few Africans at Everest basecamp and on May 19th he became the first Tanzanian to summit the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest (29,0028ft). On 26 August 2014, Wilfred continued his pursuit of climbing the worlds highest peaks and summited the highest mountain in Europe, Mt Elbrus. He plans to complete the 7 summits.

Wilfred and his family of two children are part of the Chagga tribe. They live in the town of Moshi where he grew up.

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Instructor/Guide

Ryder grew up on the south shore of Massachusetts, spending his early years boating and fishing before discovering the mountains of New England. That curiosity quickly turned into a passion for mountain adventure. In 2016, he completed the 100 Highest Peaks in New England, and the following year he thru-hiked the entire 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail. Those experiences sparked a move west in search of bigger mountains and even bigger objectives.
Today, Ryder is deeply rooted in the world of snowboarding, skiing, and mountain travel. He earned PSIA-AASI Level 3 Snowboard and Level 2 Ski Instructor certifications, is an AIARE Instructor, and is an AMGA Assistant Ski/Splitboard Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide. He spends roughly eight months a year on snow-guiding, coaching, exploring, and expanding his technical skillset- before transitioning to mountain biking, alpine climbing, and backpacking when the snow melts.
Ryder holds a master’s degree in Experiential Education & Development and is passionate about creating meaningful mountain experiences through a blend of education, exploration, and shared adventure. Whether teaching movement and technical skills, sharing avalanche knowledge, or guiding guests into new terrain, his goal is to empower people with the confidence, skills, and mindset to take ownership of their time in the mountains. For Ryder, it’s never just about skiing or riding- it’s about the challenge, the growth, and the adventure that comes with it.
Ryder lives in Bend, Oregon, where he and his partner run Maverick Outdoors, a youth-focused outdoor education company offering programs ranging from backcountry adventures to an outdoor preschool- developing the next generation of confident, capable, and curious mountain mavericks.
He is an AMGA Assistant Splitboard Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide, an AIARE Trainer, Leave No Trace Trainer, PSIA-AASI Level 3 Snowboard Instructor, and PSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor

She/Her

Amber is the grounding force for the Dreamer & the Do-er. She supports guests, students and the Kaf team alike to actualize their potential.

Despite being born a flatlander, Amber has managed to develop a deep passion for mountain adventure. She was introduced to the guide industry in her youth through trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. Those formative experiences led her to pursue a degree in Outdoor Recreation, and begin what would become a nine year sea kayak guide career. Although she loves identifying echinoderms and eating seaweed, she left her work in the sea to pursue work in the mountains.

An avid backcountry adventurer, Amber can often be found pulling hard on granite, tip-toeing up a skin track, or meandering along alpine routes. She deeply appreciates every moment spent in the mountains, but is most at home giggling her way up multi-pitch and big wall climbs. Some of her favorites include, The Grand Wall in Squamish BC, and Triple Direct on El Cap.

Amber aims to fill her life with moments of awe, gratitude, and whimsy. When Amber isn’t chasing mountain goals, you can find her pursuing creative ones at home in Bellingham, WA where she routesets at the local boulder gym. Amber also has a knack for costuming and thrives at themed dance parties. Her other hobbies include biking, yoga, practicing sustainable living, thrifting, and finding the perfect oat milk latte wherever she goes. Her keen eye for detail and love of organization keep her calm in the field and dialed on the phones (pun intended). She’s stoked to help you actualize and achieve your goals for your next mountain adventure!

She/Her

Kelly grew up on a farm in western Massachusetts and took an early interest in exploring the fields, forests, and river valley surrounding her home. She left the Berkshire Hills for college at the University of Vermont, studying Natural Resources and Recreation Management and scheduling her classes around powder days in the Green Mountains. Summers were spent traveling to festivals of the northeast in a big blue bus named Sueño, serving crepes full of locally grown goods to hungry music lovers. After 8 years in VT, the dream for bigger adventures called and she made the westward move to Washington in 2013.

Since then, her love of the PNW has only grown as adventures have taken her further into its depths and many of her happiest moments are found while climbing a long alpine rock route, floating down untracked powder in the backcountry, or having a summit dance party under the shining sun. Kelly's technical skills were honed in the Washington Alpine Club, where she serves as Volunteer Instructor, Education Committee Chair, and Board Member. Paired with her years of experience working in the outdoor industry, including ski areas and gear shops, she can most likely answer any question you may have. In addition, her extended travels in East Africa and South America make her a great resource for Kaf's International Trips.

Beyond the world of mountaineering, Kelly frequents shows and festivals and loves any excuse to wear sequins. She is a fan of dogs, biking, mushroom foraging, and has been learning bachata. She is also a Level 1 Sommelier and can help you select the perfect wine to pair with your backcountry charcuterie board.

She/Her

Kaf Momma

Lin was born in San Diego California. Her zest for the beach, warm sand, and toes led her to live most of her childhood there. Lin gave birth to Mick, her son, in Klamath Falls Oregon. She knew that Oregon would provide a better adventurous life for her son. Lin dedicated herself to her friends and son. She raised Mick as a single mother working for the Railroad. She loved getting outdoors for long hikes and even climbing Mt. Shasta. Her passion for the outdoors influenced Mick at a young age. Motorcycles, three-wheelers, snowmobiles, hunting, and camping were all a big part of their family’s lives.

At an older age, Lin loved to take photos of flowers and landscapes. She also jumped into supporting Kaf Adventures as the bookkeeper and registrant in the early years. She spent over 8 years supporting Mick and his dream of running a small business dedicated to personal growth and wilderness travel. Lin passed away in November of 2022, but her spirit lives on. She will be known for her kindness, generosity, love of the outdoors, and ability to befriend anyone anywhere.

Thank you Lin for believing in all of us at Kaf Adventures! Forever in our hearts.