Koby Yudkin

Koby's love for the mountains bloomed in high school when he was first introduced to climbing and mountaineering through an outdoor program. From rime ice-covered days on Mt. Hood to aching fingers after a weekend of climbing at Smith Rock, he quickly realized that challenge, joy, and growth often come hand in hand in the outdoors. The hard days have a way of shaping you more than the easy ones.

His pursuit of adventure took him across the country to Bates College in Maine, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies in 2017. Immersed in the traditional climbing ethic of the Northeast, he cut his teeth on the granite cliffs and harsh alpine terrain of the Mt. Washington Valley. The frozen gullies of Mt. Washington were not only where he honed his skills, but where he launched his guiding career and developed the professional standards he brings to every program today.

Now based in Portland, Oregon, Koby guides rock climbing, alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing throughout the Cascades and beyond. He meets every client where they are, whether that's an introduction to rock climbing or a technical alpine objective, and aims to create a supportive environment where people can surprise themselves with their true abilities. Whether it's long summer days climbing in the alpine or dawn patrol missions for first tracks on Mt. Hood, he's passionate about helping others experience the same sense of adventure, connection, and discovery that drew him to the mountains in the first place.

In 2024, Koby co-founded Trillium Alpine Guides to bring that same ethos to guided adventures and avalanche education across the Pacific Northwest.