Paul Koubek
Paul joined Alpine Ascents in 2008 as a natural step in a lifelong year career leading groups in the outdoors. Paul’s career as a guide and outdoor leader began in 1995, when he started working with adjudicated youth in a wilderness therapy program in Utah. His career spans significant time in the field working with the following companies: Outward Bound, the Appalachian Mountain Club, the National Outdoor Leadership School (where he worked 265 field weeks and was a Mountaineering Program Supervisor), Yosemite Search And Rescue ( Valley SAR siter with YOSAR), the U.S. Antarctic Program (where he was Lead Mountaineer), and most recently the Yosemite Mountaineering School. Over the past 16 years, Paul has led expeditions in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, the North and Central Cascades, the Waddington Range of British Columbia, Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, Alaska, Africa (Kilimanjaro) the Kumoan Himalaya (India) and Antarctica. Paul has traversed more than 5000 miles in four separate traverses across the Antarctic continent (Byrd Field Camp – Pine Island Glacier, McMurdo Station – South Pole, South Pole – AGAP). Paul speaks German and Spanish.
Significant Ascents
Alaska:
- Denali, West Buttress (9 guiding, 1 as National Park Service volunteer ranger)
- Mt. Francis, East Ridge (guiding)
- Mt. Barrill, Japanese Couloir (guiding)
- Mt. Dickey, West Ridge (guiding)
Central/South America:
- Aconcogua, False Polish (guiding)
- Iztacchihuatl, Standard Route
- Crossing of Northern Patagonian Icefield (Steffen Glacier – Colonia Glacier – guiding)
Cascades / Coast Ranges of Canada:
- Mt. Rainier via: Kautz Glacier, Disappointment Cleaver, and Emmons Glacier (guiding)
- Mt. Baker via: Easton Glacier, Coleman – Deming and North Ridge.
- Mt. Hood via: Sunshine Route, Cooper Spur, Reid Glacier Headwall, West Crater Rim, and Standard Route
- North Sister via Sunshine Couloir and Standard Route
- Glacier Peak
- Mt. Washington, Oregon Cascades
- Mt. Adams via: South Spur, Adams Glacier
- Dome Peak via: Dana Glacier, Chickamin Glacier
- Mt. Slesse, NE Buttress
- Forbidden, West Ridge, (guiding)
- Sharkfin Tower (guiding)
- Mt. Stuart via: North Ridge and West Ridge
- Eldorado Peak (guiding)
- Mt Shuksan via Fisher Chimneys, Sulfide Glacier, and NE Ridge (guiding)
- NE Buttress of Johannesburg
- Torment / Forbidden Traverse
- 100+ days in Waddington Range of British Columbia, including ascents of: Mt. Jubilee, and Mt. Munday (guiding)
- Ptarmigan Traverse (guiding)
- Inspiration Traverse (guiding)
- Picket Range Traverse with ascents of: Challenger, North Ridge of Fury and North Face of Terror
Rockies:
- Grand Teton, Upper Exum Ridge
- Mt. Edith Cavell, East Ridge
- Wolf’s Head, East Ridge
- South Howser Tower (Bugaboos) Beckey – Chouinard
- Bugaboo Spire: NE Ridge
Sierra Nevada:
- 3rd Pillar of Dana
- Rostrum
- East Buttress of Middle Cathedral (guiding)
- NE Buttress of Higher Cathedral (guiding)
- 1 Day Ascent: “Lurking Fear” El Cap
- 1 Day Ascent: “Tangerine Trip” El Cap
- 3 Day Ascent: “Nose” El Cap
- 1 Day Ascent: “Nose” El Cap
- 3 Day Ascent: “Zodiac” El Cap
- 5 Day Ascent: “Mescalito” El Cap
- 5 Hour Ascent: Washington Column: South Face
- 2.5 Day Solo Ascent: Washington Column: Prow (winter conditions)
- 3 Day Ascent: Washington Column: Re-Animator
- 4 Ascents: West Face Leaning Tower, including 9 hour solo
- Incredible Hulk via: Red Dihedral, Polish Route
- Bear Creek Spire
- Cathedral Peak (guiding, free solo)
- Matthes Crest
Certifications
- Wilderness First Responder
- Avalanche Level III
- Leave No Trace Master Educator
- AMGA Certified Rock Guide
- AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
- AMGA Assistant Ski Guide
Most excellent adventure! I trust my guide Eric implicitly and look forward to climbing with him anywhere again.
