Founders, Mike and Kevin Holmquest

Mike and Kevin Holmquest, founders

Native Vermonters, Mike and Kevin Holmquest grew up in the small town of Adamant, VT. It was here that they learned to enjoy the Green Mountains and experience many outdoor activities in the area. Through the years Mike has developed outdoor leadership skills in both professional and private ventures while Kevin’s skills include aspects of small business development and financial planning and management. Through it all, they had the most fun in the outdoors.

Kevin studied business at Florida Southern College with the hopes and dreams of someday owning his own business. After graduating with a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, he decided to venture out west to California. Kevin moved to Los Angeles where he began working on film and television programs. Even though his career at the time was in the entertainment industry, he never lost his love for the outdoors, and each chance he got he would go hiking, climbing, snowboarding or mountain biking in the vast mountains and parks of California.

After starting a production company and developing and producing TV and film projects, Kevin went to work for Walt Disney Studios where he was able to put his business and financial knowledge to use. Even though Kevin was in California and Mike was in Nepal at the time, they kept in touch often and would meet up for an adventure trip whenever they could. As Kevin continued to gain more business experience, Mike was busy learning about outdoor leadership. Most recently, Kevin worked in Melbourne, Australia where he had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in Australia and New Zealand.

Mike left Vermont for the mountains of Montana where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resource Conservation at the University of Montana. While in Montana, Mike gained experience in rock climbing, hiking, and camping. As a member of the Western Montana Rescue Team, he also learned the technical side of outdoor life and helped to train new volunteers in rescue techniques and avalanche skills. During his last few years in Montana he became a whitewater raft guide for 10,000 Waves Raft and Kayak Adventures. After graduating, Mike joined the Peace Corps in Nepal. For over two years he worked in a local government office for the Nepalese people. From the cultural city life of Kathmandu to the tiny villages in rural Nepal or hiking up Everest and the Annapurna Circuit, Mike truly got to know the native culture, its land, and its amazing adventure possibilities.

Before, during, and after the Peace Corps, Mike went to Thailand where he spent a total of six months touring the country and exploring the incredible rock climbing, scuba diving and hiking. He spent several months in Bangkok before journeying throughout the country to places such as Koh Tao, Chang Mai, Koh Phi Phi and Railay Beach in Krabi.

After Thailand, Mike ventured to Denali National Park in Alaska to be a whitewater raft guide for Alaska Raft. Kevin also became a certified guide on the Nenana River in Alaska. After the 2003 season, Mike spent five months back in Nepal training Peace Corps National Parks and Soil Conservation volunteers. He then moved to Yosemite to climb and work as a raft guide for Zephyr Whitewater. Most recently, Mike taught high school physics and chemistry at Squaw Valley Academy (SVA), a private school in Lake Tahoe. At SVA Mike gained experience in teaching and implementing outdoor educational programs.

Currently, Mike and Kevin live in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Adventures Around the World Founders