Nicole is a mountaineer and endurance athlete focused on high-altitude alpine climbing around the world. She has climbed extensively throughout the Andes – her favorite mountain range – with expeditions in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Some of her accomplishments include summits of Aconcagua (22,841’), Huayna Potosí (19,974’), a one-day summit and traverse of Mont Blanc (15,781’), and a women’s FKT on Mt. Stanley in Uganda (16,762’). Most recently, she summited Cho Oyu (26,906’), marking her highest peak to date.
Since moving to Portland, Nicole has spent much of her time in the Cascades, Canada, and the Northern Rockies, pursuing technical alpine routes and ice climbing. On less technical objectives, her dog Cloud often joins her.
Outside of climbing, Nicole trail runs, backpacks, splitboards, and paddleboards. She works full-time as a Commercial Director in the logistics industry. Nicole uses Evolution for regular altitude training, BFR and personal strength training. Join her in the altitude room for a run, a weighted pack stair climb or dry tooling on the tread wall!
Nicole grew up in Minnesota as a multi-sport athlete and collegiate soccer player but her love for the outdoors was primarily focused on classic Minnesotan lake sports. She began to discover her love for endurance sports by trips to visit family in the desert of Sedona – trail running, hiking and the occasional rafting trip. When she made the big jump and moved out west more than a decade ago, she discovered the bigger mountains of the Sierra and quickly pivoted her focus to spending as much time on mountain summits as possible. Nicole has been mountaineering, rock climbing and all things alpine ever since! Soon after she learned to combine her love of travel and climbing and has been primarily focused on climbing high altitude, snowy peaks around the world. Her favorite mountain range is the Andes and she has climbed peaks in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile and Peru. Some recent adventures in the past few years have included summits of Aconcagua (22,841’) and Huayna Potosi (19,974’), a one day summit and traverse of Mont Blanc (15,781’) and in January of this year, a women’s FKT on Mt Stanley in Uganda (16,762’). In 2021 Nicole moved to Portland to be closer to technical alpine ice routes and the glaciated Cascades and has been working her way around the PNW, Canada and the Northern Rockies checking off classic routes and hunting down water ice climbing. On less technical alpine objectives, her dog Cloud frequently joins the climb. When she’s not climbing, you can find Nicole trail running, backpacking, split boarding or paddleboarding. Nicole works full time as a Commercial Director for a logistics company. Nicole uses Evolution for regular altitude training as well as personal strength training. She is currently training for a number of international trips over the next year including the Julian Alps, Denali and Nepal. Join her in the altitude room for a run, a weighted pack stair climb or dry tooling on the tread wall!
Scott has been an ultrarunner for 25 years and specializes in mountainous 100 milers and last person standing events. He enjoys being in nature and loves pushing his abilities to the limit in rough terrain. His favorite events are those that few people finish and even when showing up really prepared, failure is likely. Consistent, heavy, and varied training allows him to race any distance, any terrain, any time.
Caveman is very lucky to have a wonderful and supportive wife, two awesome kids, a cute dog, and a classroom full of fun Kindergarteners he teaches. He uses only diet, supplements, and exercise to crush an auto-immune disease called ankylosing spondylitis. He frequently uses altitude training to get ready for big challenges.
https://www.strava.com/athletes/23341722
Hamza Salim is an experienced MMA fighter and coach who trains many fighters, including elite level fighters in the UFC and Bellator. With the heavy demands of MMA fighting, Hamza focuses on tough training cycles of striking, sparring, wrestling, and Jiu Jitsu, balanced with strong recovery, including rest, nutrition, and the healing modalities offered at Evolution.
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.
Mielle is a multidisciplinary cyclist, racer, cyclocross skills coach, and race promoter whose journey into competitive cycling began in 2009. After living with undiagnosed chronic back pain for more than a decade and relying on daily pain medication, she discovered cyclocross through a local skills clinic. Already an accomplished runner and weightlifter who had competed in fitness competitions in the late 1990s, Mielle found that cycling transformed her relationship with movement and health. Following her first cyclocross racing season, she was able to come off all pain medication, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for the sport.
Since then, Mielle has competed across nearly every cycling discipline, developing a particular love for cyclocross, mountain biking, and gravel racing. She has raced throughout the United States, Canada, and Spain, with recent highlights including a first-place age group finish at the Santa Vall Gravel Stage Race in Spain. Today, much of her racing is done on a single-speed bike in the Masters 1/2 category.
In 2014, Mielle founded Cyclocross Playground PDX, a series of cyclocross skills clinics that has helped introduce countless riders to the sport in a welcoming and supportive environment. For Mielle, building confidence and bike-handling skills goes hand in hand with fostering a strong sense of community.
In 2025, she organized, fundraised for, and directed her first cycling race alongside her racing team, with all proceeds benefiting a local youth cycling development program.
Giving back remains a central part of Mielle’s mission. She volunteers with the Oregon Food Bank, leads beginner rides and trail stewardship projects with NW Trail Sisters, and supports cycling events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Whether racing, coaching, promoting events, or mentoring new riders, Mielle is passionate about creating opportunities for others to experience the confidence, connection, and joy that cycling has brought to her own life.
Ivan is a Czech-born mountaineer, athlete, and outdoor enthusiast with a deep passion for fitness, endurance, and adventure. He recently completed his 10th summit of Mt. Hood, alongside summits of Mt. Rainier (x2), Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams, and five summits of Mt. St. Helens. His outdoor accomplishments also include summiting Half Dome in Yosemite and thru-hiking the Enchantments twice.
Outside of the mountains, Ivan is dedicated to health and performance, having competed in several men’s physique competitions. Whether he’s training in the gym, backpacking through the wilderness, or pushing himself on alpine climbs, you’ll usually always find him outdoors.
In 2024, he married his beautiful wife, Gia, in a backpacking elopement in the Dolomites. He is currently training alongside her to summit Kilimanjaro next year as they continue chasing new adventures together.
Gia is a backpacking and hiking enthusiast, beginner mountaineer, and content creator that is passionate about adventure She was featured on the May 2024 cover of Via, the AAA magazine, and had an article cover in Bend Magazine. Her recent mountain summits include Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and South Sister, in addition to thru hiking the Enchantments twice, summiting Half Dome in Yosemite, and hiking Angel’s Landing in Zion twice.
Beyond the outdoors, Gia has worked in the fashion industry for seven years; 5 of those managing a women’s clothing boutique. She loves inspiring others to step outside their comfort zones whether through travel, fitness, hiking, or everyday adventure.
In 2024, she married her amazing husband, Ivan, during a backpacking elopement in the Dolomites and their life continues to be one thrilling adventure after another. She is currently training for more PNW summits and ultimately Kilimanjaro with her husband next year.
Jenna’s passion for the mountains began with rock climbing in high school and expanded into alpine climbing, ice climbing, and skiing after moving to Portland in 2020. Since discovering the vibrant mountain community of the Pacific Northwest, she has pursued challenging objectives across the globe, combining technical skill, endurance, and a deep love for adventure.
Her climbing resume includes high-altitude summits of Antisana, Cotopaxi, Iliniza Sur, Nevado del Tolima, and Pico de Orizaba, along with alpine rock and ice routes throughout the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Utah, Canada, and Montana. She is currently focused on developing her skills on longer and more technical alpine trad and ice objectives, both domestically and internationally.
As a queer athlete living with Type 1 diabetes, Jenna is passionate about increasing access, representation, and inclusion in mountain sports. She is dedicated to supporting women, LGBTQ+ athletes, and individuals navigating chronic illness, helping others build confidence, develop technical skills, and learn to safely pursue ambitious goals in the mountains. Through mentorship and community engagement, she strives to demonstrate that chronic illness does not have to limit adventure.
Outside of climbing, Jenna actively volunteers in healthcare and mountain education. She serves as an Emergency Department volunteer and clinical research intern with OHSU Emergency Medicine and is deeply involved with the Mazamas, where she serves as a Steep Snow & Ice Committee Co-Coordinator and volunteers with both the Basic Climb Education Program and Intermediate Climb School.
For the past several years, Evolution’s altitude room has been an integral part of Jenna’s training for high-altitude expeditions.
“I invest long hours in the altitude room before major climbs, and it’s made a huge difference in my overall performance in the backcountry. Evolution has also been an incredible place to dial in diabetes management at altitude while training for the objectives I’m chasing.”
Meet Francisco, a Mexican-American multi-sport athlete with a deep passion for the outdoors. For over 14 years, he has been an active member of the Northwest community, participating in skiing, climbing, and cycling.
Francisco has honed his diverse skills over more than a decade. He is a mountain and road biker, and beginner racer in Cyclocross. He skis both uphill and downhill, through ski mountaineering. Francisco’s love for climbing has led him to be employed as an AMGA Apprentice Single Pitch Instructor With Everybody Climbs.
Francisco’s involvement in the Mazamas, Climbing Education Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Intermediate Climbing School (ICS), Advanced Rock (AR), and Mazamas Backcountry Ski Course is a testament to his experience and commitment to his craft.
But Francisco’s commitment to the outdoors extends beyond his personal pursuits. He is a passionate advocate for outdoor access for BIPOC communities, and he is actively involved in several clubs and organizations that focus on networking, education, and advocacy. He believes that providing welcoming environments that connect communities of color together is essential for the future of protecting our wilderness. As a volunteer lead with Latino Outdoors, Francisco organizes and facilitates outdoor trips for the Latino community at low to no-cost to participants. He also contributes his love of the outdoors with other groups such as Open Slopes and Bike POC Northwest by assisting at events. He is a true inspiration, and his passion for connecting communities of color to the outdoors is infectious
Aleesha grew up in Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB before finishing up high school in the States. Like many multi-sport, endurance focused athletes she is a recovering soccer/football/fussball player, having played from a young age, all the way to the Frauen-Regionalliga. She grew up, as many Canadians do, skiing her local mountains, and still can’t think of a much better day than a day out in the mountains. After graduating High School early she got her CSIA Level 1, and started working as a Ski Instructor in Southeastern BC. Aleesha continued working as a ski instructor part-time though club football, and eventually a Civil Engineering degree at UBC. While at UBC she was heavily involved in BIPOC and Women in Engineering advocacy work.
While in university, Aleesha got her AST 1, and has been seeing her ski days become more and more human powered since. Aleesha moved to Portland in 2024 from Germany, wanting to get closer to home, and closer to the mountains in the PNW. Upon arriving in Portland she got plugged into the BikePOCNW community, through which she’s found some amazing folks and some success as a beginner Cyclocross athlete. Turns out getting left behind on BC North Shore trails by her dad growing up had some upside.
Aleesha’s parents were both climbers in the lower mainland when Squamish was really going off, she has memories of running around climbing gyms and flashing your projects in running shoes ;). At first reluctant to get into climbing, a few years ago she followed in her parents footsteps and started pulling on rock and plastic. Her immediate goals for the year are doing some local BC multi-pitches so her parents will stop dogging her, getting faster on the bike (perhaps at a cyclocross track near you), and training to summit one of her new neighbouring mountains.
Luis grew up in Caracas, Venezuela where he discovered his passion for rock climbing. He moved to the US in 2014 to pursue a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, graduating from Portland State University in 2016.
In 2020 Luis started Everybody Climbs (EC). A rock guiding service that aims to improve diversity and representation in the outdoors by working with nonprofits to provide affordable access to outdoor climbing education for underrepresented minorities. At the same time, Luis provides mentorship and a platform through EC for other BIPOC instructors to explore a career in the field.
Luis works as a full-time mechanical engineer and is also a certified Single Pitch Instructor and Apprentice Rock Guide. Luis is currently pursuing his Rock Guide Certification through the AMGA and is planning to use the altitude room as a tool to build fitness and prepare for his final assessments as well as personal climbing goals.
Jeffrey is an accomplished endurance athlete, dedicated community advocate, and proud member of Evolution Healthcare & Fitness’s Athlete Ambassador team.
A passionate runner with a marathon personal best of 2:50, Jeffrey has demonstrated the discipline, consistency, and commitment required to perform at a high level. His performance at the Cologne Marathon reflects years of focused training and a relentless pursuit of improvement.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Jeffrey is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He serves on the foundation board of his former grade school, helping support future generations of students and families. He is also an active participant in the annual Ride for a Child fundraiser, supporting Candlelighters for Children with Cancer and families navigating childhood cancer through Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The event helps raise between $150,000 and $200,000 each year to support children and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
When he’s not training or racing, Jeffrey can often be found running with Portland’s vibrant Away Days Run Club community, building connections and encouraging others through a shared love of movement.
Peter Marbach’s distinguished career spans three decades creating evocative landscapes of unspeakable beauty. He has authored several coffee table books and has numerous regional and national publication credits. A self-portrait celebrating sunrise on the summit of Mt Hood, one year after open heart surgery, graced the cover of a National Geographic map of the Cascades. His 2019 book, “Healing The Big River – Salmon Dreams and the Columbia River Treaty” continues to educate the public about the importance of modernizing the Columbia River Treaty.
Marbach’s work has evolved over the years to pursue projects that contribute to the community at large, from working with tribes and first nations in their quest to restore salmon runs on the Columbia, or his volunteer work in Nepal supporting educational advancement for people in marginalized communities.
His projects have been featured on Oregon Field Guide, OPB’s Think Out Loud, and recently on KGW’s Grant’s Getaways.
In May 2020, Marbach began a two year project with the Oregon Historical Society to document the best of Oregon’s state park system timed to celebrate the centennial in 2022 of Oregon’s treasured parks.
Peter was recently commissioned by the Oregon Historical Society to create imagery for a 2023 exhibit, “Portland – Past and Present ”, locating and recreating contemporary images of historical scenes in Portland.
Todd started rowing in 1992 as a freshman in college at the University of Buffalo, in Buffalo, NY. He was hooked immediately on the sport, with its mental and physical challenge. He rowed all four years of college and was team captain his senior year. After completing his undergraduate degree, he stayed in Buffalo working on a Masters Degree in Biochemistry and continuing to row seriously. During this time his racing highlights included winning medals at the US National Championships from 1997 to 2000.
In 2001 he and his wife moved to Portland and he continued to row and train in the Masters category. During this time, he worked in a lab at OHSU and in 2005 he began coaching rowing. For a few years he worked part-time at OHSU, coached part-time, and continued to train and compete. In 2009, he began coaching rowing as his primary occupation. He coached at a variety of places including Willamette University, University of Portland, and a four-year stint from 2013-2017 coaching the University of Wisconsin Women’s Rowing Team. He is currently the Women’s Coach at Station L Rowing Club here in Portland.
Todd moved back to Portland in 2017 and things began to change physically for him. He noticed he was unusually fatigued that fall during his training for a large rowing competition. He didn’t think much of it. During the spring of 2018 the fatigue worsened and he developed a tremor in his left hand and foot. After several months of testing he was formally diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in August of 2018 at age 44. He was devastated and thought his athletic days were over.
After a few months he started slowly training again. In early 2019 he reached out to US Rowing inquiring about getting classified as an adaptive athlete. After several months he was classified as a Paralympic athlete and reached out to the Head Coach of the US Paralympic Rowing Team. The Head Coach asked for some results on the rowing machine and video of Todd on the water, and with that invited him to Boston to compete for a spot on the US Paralympic National Rowing Team.
He had a wild summer in Boston. Early in the summer he raced at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan, Poland, in a mixed-gender four-person boat finishing in 1st place for the US. Eventually, he ended up in a two-person boat and raced in the PR3 Men’s Pair event at the World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria, finishing in 6th place.
He currently training full-time to earn a spot in the mixed gender four-person boat that will race at the Tokyo Paralympics. He is training 12-14 times a week, sometimes more. He is on the water training six mornings a week, lifting three times a week, get in a session or two a week on the rowing machine in the altitude room, plus time on the bike.
Evan is from the great state of Ohio and has lived now in Vancouver WA for 5 years. This year Evan moved his Physical Therapy practice to Evolution and is excited to join this amazing community.
He has been a professional triathlete for now 3 years racing primarily over the Half Ironman distance. He has competed in races across the country but enjoys local PNW races and the west coast professional Ironman races.
Amy “VT” is a professional triathlete, and an ultra-distance competitor in endurance running and cycling. The Ultraman double-iron distance is her forté having attained a career highlight with an overall win (including men) at Ultraman Israel in 2018, after her win in Canada in 2017, which was historically the closest competitive race in Ultraman history. She successfully qualified as a top-1% internationally-ranked triathlete for five years, competing in Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii until she qualified for her professional license in 2015. In addition to winning Ultraman, she has since placed in six major international half- and full-iron distance events including perennially placing among the pro field at Ironman Mont Tremblant. VT is passionate about balancing out life as a professional triathlete with off-road cycling, gravel, cyclocross, and trail running events. VT lives and spends most of the year training in Portland, Oregon. For her full-time career, she capitalizes on her Masters in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University and her career history in college admissions to counsel high school students and families in navigating the college search and application process. She represents Optic Nerve Eyewear, Quintana Roo Bicycles, Rolf Prima Wheel Systems, Evolution Healthcare and Fitness, rnnr accessories, and PowerBar Sport.
Laura loves adventure, movement, and learning. Making her way through mountains, forests, and trails brings her great joy. Shoes, bikes, crampons, and skis are her primary tools for adventure. You will find her outdoors in all seasons, exploring new routes and new places, and playing with different aspects of endurance training.
A process-oriented person, she most enjoys the training itself, with all of its ups and downs, building, rebuilding, and the resilience of the journey. In recent years, she has focused her efforts on ultra-trail running events, and finds herself just as fascinated by the physical exertion required as she is of the psychological aspects of training and racing. Multi-day stage racing is her favorite form, although she enjoys running all distances, from 1 to 100 miles.
This year, she looks forward to focusing on the 100k racing distance, pacing and supporting friends at Western States 100M, and running a circumnavigation of Mont Blanc.
Laura loves local government as much as she loves trails, and outside of her recreational interests, she works as a local government and land use attorney, where she aims to help grow and improve communities.
At Evolution, you will most often find her in the open gym or the high-altitude training room, rucking at an incline on the treadmilll or stairsteppping at 10,000’. If you see her in there, say hello!
Theresa grew up just outside of Spokane, WA, and started running on the dirt roads around her house when she was 15. She ran all throughout high school and was eager to continue her running journey into college. It was ultimately the trails of Forest Park that brought her to Portland, and because of those trails (and the ever-growing running community) she never wanted to leave.
After running collegiately for 4 years, and graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, she set her sights on some bigger running goals – racing marathons. She instantly fell in love! Over the years she has completed 14 marathons, dropped her time from 3:14 to 2:36, and qualified for the 2020 and 2024 Marathon Olympic Trials. She has dreams of making it to the Olympics, but patience is her strength. As she continues to chip away at her marathon time, she can’t help but be excited for her next big goal: breaking 2:30 in the marathon. Theresa works full time as a Mechanical Engineer and she is sponsored by Oiselle and Littlewing Athletics. She is thrilled to be part of the Evolution Team!
My love for moving in the outdoors started as soon as I could stand! I grew up skiing and hiking with my family in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and spent months canoe tripping in Algonquin Park, Ontario. I went to Colby College in Maine, and spent way too many school days skiing and snowboarding at Sugarloaf. During college and while in grad school for my master’s in Pediatric Nursing at Yale University, I worked at Eastern Mountain Sports and spent my free time in North Conway, exploring Mt. Washington and the Presidentials in all seasons. Despite my love for New England glacial granite, I had always felt a draw to the West coast, and my husband and I moved out to Portland in 2014, where I began working at OHSU as a Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Orthopedics. We came to the PNW for our jobs, and stayed for the outdoors! Over time, my background of hiking and backpacking blended with a lifelong habit of road running, and morphed into the trail and ultrarunning I am now so passionate about. I’ve adventured and raced all over the West, and even raced a few times back on the East Coast, including the Boston Marathon. In the summer you can usually find me on the trails, laughing and eating snacks with friends, in the Gorge or on the Cascade volcanoes. Some of my favorite adventures include running the TMB around Mont Blanc, the Grand Canyon’s Rim to Rim to Rim, the Catalina Island Traverse, the Wonderland Trail, the North Cascades, many trips around the Loowit & Timberline Trails, Middle Sister, Colorado’s San Juans, and exploring the Eastern Sierra each summer. I also enjoy toeing the line at trail races both long and short! I’ve raced two 100 milers, finishing 1st at Orcas 100 in 2024 and 6th at IMTUF in 2021. In 2023, I raced 4 times, finishing 4th at Wy’east Wonder 50k, 3rd at Dark Divide 50k, 1st at Angel’s Rest 10k, and 1st at Fall Back 100k. Plans for 2024 include… more mountains!! I’ll be heading back to the Eastern Sierra and the San Juans this summer to prep for UTMB’s TDS race in August, a grueling 93 mile loop around Mont Blanc with over 30,000 feet of steep climbing. I love meeting new folks in the outdoor community in Portland, and I’m always down for a run or hike, outdoors or in the altitude room at Evolution!
