Our Story

YuSquatch was born out of one person’s dream to live fully in the wild — and one unforgettable journey north.

Raph, an adventurer from Quebec, is the founder of YuSquatch and the spark behind everything we do. After serving six years in the military, he traded structure for freedom, bought a van, and set off across Canada with a simple goal: to live outside, explore remote places, and reconnect with nature. The deeper he went into the backcountry, the clearer it became — this was the life he wanted. And when he reached the Yukon, it all clicked.

Endless spruce forests. Jagged peaks. Midnight sun. Wild rivers and tundra valleys. It was everything adventure should be — raw, remote, and real. Raph created YuSquatch to share that experience with others. Not just through guided hikes, but through full immersion: traveling together in a converted bus, camping in the wild, cooking over fire, and waking up to nothing but mountains and silence.

Over the years, Raph has spent countless days and nights in the mountains — hiking, climbing, mountaineering, and leading groups deep into the wilderness. His experience and dedication to safety have shaped YuSquatch into what it is today. As he continues his path toward becoming a full ACMG Mountain Guide, his goal remains the same: to help others experience the raw beauty and freedom of life in the North.

Today, YuSquatch is more than a guiding company — it’s a way of life built on connection, challenge, and simplicity. Every trip is designed to bring people off-grid and into nature: to hike where there are no trails, to sit around fires under northern skies, and to live the kind of adventure that first inspired it all.

Founder & Lead Guide (ACMG Certified Top Rope Climbing instructor and Apprentice Hiking Guide) 

Raphael

Before becoming a guide, Raph’s life looked very different. Born on the East Coast of Quebec, he joined the military right after high school and served for six years. But everything changed when he first laid eyes on the mountains. The raw beauty, the challenge, and the sense of community pulled him in.

From that moment on, he set his sights on the outdoors — trading the military for a life of climbing, hiking, skiing, and guiding. He began training and taking courses to become a certified mountain guide, diving headfirst into a new way of life.

His travels have taken him through South and Central America, Northern Canada, and deep into the Alaskan wilderness, always chasing wild places and new challenges.

Now, through Yusquatch Mountain Adventures, Raph shares that passion with others — helping people experience real adventure in some of the most remote, awe-inspiring landscapes on the continent.

Partner Guides

Certified Collaborators

Depending on the trip, we collaborate with ACMG-certified guides and local experts who bring years of technical experience and deep knowledge of the terrain. It’s part of our commitment to keeping our standards high — offering safe, professional, and unforgettable adventures.

It allows us to offer specialized experiences — from mountaineering to ski touring — while keeping the wild YuSquatch spirit alive.

Marketing & Admin

Stephanie

Originally from the Netherlands, Stephanie always felt out of place in the flat, paved world of city life. After years in the corporate grind in Amsterdam, she traded her desk for a backpack and began exploring the world — traveling solo through Asia, Central America, and Europe whenever she could break away.

The mountains gave her what city life never could: space to breathe, freedom to roam, and a deeper connection to the wild.

Her travels eventually led her to Canada and the Yukon — a place that still feels remote and truly wild. At YuSquatch, Stephanie focuses on sharing the magic of the Yukon with others and helping to put this incredible territory on the map for those seeking real wilderness and adventure.