Kevin Cherilla

Kevin Cherilla is a mountaineer, disability advocate, and expedition leader recognized for his work in adaptive adventure and inclusive outdoor leadership. Cherilla began his international mountaineering career as a base camp manager for Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In this role, Cherilla managed communications and logistics, contributing to the success of the historic expedition. He later returned to Everest and reached the summit, marking a significant personal achievement in his mountaineering career.

Following his Everest ascent, Cherilla focused on expanding access to adventure for people with disabilities. He has led expeditions to Everest, Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, and Aconcagua, guiding individuals who are blind, paralyzed, or have limb differences. As expedition leader for a group of 25 climbers, including eight who were blind, Cherilla led a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for people with disabilities. The team set multiple world records, raised significant funds for the blind community in Arizona, and supported a local orphanage for blind, albino children in Tanzania. This experience led Cherilla to co-found K2 Adventures Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals with special needs and medical challenges.

As president of K2 Adventures Foundation and co-founder of K2 Adventure Travel, Cherilla oversees international hiking and climbing programs that integrate service projects, such as building a children's medical and dental center in Tanzania and schools in Nepal and Peru. He has led more than 300 people on expeditions across six continents and 20 countries, with participants ranging in age from 11 to 80 years old and a summit success rate exceeding 92 percent. Notable achievements include guiding a quadruple amputee to the summit of Kilimanjaro, an accomplishment recognized within the adventure and disability advocacy communities.

Cherilla holds a Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology from John Carroll University and a master's degree in health education from Case Western Reserve University. He is an international mountain guide and a certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder. Cherilla has summited five of the Seven Summits and has led over 1,500 individuals to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As a keynote speaker, Cherilla addresses topics such as adaptive leadership, overcoming perceived limitations, goal setting, risk management, and perseverance. His teams have been featured on the front cover of TIME, Outside, Climbing, and Scholastic News magazines, as well as on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and news programs including CNN. Through his expeditions and speaking engagements, Cherilla continues to advance adaptive adventure and promote inclusion in outdoor recreation.