Jeffrey Mascaro

Smiling man taking a selfie outdoors with mountains in the background. He is wearing a purple jacket and an orange layer underneath, near a river.

Jeffrey Mascaro

Jeff is the founder, a director, and lead guide of Smile Mountain Guides.

Considered a student, educator, and guide Jeff shares his passion for growth and exploration in the mountains through the lens of teaching, using the outdoors as a classroom.

From a foundation of building and leading high-performance teams in the Earth Treks climbing gyms and its Outdoor Climbing School, extensive personal travels to both climb and find growth and new perspectives, and education through the American Mountain Guides Association, Jeff is in a unique position to educate, inspire, and motivate you on your next adventure!


Jeff spends most of his time guiding private guests and small groups in Colorado, Utah, and Washington, helping them to achieve their goals in the mountains by building and arranging custom, personalized itineraries that build upon previous experiences. Consistency leads to the summit!

If he’s not guiding you’ll find him enjoying food and espresso, European style with friends. 


He encourages anyone interested in climbing and guiding to reach out or take one of his free guide-mentorship days

Check out Jeff’s story and mission for Smile Mountain Guides

A climber in an orange jacket, black cap, and gloves, preparing climbing gear on a rocky mountain slope with snow-capped peaks in the background.

Jeff’s Professional Credentials

+ AMGA Certified Alpine Guide

+AMGA Certified Rock Guide

+AMGA SPI Program Provider

+A3 Approved Pro 2 Avalanche Certification

+Wilderness First Responder W/ CPR training.

Circular logo for the American Mountain Guides Association featuring a stylized mountain and a climbing pick, with the organization's name around the circle.
Circular logo of the American Mountain Guides Association featuring a stylized cam in the center in red and white.
A climber in orange gear and a blue helmet stands on a snow-covered mountain, holding an ice axe, with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Jeff’s Guiding Accomplishments

+Leadership training facilitator with the Young Presidents’ Organization

+High Altitude Leadership Programming facilitator with UPenn

+Multiple Guided Ascents of the Naked Edge, Eldorado Canyon State Park

+Technical Colorado 14’ers Guided Ascents:

Maroon Bells Traverse, Capitol Peak, Pyramid, Long’s Peak, Eolus, Sunlight, Sneffels, Crestone Peak, and Needle Traverse.

+Cotopaxi, Ecuador (5,897 m)

+Cayambe, Ecuador (5,790 m)

+Stairway to Heaven WI4 III

+Whorehouse Hoses WI5 III

+Gravity’s Rainbow WI5 M3 III

+North Ridge, Forbidden Peak

+West Ridge, Forbidden Peak

+Southface, Petit Grepon

+Culp-Bossier, Hallett’s Peak

+Kor’s Door, Lower East Face Longs Peak

+Kor-Ingalls, Castleton Tower

+North Chimney, Castleton Tower

Mountaineers climbing a snowy mountain landscape with snow-covered peaks in the background and cloudy skies.