About Us

Justin Ibarra

Co-Owner/Operations Director/Lead Guide and Instructor

Raised in Colorado, Justin has been a guide and outdoor educator for nearly 20 years. He attended Colorado Mountain College for Outdoor Recreation Leadership and along with being Ops Director/Co-Owner Justin leads AIARE Avalanche Education and ACA Swiftwater Rescue Courses, and is a year round Lead Guide and guide trainer for CAG. Justin is medically certified as a Wilderness First Responder and has various other certifications and training’s including High Angle Rescue, Bike Instructor Certification Program, Pro 3 Avalanche, AIARE Course Leader, and AMGA Ski Guide Course Completion. His passion, tactfulness, and overall stoke for being in the mountains is contagious and he loves to share these experiences with others.

Paul Schmidt

Lead Ski Guide / AIARE Instructor

Growing up on the East Coast, Paul often skipped school to go hiking on whatever trails he could find nearby. He fell in love with the mountains while visiting family in the Alps as a boy and moved to Colorado shortly after graduating from college. He currently works as an Avalanche Technician at a local ski area in Summit County.  He has ski patrolled and guided in New Zealand, Alaska, and Japan and is a certified AMGA Ski Guide.  He also holds AIARE Level 3, Course Leader, Emergency Medical Technician certifications.

Mike Restivo

Office/Customer Experience Manager

Michael was born far from the mountains in Miami Florida but after a six-month volunteer opportunity in Nepal, he developed a passion for climbing and mountaineering. After graduating from FIU, he switched coasts and landed in Seattle where he learned to climb in the North Cascades and grew a new love for skiing. He then moved to Boulder where he fell in love with the backcountry ski community, which brought him to Summit County. When he’s not outside you can find him spending hours in his kitchen. Michael is extremely passionate about providing the best experiences for Colorado Adventure Guides’ guests.

Mikey Alosio

AIARE Instructor/ Ski & Splitboard Guide

Raised in San Clemente, CA, Mikey had thirst for adventure which lured him into the mountains after high school. Landing in Crested Butte, CO he immediately began splitboarding in his local mountains. Racing dirt bikes and MTB through college, splitboarding became a way for him to keep excitement through winter months. Being consumed by snow covered peaks and the solitude of untouched lines, the backcountry experience quickly evolved into his lifestyle. More than 10 years later, he has found a spot on the team at CAG working as an AIARE avalanche instructor and guide.

Aaron Rose

AIARE Instructor/ Ski & Splitboard Guide

Aaron Rose grew up in North Carolina where he chased large swells in the fall and winter on the 

Outer Banks and in the Cape Fear region. After relocating to Colorado to teach in Aurora Public Schools, he transitioned to snowboarding and has spent over a decade exploring Colorado’s backcountry as a splitboarder.

Aaron is WFR certified, an AIARE avalanche instructor, and a winter backcountry splitboard guide. He teaches avalanche courses in American Sign Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. When not chasing pow or spending time with his family, Aaron supports marketing and outreach for nonprofits and serves as president of the US Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association.

Emil Ortiz

Peak Ascent, Snowshoe, and Ski/Splitboard Guide

Emil Ortiz is a passionate and dedicated backcountry guide based in Summit County, Colorado. A Puerto Rican who grew up in Philadelphia, Emil discovered his love for the mountains after moving to the Colorado Rockies in 2015. With a deep connection to the outdoors, Emil has spent the past 10 years honing his skills as a splitboarder, venturing into remote alpine terrain and exploring some of the most challenging backcountry landscapes. Emil is just now entering the AMGA track as his goal is to become the first Puertorican IFMGA Certified Guide.

As an Apprentice AMGA Splitboard & Alpine Guide, Emil brings both technical expertise and a personal passion for the mountains to every expedition. He has led expeditions on the towering 6,000-meter volcanoes of South America, and has splitboarded 30 of Colorado’s 58 fourteeners. His backcountry experience also spans thru all of the stunning volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest, where he has explored their rugged beauty extensively.
Emil’s favorite terrain to ride are steep, thrilling couloirs, which reflect his love for adrenaline-filled adventures in the mountains. Alongside his technical qualifications, Emil is committed to creating a more inclusive and welcoming space for Latinx communities in the backcountry, striving to share his cultural heritage and passion for the wilderness with others.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or new to the backcountry, Emil is dedicated to helping you explore, learn, and appreciate the vast, wild landscapes with safety, skill, and heart.

Instagram: emill0rtiz

Maddie Short

AIARE Instructor

Madeline grew up in rural Pennsylvania, finding early inspiration in the fields and forests surrounding her family’s farm. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, she headed west in search of bigger, snowier mountains. Since then, Madeline has worked in a variety of roles in environmental education, teaching throughout the American West and Chilean Patagonia, with a particular love for snow and long days outside.

When she’s not at work, Madeline enjoys trail running, alpine naps, and eating cheese.

Katie MacKnight

AIARE Course Leader / Senior Guide

Katie got her start learning to ski in Crested Butte, CO along with her first backcountry hut trip to the nearby 10th Mountain Division Friend‘s Hut. Upon returning to Fort Collins to complete a degree in Restoration Ecology and graduate studies in Forestry/Fire Science, she began familiarizing herself with the Medicine Bow and Never Summer Ranges. She is certified as an EMT-B and then Wilderness First Responder since 2008, Katie has safely enjoyed a decade and a half of navigating Colorado’s big backyard by way of mountain bike, cataraft, and skis and enjoys sharing that passion with others. We are stoked to have Katie on our team!

Abe Pacharz

Lead Guide and AIARE Course Leader

Abe grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. Growing up in such a beautifully wild place played a large role in developing his love for the outdoors and a passion for exploring. After getting his start as a guide for the University of Vermont outing club, he spent almost 10 years traveling the western states, guiding French adventurers through our beautiful National Parks. His passion for guiding and outdoor education has inspired him to pursue training from the IMBA, AIARE, Wilderness Medicine Institute, and continues to pursue other guide certifications.

Nathan Perrault

AIARE Instructor

After graduating high school in Maryland, Nate enlisted in the Marines at 17 years old as an infantryman. After his military service, he moved to Colorado to pursue a degree in Natural Resource Management at Colorado State University (CSU). During his time at CSU, he started to cut his teeth in climbing and backcountry skiing in the Poudre Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park. He soon started volunteering for Veterans Expeditions, a nonprofit organization that gets military vets out in the mountains. Through this organization, Nate gained experience leading climbing and backcountry skiing trips on the high peaks in the Western United States.

JP Pickell

AIARE Instructor/ Snowshoe, Ski & Splitboard Guide

JP grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, developing a love for the outdoors while exploring the forests, lakes, and rolling hills of Wisconsin and Michigan. Drawn west by a deep passion for winter and snow, he landed in Colorado and quickly immersed himself in splitboarding and backcountry travel. JP holds Pro 1 Avalanche Training, is an AIARE Instructor, and a certified Wilderness First Responder. He’s passionate about helping others build the skills and confidence to experience the freedom of earning your turns in Colorado’s backcountry.

Brittany Konsella

AIARE Instructor/Senior Ski Guide

Brittany’s passion for skiing started on the tiny slopes of Boston Mills, Ohio. Her love for skiing drove her to attend college at CU Boulder majoring in Chemistry while also competing in Freestyle skiing, followed by 5 years of coaching at Winter Park ski resort. In 2006, Brittany set a goal to ski all of Colorado’s 14,000-ft peaks and in 2011 she became the 2nd woman to do so. Since then, she has sought to inspire others to venture into the backcountry. As a former secondary math and science teacher, Brittany is also a life-long educator and now extends those skills to her true passion, skiing, by teaching recreation-level avalanche courses. She also co-authored Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes: Colorado with her husband, Frank Konsella. Aside from skiing, Brittany also enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing, and just about anything that involves long days in the mountains.

Tanner Thompson

Lead River Guide/ Senior Peak Ascent, Hike, MTB Guide

Tanner left his southern roots in Arkansas to discover his passion for the mountains and rivers of Colorado at the early age of 15. He works as a Lead Whitewater Guide in the summers, and in the winters manages the Demo Center for CAG’s gear rental program as well as snowshoe guides while expanding his skill sets within the splitboarding and Peak Ascents disciplines. Tanner is adept at crafting comfort out of very little thing in the mountains. He spent a collective 10 years working as a wildland firefighter, Search and Rescue Technician, and acquiring whitewater boating skills on the western slope of Colorado.

Todd Ipsen

AIARE Instructor/Ski and Splitboard Guide

Todd grew up in Colorado’s front range, where as soon as he was old enough to drive, fell in love with backcountry skiing and riding on Berthoud and Loveland pass.  That was over 20 years ago and Todd now works full time as a Professional Engineer while living in Glenwood Springs, CO with his wife and two boys, but his true passions are backcountry adventuring and empowering others to do so safely. Todd’s lifelong passion for mountains, safety, and science have led him on a professional path, where he operates as an AIARE avalanche instructor, Ski Guide, and Wilderness First Responder, while holding a Pro 1 and Swift Water Rescue Level IV certification.

CJ Hoffman

AIARE Instructor, Ski/Splitboard Guide, Rock Guide

Originally from Minnesota, CJ grew up chasing gates on the ski hill before trading icy race courses for Colorado powder. He guides backcountry skiing, rock climbing, and ice climbing with Colorado Adventure Guides and loves helping others discover what makes the mountains so special. When he’s not out guiding, you’ll probably find him climbing, skiing, or scheming the next adventure.

Jess Lewis

AIARE Instructor

Jess Lewis is an AIARE avalanche instructor with Colorado Adventure Guides and has been teaching with CAG since 2024. With a deep background in mountain travel, winter backcountry education, and risk management, Jess brings a clear, grounded teaching style that helps students build confidence, awareness, and sound decision-making in avalanche terrain. In addition to her work with CAG, Jess owns and operates The Lost Wonder Hut, a backcountry ski hut in the Colorado high country, which further deepens her connection to winter travel and mountain safety. When she’s not teaching AIARE courses, Jess can be found exploring snowy landscapes, instructing wilderness medicine, swiftwater rescue, river running, or coaching leaders in the outdoor community through her company, Wyld Heart.

Steve Stowell

AIARE Instructor, Ski and Splitboard Guide, Hike/Peak Ascent Guide

Steve grew up skiing in upstate NY, then got lucky enough to ski mountaineer in the Army here in Colorado and Washington.  After the Army Steve was active in Search & Rescue, teaching high angle rope rescue and avalanche search and rescue, on and around Pikes Peak.  Steve loves winter sports and is competing in the super niche sport of Biathlon- skiing & shooting. Steves certifications include BICP Ride Leader,  Avalanche Professional level 1, and he is a current Emergency Medical Responder.

Jessica Lobeck

AIARE Instructor

Born and raised in NY Jessy studied fine art at Carnegie Mellon University and has continued to work in art and design. Her passion for adventure moved her out west where she created a life in Steamboat Springs. After many decades of backcountry adventures, she followed her passion for being out there in the mountains by studying and becoming an AIARE avalanche instructor and a wilderness First Responder. Her goal is to teach and prepare people to be safe and confident in the backcountry, hopefully inspiring them to get out there more. Any day looking at snow crystals, splitboarding, skiing, mtn biking or bikepacking is a good one. When she is not teaching Avi rec courses to adults she is coaching and teaching local teens in Steamboat Springs how to travel in the winter backcountry or improving their mtn biking skills.

Forrest Schmidt

AIARE Instructor/Ski & Splitboard Guide

Tico Gangulee

AIARE Course Leader/ IFMGA Guide

Tico got his start as a rock guide in the Gunks in the mid 90’s, and continued on to work in every western state and 5 continents as a rock, alpine, and ski guide.  He has a couple degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, is an IFMGA ski and mountain guide, an AIARE course leader, and a Wilderness First Responder (for over 25 years, but still doesn’t use it much).  His favorite hobbies include visiting new bouldering gyms and breweries, first descent expeditions, and powerlifting competitions.

Zach Herwehe

AIARE Instructor / Senior Ski Guide

Zach was fortunate enough to grow up in beautiful Breckenridge Colorado. While he spent some time in other places he had always gravitated back to Summit Country. Skiing has always been a major part of his life and over the past ten years the back country has captured my interest. Zach holds his AIARE Instructor, AAA Pro 1 and a AMGA Ski Guide Course completion. When he is not out skiing Zach works full-time as a Firefighter in Fort Collins.

Sam Streletsky

Lead Mountain Bike Guide / Instructor

Sam is a BICP Level 2 MTB coach who lives in Silverthorne, now in her third summer of guiding with CAG. She grew up in the Boston area before moving to Vermont, where she was a teacher and volunteer firefighter/EMT.

Sam runs a Bike Match Program for the Cycle Effect, fixing donation bikes and matching them with members of the community. She also oversees the Team Summit Ski Racing Development team in the winter. Sam loves teaching clinics, getting more people on bikes, and enjoys racing in the Summit Mountain Challenge series.

Nicholas Bollen

AIARE Instructor

Eligar Sadeh

Peak Ascent/Hike Guide, Snowshoe Guide, MTB Guide

Eligar has called Colorado home since 1968. He is passionate about outdoor activities in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, enjoying hiking, peak ascents, mountain biking, bike packing, and telemark skiing at resorts and in the backcountry. Eligar moved to the Rockies of Summit County and Breckenridge in 2021 becoming a certified guide with training from Adventure Travel West, AIARE, Bike Instructor Certification Program, and Wilderness Medical Associates. He guides hiking, perak ascents, mountain biking, and snowshoe tours, and is currently engaged in the certification process for backcountry skiing. Eligar enjoys sharing his passion for the mountain outdoors and love for our mountain community with clients.

Graham Bates

River Guide, Demo Center Tech, Snowshoe Guide