About Us

Justin Ibarra

Operations Manager/Lead Guide/AIARE Course Leader

Raised in Colorado, Justin has been a guide and outdoor educator for nearly 14 years. He attended Colorado Mountain College for Outdoor Recreation Leadership and along with being Ops Manager Justin leads AIARE Avalanche Education and ACA Swiftwater Rescue Courses, and is Lead Guide and trainer for CAG. Justin is medically certified as a Wilderness First Responder and has various other certifications and training’s including High Angle Rescue and an 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.

Kyle Ervin

Senior Splitboard, Raft, Peak Ascent, Mountain Bike Guide

Born and raised in a small town in South Jersey Kyle made the move out west to Colorado and discovered what he had been missing out on. In the past 5 years he has had a strong appetite for learning and progression that has led him to gain education through the Wilderness Medicine Institute, Desert Mountain Medicine, Colorado Mountain College, Silverton Avalanche School, and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Kyle enjoys whitewater kayaking/rafting, mountain biking, splitboarding, skateboarding, hiking and is currently expanding his skills for ice and rock climbing.

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 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.

Jared Berman

AIARE Instructor/ Ski Guide

Jared is a ski guide and avalanche educator who has been with CAG since 2022. Growing up in the rural parts of New Jersey, he began snowboarding in the small Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He moved to Colorado in the Fall of 2011 to pursue a career in outdoor education. While continuing to snowboard and learning to ski in the Colorado Rockies, he graduated from Colorado Mountain College with a degree in Avalanche Science. Jared currently holds both a  Pro 1 and Pro 2 avalanche certifications. He is also a trained Wilderness First Responder as well as an AIARE avalanche instructor. When not skiing or snowboarding, Jared enjoys spending as much time on the river as possible. 

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.

Abe Pacharz

Lead Guide and AIARE Instructor

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.

Katie MacKnight

AIARE Instructor/ 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!

Clint Decker

AIARE Instructor

Clint moved to Colorado in 2004 to be in the mountains and snowboard. After a few years of in-bounds riding and starting to feel restricted by the resort’s boundaries, he started getting educated and into the backcountry. After climbing and splitboarding some classic routes around Colorado, Wyoming, and Washington State, and two expeditions to the Central Alaska Range, Clint decided to get into formal education and guiding. He is an AIARE Instructor and AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide. He’s learning to ski but still loves splitboarding equally. Clint lives in Silverthorne with his wife, who also loves backcountry skiing, and his dog, Stark.

Chris Edwards

Lead Ski Guide/AIARE Course Leader

Chris “Sunshine” Edwards was born and raised in Detroit, MI. Went to Fort Lewis College in Durango, fell in love with the San Juan Mountains and backcountry skiing. In 2008 he began professionally working as a ski guide and spent 11 winters in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon as the Lead Guide for Wallowa Alpine Huts and as an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center. Chris is an AMGA Ski Guide, has Avalanche Level 3 with AAI, Professional Member of the AAA, Mountain Weather Certificate CAIC, WFR with WMI/NOLS, Grade V License Guide NZRA. He currently lives in Denver and works with CAG in the winters guiding and instructing.

Scott Levin

Senior Ski/Peak/Ice Climbing Guide

After growing up mostly in north Florida, Scott knew he wasn’t suited for warm temps and wetlands. He moved to Colorado as soon as he was able, finding solace in the steep hills. After college Scott found himself living and working seasonally, spending his summers in Alaska as an ice climbing guide and winters in Utah, Colorado, and wherever else had decent snow. He spends his time climbing ice, rock and snow, but is mainly driven by skiing in the backcountry. Scott is currently certified as a Wilderness First Responder. He is pursuing training with the American Mountain Guide Association, and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.

Pat Gephart

Senior Ski & Splitboard Guide

Pat is originally from Pennsylvania and has been snowboarding for 20 years. Honing his skills in the parks and half pipes of the icy east coast, he eventually migrated west and has called Summit County his home for the last 7 years. After he discovered splitboarding in 2014, it quickly becoming his main focus ever since. Navigating the backcountry in Summit County’s complex snow pack helped him focus his attention to snow science and its important role in the decision making process. He is driven by the ever evolving learning process that is required while in the backcountry and loves to share it with others. Pat’s passion is blending splitboarding with alpinism.

Tanner Thompson

Demo Center Manager/River 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

Todd grew up in Colorado’s front range, where he was exposed to adventuring in the Rocky Mountains at a young age. He went to the University of Colorado in 2007 to run track & field while studying engineering, but further fell in love with backcountry skiing, climbing, and whitewater activities. Although working as a Professional Engineer, Todd’s true passions are backcountry adventuring and empowering others to do so safely. His lifelong love for mountains, safety, and science have led him on a path of mountain adventure education, where he is now an AIARE avalanche instructor, Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Level IV trained, and holds a Pro 1 certification.

Tammy Clark

Snowshoe/Nordic and Lead River Guide

Tammy grew up in Colorado where she developed her passion for the mountains and outdoor recreation. She studied nature therapy and loves to be outside with her dog Sunny. Tammy has been a guide for 10  years in Utah, Colorado and Alaska. Tammy is WFR certified and she works as a Lead Whitewater guide in the summers, and guides snowshoeing and nordic skiing in the winter. She is mentoring with an awesome group of women at CAG to expand her backcountry and avalanche knowledge this winter. We are super stoked to have Tammy on the team!

Tarah O'Connor

AIARE Course Leader/ Lead River Guide

After growing up skiing on the east coast, Tarah headed west after college to ski big mountains. Her first season in Colorado she had several experiences with avalanches and decided to learn how to make decisions for herself. After spending almost a decade in the Tetons learning the fine art of being a mentee, Tarah became a pro patroller and worked in CO, ID and UT. These days she works as an AIARE Course leader, guide and EMT and is based out of Utah. Tarah also leads our Women’s Mentorship Program here at CAG in the winter season and helps us out as a Lead River Guide for us in the Summer. We are very excited to have her on the team!

Sean Riley

Lead Rock & Peak Guide/ Senior Ski Guide

Sean has worked with ski patrol for 7 seasons at our local Keystone Ski Resort, in addition to spending a season down on the South Island of New Zealand on the rime covered ski field of Coronet Peak. Sean enjoys nerding out on snow science and making pow turns through the forest. In summer, easy alpine climbs and moderate multi-pitch trad routes are his adventures of choice. He also enjoys spending the shoulder seasons on long mountain bike rides. When he’s not out skiing, climbing, or biking you can probably find him at home staring at maps and planning his next adventure. Sean holds his EMT, AIARE Pro 2, AMGA SPI, and is currently working through is AIARE instructor qualifications.

Susie Nothnagel

Lead Bike & Hike Guide, Senior Ski Guide

Susie grew up in Colorado Springs and ended up settling in Breckenridge, CO where she has lived for the past 24 years. She has been on the Breckenridge Ski Patrol for 22 years and when she’s not working on patrol, she can be found exploring the backcountry ski terrain of Summit County. In the summertime, Susie’s focus shifts to hiking and mountain biking. Susie’s love for hiking has drawn her to some of the best hiking regions in the world, including Nepal, Tibet, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Alaska. Right here in Summit County, there are countless miles of beautiful trails to explore and Susie would love to show you some of her favorite places.

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

Steve Lauder

Snowshoe/Nordic Guide