Matt Schonwald
is the founder of BC Adventure Guides, a certified Ski-Mountaineering Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association and a certified Avalanche Instructor with the American Avalanche Association dedicated to perfecting his craft. He began skiing as disco was dying at New York’s Hunter Mountain, ’The Snow Making Capital of the World’ and a summer ski trip to Mt Hood inspired him years later to move from New York City to Washington State for college and he never looked back.
Matt let his curiosity for steep, wild snow combine with his passion for travel, and big mountains into guiding, leading trips to Antarctica, Europe, Asia, North & South America.
In an effort to help preserve wild places, Matt completed his MBA in sustainable business from BGI and started his own company, Back Country Adventure Guides. Matt now shares his passion for snow with his daughter between completing his ‘honey do list’ and enjoying the greatest touring on Earth at Snoqualmie Pass.
Steve Showalter
Steve grew up exploring the Appalachian Mountains in his home state of Pennsylvania, where his love for adventure began. Steve’s solid decision-making and operational skills come from eight years of service as an Army Officer with multiple worldwide deployments. Steve is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and AIARE instructor. He has climbed and split-boarded throughout the Cascade, Alaska, Rocky, Sierra and Zagros Ranges. Steve has a passion for working with fellow veterans, non-profit outdoor organizations and continuing his education with the American Mountain Guide Association. Now with the Pacific Northwest his home, he is always up for sharing snow, skin tracks, and smiles on endless backcountry adventures.
Steve has participated in expeditions to the Middle East, Alaska, British Columbia, Picket Range, and Mexico. He also has extensive experience in emergency, critical care, medical evacuation, and trauma treatment as a registered nurse and medic through military operations, mountain rescue, and national ski patrol.
Pablo Puruncajas
fell in love with the mountains at a young age while climbing Ecuador’s volcanoes with his family-owned mountain guide company. He has been guiding in the Andes since 1999 and has been guiding for the past six years in the Northwest United States. In 1997 he expanded his adventure skills by taking on rock climbing. He represented Chimborazo province three times as the Ecuadorian National Rock Climbing Champion. In 2002 he moved to the United States to study English at Eastern Kentucky University. While in the U.S. he has spent his free time exploring the vast alpine, mixed, ice and rock climbing areas, throughout North America. He completed his UIAGM Alpine & Rock certification with the Bolivian Mountain & Trekking Guide Association, accredited by the National School of Ski and Alpinism of Chamonix (ENSA), and has completed Advanced Alpine and Rock Guides Courses with American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA).
