Steve Charest

Co Owner & Guide

A man in bright orange winter clothing with a helmet, sunglasses, and gloves, holding a snow shovel, standing on snowy terrain amidst leafless trees and a snowy hillside.
Circular logo with black and white concentric circles, containing the text 'AMGA', 'CWI', and 'Climbing Wall Instructor'.
Black and white circular logo with text reading 'AMGA' at the top, 'SingIe Pitch Instructor' at the bottom, and 'SPI' in the center.
Red circular logo for American Mountain Guides Association with a figure on a rock climbing wall and the words 'Rock Guide'.
Logo of the American Mountain Guides Association featuring a stylized snowflake and mountain peaks with the text 'Ski Guide'.

IFMGA Aspirant (International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations)

Steve is Petra Cliffs' co-owner, Program Director and Head Guide. He has been professionally guiding rock, ice, mountaineering, and ski mountaineering programs since 2001. Steve has a degree in Outdoor Education from Johnson State College and completed a NOLS Outdoor Educators Course for Mountaineering & Rock to kickstart his career as a mountain guide and educator.

Steve has climbed extensively throughout the US & Canada, including Red Rocks, Yosemite, Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Grand Teton, Devil's Tower, Indian Creek, Rocky Mountain National Park, Joshua Tree, Squamish B.C., Acadia Nat'l Park, Pemberton and locally in the Green Mts., White Mts., and Adirondacks. His favorite backcountry ski descents include the Super C Couloir (Portillo, Chile), Girls Mountain & the Worthington Glacier, (Valdez AK), Shoot the Moon Couloir (Teton Nat'l Park, WY), The Duchess (Tuckerman Ravine, NH), Katahdin, ME, Big Jay (Jay, VT), and a first descent of The Honeymoon Suite (Portillo, Chile).

Steve is involved with the following organizations:

AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association)

  • Certified Rock Guide

  • Certified Ski Guide

  • Certified Guides Co-Op Member

  • Climbing Wall Instructor Provider

  • Single Pitch Instructor

  • Rock Guide Course

  • Advanced Rock Guide Course & Aspirant Exam

  • Alpine Guide Course

  • Ice Instructor Course

  • Advance Alpine Guide Course & Aspirant Exam

  • Ski Guide Course

  • Ski Mountaineering Guide Course & Aspirant Exam

AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education)

  • Certified Pro 2 Avalanche Practitioner

  • Level I & II Lead Course Instructor

American Avalanche Association 

  •  Pro Member