By Mark Gunlogson

Each of us possesses unique and special gifts, often their value unseen - until it's lost. Steve's gift of gab was legendary. My first encounter with this was at an outdoor retail store in Seattle. Steve worked at Marmot Mountain Works in the late 1980's. When I saw Steve working behind the climbing gear counter, I knew a six-minute purchase of specialized climbing gear I needed could turn into a half-hour of chit chat, something I didn’t always have time for. Later, in 2014, when I hired Steve to work at Mountain Madness, he seemed an obvious fit given his experience as a climber, having co-owned a guide service, his natural ability for sales, and his wealth of knowledge. The perfect choice!

"Steve’s obsession with all things outdoors was always there," his brother, Greg wrote us. "As a family, from the time I can remember, camping and outdoor adventures were the norm. A family sized canvas tent, Coleman Stove and lantern in tow; the folks would load up the VW van or Suburban, and away we would go, rain or shine. With destinations all over the Pacific Northwest, including California and western Canada. Steve’s first ascent was Mt St Helens, followed by Mt Adams. As I recall he was a junior in high school at the time. Reflecting on Steve, he was one of those people who set a course for adventure and travel – and off he went. I believe more than “wanting” to go, Steve “had” to go. While he took from the mountains and forest what he needed, he also gave back through his Search and Rescue service, his teaching and sharing of his adventures."

This passion for all things outdoors led him to co-found Cascade Alpine Guides, work for years at iconic outdoor retailer, Marmot Mountain Works in Seattle, do a stint in Belize running a scuba diving shop, and teach Wilderness First Aid and EMT courses around the country, including an assignment at the military base on Wake Island. His last eight years were spent at Mountain Madness as our International Program Director. Luckily, he was also able to travel to Scotland in 2018 to facilitate our inaugural MM Highlands trek and absorb the culture and traditions of his Scottish ancestry. A fitting last big adventure in a life filled with amazing experiences.

"The defining moment for Steve that took him from someone who simply enjoyed the outdoors to someone who was going to dedicate himself to the outdoor life, was the death of a grade school friend and his father who perished in a sudden snow storm while elk hunting in the Cascades," Greg Guthrie, Steve's brother shared. "That loss lit a fire in Steve to learn all that he could do to try and save lives in the forests and mountains. Not long after, Steve became involved with “ESR” - Explorer Search and Rescue where he was exposed to all aspects of the operations. The skills he learned during this time forged a basis for his future endeavors. I still vividly remember his account of his first helicopter ride into the mountains on a search and rescue mission."

In honor of Steve we've set-up a donation link to Seattle Mountain Rescue. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for a shelter at their campus for training and teaching outdoor classes. DONATE HERE