Peter C. Lev

When I moved to Utah in early 1990´s Peter was a gracious guide of how to live in Salt Lake City. We started a guide service, with Ted Wilson as partner, that still operates as Utah Mountain Adventures. More importantly we did many backcountry ski trips together in company with friends. I remember him skiing uphill with a husky on a leash "pulling" him up. The time saved by this trick was usually more than lost trying to find the dog after the downhill run through the trees!

Peter and I had ambitions to ski down the prominent NW facing slope from the summit of Lone Peak into Big Willow Creek. Twice we made an early start from White Pine, going under Pfeifferhorn to upper Bells Canyon and then the summit. The first time we looked down our fantasy descent it looked like "no place for old men" and an avalanche hazard was declared. The second time, with spring conditions, a rock buttress in the fall line caused the second declaration, "no place for old men".

Peter was a legendary guide for around 50 years. He was convener of the four guides who wrote the "Moose Bar Charter" that established the American Professional Mountain Guides Association in 1980. Other charter members were Yvon Chouinard, Jim Donini and Harry Frishman.
The Moose Bar four created an initial group of 15 "fully certified mountain guides", including Doug Robinson the first AMGA President and myself the second President.

In 1986, when I took over as President, we started both a Certification and an Accreditation program. With Peter´s support, Exum became one of the first Accredited guide services and his example brought in important other guide services like Yosemite and Rainier. Now Exum guides are also individually certified by the AMGA.

The AMGA Board recently voted to give their President´s Award in Peter´s memory. It will be presented at an event in Boulder, CO November 14 2025

Met Peter only once while filming grizzly bears in Glacier Park, MT.
I was the only woman in the company of several men, one of whom was terrifically dismissive of me. Peter stood up for me in a most gracious and bold stance. Such a moment is imbedded in my fond memory of him forever.

Remarkable man and my favorite patient.
Dr. Josef Prchal