About Eddie Schoen

Eddie Schoen is an IFMGA Licensed American Mountain Guide (learn why this is important). Eddie has been sliding, climbing, and roaming through the world’s mountains for most of his adult life. In 2021, he became the 166th American to achieve IFMGA certification. He has climbed, skied, and guided all around the world including destinations such as the European Alps, Japan’s Hokkaido, the Alaska Range, and India’s Garhwal Himalaya. At home you can find him guiding skiers, climbers, and alpinists year-round throughout Washington’s Cascades and Colorado’s Front Range.


Accomplishments

  • Ascents of rock climbs up to 5.13a & ice climbs up to WI6

  • Steep ski descents such as the Notch Couloir on Longs Peak, Y Couloir on Mt Ypsilon

  • Numerous ski descents of Mt Rainier and Mt Baker

  • Multiple guided expeditions on Denali

  • Solo completion of Teton Grand Traverse in a day (5.8, 12,000’, Grade V)

  • Numerous guided ascents of the Grand Teton, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Longs Peak, and other peaks in the Cascades & Tetons

  • Expeditions to Alaska and Himalaya

Background

Eddie grew up in Chicago and started to pursue his mountain guiding career amongst the humble mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. Having dreamt of sharing his love for climbing and exploration of high places with others, it wasn’t until the AMGA first allowed splitboarders to enter the Ski Guide program in 2014 that the spark was ignited. A mix of youthful brashness and ambition prompted the longtime snowboarder to learn to ski and before long, two sticks replaced one as the main form of travel through snowy mountains. The years that followed brought a migration to the bigger terrain that the American West offered. Eddie started his professional career spending summers in Western Wyoming working for Jackson Hole Mountain Guides in the Tetons, Wind River, and Beartooth Ranges of Wyoming and Montana. Fall and Winters were spent working in Colorado’s Front Range on the roster for Colorado Mountain School. Spring and early summers were spent in Washington’s Cascades and the Alaska Range working for Alpine Ascents International.

Eddie now works primarily for Martin Volken’s Pro Guiding Service based out of Snoqualmie Pass, WA and offering trips throughout the Cascades and International destinations such as Japan and the European Alps. Eddie lives in North Bend, WA and works primarily in Washington’s Cascades while traveling to some of the world’s finest climbing and skiing destinations in between. In addition to his mountain guiding work, Eddie instructs both recreational and professional level avalanche courses and works year-round as a Project Manager for Swiss-based Wyssen Avalanche Control. He is an active member of the American Mountain Guide’s Association (AMGA), American Avalanche Association (A3), and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). Eddie also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Mountain Guides Association.

Affiliations

*Note on permits, access, & rates: Due to the complexities of land management in the U.S., many trips and courses are run under the permits and insurance of affiliated guide service partners. I only work with reputable guide services who conform with the AMGA’s Scope of Practice as well as their local land management’s permitting and access policies. Rates may vary based on location, but on average it costs around $600/day/guide. This cost is split amongst participants on a trip or course, however, ratios are limited for risk management and quality reasons. Maximum ratios for technical climbing are 2:1, up to 6:1 for ski touring, and varies for instructional courses.