Michael Abel
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoe Guide BACKCOUNTRY GUIDe
Michael grew up snowboarding in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia before moving to Boulder in 2011 to start school at the University of Colorado. After a rigorous four years studying Environmental Science (cum laude) and Evolutionary Biology, Michael decided to move away from lab work and focus on what truly made him happy: the outdoors. Since then, he has become an avid split boarder, boater, and backpacker. His outdoor resume includes descents of many classic Colorado ski lines, a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, time spent on the Weminuche and Wind River high routes, and trips down Lodore Canyon, Yampa Canyon, Desolation Canyon, Westwater Canyon, Labyrinth Canyon, Stillwater Canyon, and Cataract Canyon. Outside of guiding and instructing AIARE courses, Michael works on the Arkansas River as a River Ranger for Colorado Park and Wildlife and is finishing his last year of the Avalanche Science Program at Colorado Mountain College where he is working to earn his pro 2 and Snow, Weather and Avalanche Field Technician certificates.
