Every January, we share a tribute to members of our community who we lost last year. Some were legends, others were pillars of their community, all were climbers. Read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2025 here.
Peter Lev, 85, April 27
Whether climbing or studying snow and weather, Peter Lev was unwaveringly dedicated to his craft. He often joked that he was a nerd who didn’t fit in with the cool kids, but he always felt at home in the mountains. That sense of belonging led to a 50+ year career as a guide and trusted mentor to many.
Peter passed away on April 27, 2025, at the age of 85, in Portland, Oregon. Born on March 4, 1940, he first discovered climbing while in high school in Los Angeles, California, an interest that led him to enroll at the University of Colorado in 1958.
In the summer of 1960, while still a student at CU, Peter hitchhiked to the Tetons with his climbing partner Dave Dornan. That summer proved to be a watershed moment, as he was introduced to Glenn Exum, owner of Exum Mountain Guides. Peter graduated from the University of Colorado in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and committed fully to an unconventional life as a mountain guide. In 1978, he purchased a portion of Exum Mountain Guides, later co-creating what is now Utah Mountain Adventures in 1993 before retiring from Exum in 2006…