Our Alaska Guides

Dan has been exploring Alaska’s vast wilderness since 1992. For over 30 years he has systematically explored remote and poorly understood regions of the Alaskan wilderness, on foot, skis, and by raft especially in the environs of Lake Clark National Park, where he lived year-round until 2005.  With well over 20 exploratory expeditions into this little-known wilderness, and multiple expeditions across Alaska, Dan is possibly the greatest current authority on the backcountry of the northern Aleutian and southern Alaska ranges.  To his credit, Dan has done more than just explore. He is vitally concerned with the sustainability of the wilderness and the viability of the rural communities in the region.  Dan spent 6 years as Vice President of the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association. In 2008, Dan was awarded AWRTA’s Ginny Hill Wood Award for his contributions to Alaska conservation and sustainable tourism.  In 2013, Dan was elected to serve on the board of directors of the Alaska Travel Industry Association and in 2019 was elected as the Board Chair.  He is committed to exploration, to the preserving of the wilderness for future generations, to the advancement of knowledge, and to the belief that responsible and appropriate tourism is a way to help disadvantaged communities, while preserving Alaska’s wilderness & cultural heritage.

His expertise is sought after by various media, and he has been quoted or featured in Outside Magazine, Alaska Business Monthly magazine, US News & World Reports, the Associated Press, National Parks Magazine, Men’s Journal, and others.  His photographs have appeared in a number of national publications including Outside, Backpacker, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure and Traveler.  Dan is also a member of the Explorers Club, to which he was elected in 2009.  But as much as anything, Dan loves the backcountry, and he finds his greatest joys while immersed in it.  With humor and panache, he goes out in search, and each time he returns he brings greater knowledge and interest to the outside world.  He splits time between homes in Anchorage and Lake Clark with his daughters Isabelle and Bryn.

Originally from the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nick (a.k.a. Nico) moved to Alaska nearly 20 years ago, drawn by his passion for the outdoors and the untamed beauty of this remarkable state. With a B.A. in Outdoor Studies from Alaska Pacific University, Nico has spent much of his career guiding and mentoring aspiring outdoor professionals in leadership and expeditionary skills. This year marks his 15th anniversary with AAA, and he’s as enthusiastic as ever to share the wild wonders of Alaska’s National Parks & Refuges with our guests.

Leveraging years of field experience and a unique knack for problem-solving, Nico now serves as the General Manager at Alaska Alpine Adventures. He keeps the operations running smoothly behind the scenes, from day-to-day management to supporting both guides and guests. As our in-house Gear Guru, Nico is always happy to talk gear and share his extensive expertise.

Alaska is home to Nico, his wife Sara, and their loyal dog Bobber. Away from the AAA HQ, Nico enjoys boating, fishing, strumming his guitar, and perfecting his grilling skills. Certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Whitewater Rescue Technician, ACA Instructor, and Leave No Trace Trainer, Nico keeps safety and environmental stewardship at the forefront of every AAA adventure. Fun Fact- you will never catch Nico in the wilderness without his favorite piece of equipment: his trusty umbrella!

Matt was born and raised in Alaska, where he spent his childhood hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and canoeing in the vast and remote wilderness of the Interior. Matt joined the AAA team in 2015 after graduating from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, with an emphasis on Outdoor Leadership and Administration. When not sharing the backcountry of his beautiful home state with our guests, you can find him backpacking, biking, climbing, snowboarding, and playing disc golf in the mountains around Anchorage. Matt is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician.

Rebecca grew up in Idaho where being in the outdoors was important early on in her life. Her passion for the outdoors led her to pair summer guiding with winter work at ski resorts. In 2018 she moved to Alaska in search of more adventures. In her free time, you can find her exploring Alaska on foot, skis, or paddle. She graduated from Alaska Pacific University with a B.A. in Outdoor Studies with a snow science concentration. She has Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue, and Avalanche Level 2 certifications.

Michael, originally from Miami, traded beaches for mountains and has spent the past eight summers guiding backpacking and wilderness expeditions with Alaska Alpine Adventures. With a background in ski patrol, avalanche work, and backcountry ski guiding, he brings a fun, experienced energy to remote travel in Alaska’s wild landscapes. Michael has worked as a ski patroller and avalanche professional in both California and Colorado, and has guided backcountry skiing in both Colorado and Japan. His passion for human-powered adventure and wilderness travel comes from years spent exploring mountains, snowpacks, and remote terrain around the world. Michael is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and enjoys helping guests build confidence in the backcountry while experiencing Alaska’s rugged beauty in an authentic and meaningful way. When not guiding, he’s often traveling by bikepacking and seeking out new long-distance adventures on two wheels. Favorite Part of Guiding: “Helping people disconnect from everyday life and experience the kind of wild places that stay with them forever.”

Michael grew up in Palmer, Alaska, where he found the joy and growth that can be found in a life outdoors. He pursued this passion of sharing the Alaskan backcountry in the rural Alaskan town of Haines, where he spent three summers immersing himself in many forms of backcountry travel, rafting, skiing, mountaineering, backpacking, and packrafting. In the winter months, Michael spends his time immersed in the snow, teaching avalanche courses, skiing with friends, reading, and cooking. Michael is passionate about education and experiences and can’t wait to help share the wonders of Alaska with guests. Michael is pursuing a degree in Outdoor Studies, focusing on Snow Science at Alaska Pacific University. Michael is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and has obtained his American Avalanche Association Pro 1 certification.

Dom’s passion for sharing the mountains with others stems from his upbringing in Long Beach, California, where he frequented the local mountains to ski and hike. He started developing his outdoor leadership skills in Boy Scouts, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. To continue his journey toward a career in the Outdoor Industry, Dom attended Western Colorado University, where he earned a B.A. in Outdoor Leadership and a B.A. in Environment and Sustainability. He was a member of the Western Mountain Rescue Team for 6 years and led Search and Rescue missions across Colorado. Now, Dom spends his winters in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he teaches avalanche classes for Sawtooth Mountain Guides, coaches the Jr. Big Mountain Ski Team, and writes for SnowBrains.com. He is an AMGA Apprentice Ski Guide, AIARE Instructor, Rope Rescue Technician, Wilderness First Responder, and River Rescue Technician. Dom is most excited to show you what experiencing true wilderness means – something you need to come to Alaska for!

Josh grew up in northern Minnesota, where he spent most of his time outdoors running, Nordic ski racing, and canoeing. He has his B.A. in Environment & Sustainability from Western Colorado University. In college, he grew to love the wilderness through ultra-running, backcountry skiing, and raft guiding. He currently lives in Anchorage. In the winter, he is a ski patroller at Arctic Valley and works part-time at the Hoarding Marmot. This is Josh’s fourth year guiding for AAA. Josh is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and has his AAA Pro 1 Avalanche Certification.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Ava grew up skiing, hiking, kayaking, and backpacking in Alaska’s wild backyard. She’s recently completed a B.A. in Italian and Global Studies at the University of Oregon, with minors in Global Health and Business Administration. She spends weekends ski instructing or exploring the Oregon coast. A passionate traveler with a deep love for the outdoors, Ava has wandered far, but Alaska always calls her home. She’s excited to be back and sharing the landscapes that shaped her, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Philip grew up among the water and trees of Michigan, where he developed a strong love for nature. After earning an engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Philip moved to Washington State in pursuit of mountains. There, he fell in love with mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and trail running. After a decade exploring the Cascades, Philip moved up to his wife’s hometown of Anchorage, where he has been continually blown away by the wilderness access. This is Philip’s second season with AAA. His certifications include Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue, and Avalanche Level 2.

Colleen grew up in Minnesota where summers spent at her lake cabin fostered a passion for the outdoors. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and Sociology and enjoys using the wilderness as a vessel to create meaningful connections with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. After time was spent solo traveling through Asia and guiding teens in Oregon, she found herself leading a trip through the Arctic Refuge and was easily convinced to return and spend more time in the Alaskan backcountry. This will be her third season with AAA. She currently resides in Alaska year-round and enjoys what each season has to offer. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Aubrey grew up in Northern Michigan and spent her childhood outside climbing, snowboarding, backpacking, and swimming in Lake Superior. Immediately after high school, she left her hometown in search of more adventure, spending the following year exploring the backcountry all over the lower 48. Eager to keep exploring, Aubrey moved to Alaska in 2023. Her previous summers in Alaska have been spent working as an ice climbing and glacier guide in Kenai Fjords National Park. This spring, she completed her Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a minor in Outdoor Studies at Alaska Pacific University. Aubrey loves having the opportunity to share the Alaskan backcountry with people from all over the world. When she’s not guiding, you’ll find her exploring the Alaska mountains on a splitboard, ice skates, or climbing gear. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and holds both Avalanche Level 1 and 2 certifications.

Tim knew he wanted to travel after studying for a year in Australia during college! Fast forward a few years, and he had hitchhiked around Southern Africa for four months, road-tripped all over the U.S., and repeatedly “thumbed-it” thousands of miles across Central America and the U.S. Eventually, he discovered how to incorporate travel into work, and his guiding career was born, leading to 9 seasons taking foreign travelers on multi-week road trips across the USA and Canada. Between those guiding seasons, Tim canoed the entire Mississippi River, thru-hiked long trails in Europe and the Middle East, and guided in Yellowstone NP. First coming to Alaska in 2017, he knew he had found his adult home. After guiding sea kayaking trips in Kenai Fjords NP, this will now be his third season with Alaska Alpine Adventures, and he’s thrilled to show off more of his favorite state this summer. Tim is a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue certified.

An avid nature lover, Amber has always found the outdoors to be her happy place. Just being out in the wilderness, especially remote areas, sparks a wonderful feeling of peace and aliveness. Amber particularly loves hiking and backpacking, skiing, rock climbing, and just soaking in the incredible views of our wild planet. In addition to her work as a wilderness guide, Amber has a Master’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work, with a diverse career history. Amber is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Tyler grew up in Ohio, exploring the hills of Appalachia, but truly found his passion for the outdoors after graduating from Ohio University, packing up his van, and heading out west for the first time back in 2018. Tyler loves just about any adventure the outdoors have to offer, especially when adrenaline is involved. After spending a few years guiding, climbing, biking, and canyoneering through the Rockies and desert Southwest, Tyler got tipped off to the magic of Alaska and joined the AAA team for his first season back in 2022. Most recently calling Utah home base, he’s spent the last couple of years obsessing over whitewater rafting in the summers and skiing in the winter, and is stoked to be back in Alaska and share everything it has to offer with our guests. Tyler is a Wilderness First Responder as well as Swift Water Rescue certified.

Gus grew up skiing, backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking in Montana’s Swan Valley. After graduating high school and spending a few years adventuring in the Northern Rockies, he quickly realized that few places could compare with the vastness of Alaska and the possibilities it provides for extended self-supported trips. So, in 2019, he moved to McCarthy to begin a guiding career and hasn’t looked back. Since then, Gus has been guiding rafting, packrafting, skiing, backpacking, and ice climbing trips in the Wrangell, Eastern Chugach, and Talkeetna Mountains. In the calmer months, Gus teaches courses for NOLS and the West Central Montana Avalanche Center. He has his WFR, SRT 1, and AAA Pro 1 certifications.

Abi is passionate about sharing Alaska’s wild spaces with those who come looking, facilitating connection to this vast and beautiful place is her favorite part about being a guide. She has spent the past few years between Haines, Anchorage, and Seward taking folks sea kayaking and backpacking and is looking forward to doing it some more. Before she came north, she lived in Spain, Montana, Colorado, and enjoys getting to explore the world around her any way possible. When she’s not prioritizing her outdoor adventure goals, Abi enjoys a sunny day with a good book, tending to a thriving compost heap, and the meticulous process of beading, her favorite slow craft. Abi studied Latin American History and Spanish, and has her WFR, Avalanche Level 1, SRT 1, and is trained in Leave No Trace practices.

Raquelle is an Alaskan who, since toddlerhood, has spent summers on the untrodden wilderness of Prince William Sound and winters skiing competitively in Girdwood. Opportunities to immerse herself in the mountains and new cultures tend to dictate her travel, and her sketchbook has captured peaks of Alaska, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, and South America throughout the past few years. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a BS in Human Biology, the beauty of Alaska pulled Raquelle home. Learning, creating art, and connecting with others in nature bring her great joy, and she is beyond excited to pursue that with AAA this summer. Raquelle has her Avalanche Rescue Level 1 and 2, WFR, Swiftwater Rescue, and has worked as a medical assistant in rural AK.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Sam grew up immersed in the outdoors. After high school, he served five years in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic and aircrew member, gaining valuable experience working in demanding environments where teamwork, attention to detail, and safety are paramount. Upon completing his military service, Sam returned home to Alaska and found himself drawn back to the mountains and wild places he grew up exploring. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Studies with a focus in Snow Science from Alaska Pacific University. During the winter months, Sam teaches avalanche education courses and guides backcountry skiers, helping others build the knowledge and confidence to travel safely in snow-covered mountains. In the summer, Sam enjoys guiding glacier trips and backpacking throughout Alaska’s remote wilderness while occasionally moonlighting as a helicopter mechanic. While Sam enjoys skiing, rock/ice climbing, biking, and pack rafting around Alaska. At the end of the day, some of his favorite moments are the simple ones, sharing stories and good company around a meal, beer, or campfire after a day spent in the mountains. Sam is a Wilderness First Responder, with a Professional Level 1 Avalanche Certification, and volunteers with Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, serving as an avalanche specialist with his Professional Avalanche SAR certification.

Aaron has been guiding for Alaska Alpine Adventures since 2003 and his passion for the wilderness grows with every adventure. He came to Alaska in 2001 to complete a bachelor’s degree in outdoor studies at Alaska Pacific University to pursue a lifelong dream of guiding in Alaska. Most recently, Aaron co-founded Adventure Appetites – offering Alaska Alpine Adventures’ gourmet food to adventurers everywhere. Through the years, Aaron has divided his time managing operations, packing food, and exploring Alaska’s wild places. Whether traversing remote mountain ranges, climbing high on an Alaska peak, or pack rafting a wild & scenic river, Aaron says, “I find inner peace while immersed in Alaska’s most remote backcountry.” Aaron is a Wilderness First Responder and certified Whitewater Rescue Technician. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Adele and daughters Emily & Samantha.

Shannon grew up in upstate NY and her love for the outdoors began while exploring the Adirondack Mountains as a kid. She first came to Alaska in 2019 for a backpacking trip and was instantly hooked. When she’s not guiding with AAA, you can find her romping around Alaska’s backcountry on skis, bikes, or foot. She’s excited to share all this beautiful state has to offer with you. Shannon is an EMT, Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche level 2, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Sean was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He came to Alaska in 2014 to attend school at Alaska Pacific University, pursuing a degree in Outdoor Studies and quickly realized Alaska was home for him. He began guiding for AAA in 2015 and fell even more in love with his new home state. In his free time, you can find him backpacking, skiing, packrafting, climbing or flyfishing. Sean’s passion for the outdoors and exploring has taken him all around the globe, but nothing quite lives up to his home here in AK. His love of nature, wildlife and the lands that we adventure on is contagious. Always a fan of a good laugh, and cold beer with friends. Sean has a B.A in Outdoor Studies with a concentration in Snow Science, he is a Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche Level 2 and Swiftwater Rescue certified.

Joan is our urban adventurer, hailing from the great city of Chicago. After trading in her urban ways and Da Bears for real bears, she has found a home in the mountains and rivers of Alaska. Joan is forever working on her degree in Wilderness Education from DePaul University and has used her education as an opportunity to travel and experience wilderness areas around the world. An avid water sports enthusiast, Joan enjoys sea kayaking, canoeing, surfing, and floating lazy rivers, as well as exploring beautiful remote terrains. Her cheery disposition, active imagination, and long-winded stories make her a delight to be around. Joan joined the AAA staff in 2012 and is a certified Wilderness First Responder as well as Leave No Trace Master Educator.

Brooke hails from the Great Pacific Northwest where her passion for all things outdoors was born. Calling Alaska her home for the last 17 years, she can be found year round exploring the mountains and rivers of this vast wilderness. Brooke graduated with an M.S. in Environmental Education with a primary focus on Ecotourism from The Audubon Expedition Institute and has spent over 2 decades applying these principles to guiding. Brooke has her Coast Guard 6-Pack, her Avalanche Level 2, and her Wilderness First Responder.