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, and snowboarding 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 first began challenging himself in Alaska’s wilderness back in the Summer of 2018. He grew up in the diverse metropolitan city of Miami, but a decade ago Michael left to pursue a career in the outdoors. Michael has lived and worked in multiple U.S. National Parks and his wilderness expeditions have taken him as far as the Southern Alps of New Zealand and southern Chile. Michael is a Wilderness First Responder and earned a professional level one avalanche certification. Depending on the season you may find Michael traversing a ridge high in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado looking for the best backcountry pow to ski, bikepacking in South America or cackling with our guests here in Alaska’s vast wilderness over a stout cup of joe.

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.

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 towards a career in the Outdoor Industry, Dom attended Western Colorado University where he obtained 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 ran Search and Rescue missions around the state of Colorado. In the winter, Dom coaches freeskiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, and writes for SnowBrains.com. Dom is an AMGA Apprentice Ski and Alpine Guide, AIARE Instructor, Rope Rescue Technician, Wilderness First Responder, and River Rescue Technician. He 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. This is Josh’s third year guiding for AAA. Josh is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and has his AAA Pro 1 Avalanche Certification.

Lily discovered her passion for the outdoors by canoeing the north country waterways of Ontario and Quebec. When COVID closed the Canadian border, she found herself in Alaska. Lily spends most of her free time on the water during the summer and skiing through the winter. What Lily loves most about working outside is sharing the places she loves with others and seeing the absolute joy that comes from discovering new places and returning to old favorites. Lily has a B.A. in Anthropology and Spanish, with a minor in Education. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and has her Avalanche Level 1 certification.

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, he 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, he moved up to his wife’s hometown of Anchorage, where he’s been continually blown away by the wilderness access. Philip’s certifications include Wilderness First Responder, Cross Country Level 1 Ski Instructor, 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.

Alex grew up in Minnesota and got his start outdoors in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. After moving to Lutsen, Minnesota he became very invested in wilderness guiding and guided both youth leadership trips in the BWCA and expedition-length canoe trips in central and northern Canada. In his free time, you can find him paddling whitewater, fishing new spots, and exploring new places. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a B.A. in History. He is Wilderness First Responder certified.

Tim knew he wanted to travel after studying for a year in Australia during college. Fast forward a few years, and he had hitch-hiked 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 second 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.

Brian is a local Alaskan who has been recreating in the Alaska backcountry his whole life. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and working as an accountant for a few years, he decided to follow his passion in the outdoor industry. He now spends his winters as a ski patroller and guides in the summers. He enjoys skiing, biking, climbing, and packrafting. Additionally, he holds certifications in Wilderness First Responder, Outdoor Emergency Care, Swiftwater Rescue, and Avalanche Level 1 & 2.

Ian grew up in a small town in the hills of Appalachia, Virginia, and went on to study engineering at Georgia Tech. There, he immediately fell in love with the outdoor program, which took him on his first backpacking trip to Banff and later led him to guide in Alaska. In college, he was a mountain biking guide, sharing his passion for the hills outside of Atlanta with everyone he could. Later, he moved to Seattle and fell in love with the glaciated mountains of the Cascades and all the fun sports that come with the snow. After several more trips to Alaska, he finally moved there in 2022 and hasn’t stopped exploring since. Ian is a Wilderness First Responder, EMT, and holds his Avalanche Level 2 certification.

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.

This long-time Alaskan lives year-round in the Mastanuska-Susitna Valley. Matt has extensive backcountry experience and when he’s not in town you’ll most likely find him in the broad expanses of the Chugach or Talkeetna mountains. He juggles his time between family, climbing, skiing, cooking, teaching, and exploring the many wonders of the Last Frontier. Matt’s passion is “immersing explorers in the moment and sharing the majesty of this Great Land!” His enthusiasm, quick wit and humorous tales are sure to keep you smiling on your adventures. Matt is retired military and holds degrees from the University of Scranton, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Alaska Anchorage. Matt is a Wilderness First Responder and holds an AIARE Avalanche Level 2. He’s also a Wounded Warrior Project Alumni and a Certified Peer Mentor.

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.

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.

Sara was born and raised in Colorado. Mountains have always been a huge part of her life. Looking for bigger and more remote mountains, Sara ventured to Alaska to explore the large glaciated peaks. She quickly became addicted to the state’s remoteness and challenging terrain. The last ten years Sara has been living her dream working as a mountaineering guide. In the winter Sara returns to Colorado and works as a ski patroller specializing in snow safety. She attended Western State Colorado University and received a B.A. in Outdoor Leadership and Resort Management. She continued her professional medical training by receiving her Wilderness EMT. Sara has also completed an Avalanche Level 3 and is a Leave No Trace Master Educator. When not guiding, Sara can be found skiing and climbing around Alaska.

Chelsey was born and raised in the woods of New Hampshire. She spent her formative years skiing, hiking, and sleeping outside. When the Army stationed her in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2015, she promptly fell in love with the state and spent every available moment exploring its far corners by foot, skis, and packraft. Chelsey currently spends spring and summer guiding and playing in Alaska, and for the rest of the year, she can be found anywhere from the Cascades of Washington to the deserts of Utah, mountain biking, climbing, and canyoneering. She is also working towards dual masters’ degrees in the U.K., works in environmental advocacy, and reads more than is healthy. Chelsey is a certified Wilderness EMT, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, and has completed her AAA Avalanche Pro 1.

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.