The instructors and guides at IWLS are professionals. They are special individuals who have a passion for being in the wilderness environment. They bring a wealth of experience from years of guiding throughout Alaska and the world to every course, and they genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge. Their skill and positive attitudes insure our students a great experience during their leadership and guide training courses. The following is a partial list of our guides’ accomplishments:

* More than 75 Denali expeditions (20,320 ft.).* Extensive climbing, trekking, and skiing trips throughout the Wrangell, St.Elias, Alaska, and Fairweather ranges in Alaska.* More than 90 expeditions to Aconcagua (22,829 ft.) in Argentina.* Climbing expeditions and treks throughout Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.* Sea kayaking expeditions throughout Alaska, Mexico, Honduras and Greece.* Guided technical climbing on objectives as varied as Ama Dablam (22,493 ft) in Nepal’s Everest region, and classic alpine rock routes on Patagonia’s infamous towers.* Exploratory sea kayaking expeditions to Dundas and Taylor Bays in Glacier Bay National Park.* 30-Day ski mountaineering trip from Skagway to Juneau Alaska. This was the 1st crossing of the Juneau Ice Cap from this direction.* 25-day ski mountaineering trip from Mt. Fairweather to Haines Alaska crossing the remote Fairweather range.* Climbs and treks throughout Greenland.* Trekking in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia.* Treks throughout Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.* Expedition to Broad Peak (8000 meters) in Pakistan.* Cultural treks in Guatemala, Ecuador, Nepal, Pakistan, Greenland and Africa.* Rafting trips in Pakistan, Alaska, Nepal, Africa, and Costa Rica.* Multiple Climbs of the volcanoes of Ecuador.* Expedition to Bogda Feng in Xinjiang, China.* Multiple climbs of the volcanoes of Mexico.* Training of US Army Special Forces in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.* Canoe trip down the Yukon River to Dawson with a team from National Geographic. The article is in National Geographic Adventure Magazine’s March/April 2001 issue.* Expeditions to Mt Elbrus in Russia.* Over 150 ascents of Mt Kilimanjaro.* Multiple Ascents of Mt Vinson in Antarctica.

IWLS has over 50 guides. Below is a partial list of these special individuals.

Sean Gaffney
Sean is the Executive Director and has been instructing and guiding for 25 years. He is an international climbing guide with more than 75 ascents of mountains over 18,000 feet (5500m) including an alpine style climb of Ama Dablam in Nepal and a new route on Aconcagua in Argentina. He has led extensive skiing, rafting and trekking expeditions throughout North and South America, Africa and Asia.

Eli Fierer
Eli is the General Manager. He has guided and instructed for more than 12 years throughout North America, Alaska, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, and China. He is a certified EMT II, holds a Avalanche Level III and is an accomplished teacher. Eli leads many of our heli-skiing, mountaineering, first aid and rescue programs.

Charlie Stewart
Charlie grew up on the East Coast and developed his love for the outdoors in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. An avid skier, climber and paddler Charlie enjoys spending time in wild and remote places around the world. He leads trips in Alaska, South America, and Africa. Charlie is an EMT; AVPRO certified through the American Avalanche Association and has Swift Water Rescue training. When not leading trips with Alaska Mountain Guides you’ll find him ski patrolling in the Pacific Northwest.

Rob Caldwell
Rob has a B.S in Outdoor Education from the University of New Hampshire and has led expeditions in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Rob is a licensed Alaska State EMT and certified WEMT.

Harry Subertas
Growing up on the East Coast, Harry developed a fondness for running and eventually long distance running. After attending an IWLS Alaska semester he became interested in mountaineering and climbing and decided to start guiding. Since graduating from IWLS Harry has tackled several challenging mountaineering objectives and led IWLS trips in North and South America. Harry is a licensed Alaska State EMT and certified WEMT. When he’s not guiding Harry can be found participating in ultra-marathon events.

Brady McGuire
Originally from North Platte, Nebraska and Studied Outdoor a Recreation Leadership at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Brady has summited Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua. Brady has AIARE level 2 avalanche training and is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician.

Brian Rougeux
Equally at home on the high peaks of South America or the granite cracks of Utah, Brian is an EMT and has been leading AMG and MGI trips since 2005. He brings a wealth of skill and experience from instructing and guiding on Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, the Cordillera Blanca, the volcanoes of Ecuador and Mexico, and peaks throughout Alaska.

Bob Daffe
Bob is a whitewater pioneer. He has over 30 years of experience in whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing.He is a Rescue 3 International instructor, a raft guide examiner, and a canoe and kayak instructor. When he isn’t leading whitewater in the Yukon, Bob can be found teaching courses in Nepal and Ecuador, or leading personal expeditions in Chile and Africa.

Mitzi Peine
Mitzi fell in love with the out of doors in the BWCAW in Northern Minnesota and has over 8-years experience backcountry guiding. Mitzi has a B.S. in Outdoor Education from Northland College and is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician.

Timmy Sonnenberg
An active rock/ice climber and mountaineer from Helena, Montana Timmy leads high-altitude mountain expeditions in Argentina and Nepal. With ascents on Aconcagua, Denali and Mount Fairweather, Tim is at home on the big mountains. Timmy has AIARE level 2 avalanche training and is a Wilderness First Responder.

Aaron Friedland
Aaron is a enthusiastic climber and mountaineer. With multiple ascents on Aconcagua and hundreds of rock and ice routes throughout the United States and South America under his belt, Aaron is equally at home on the sharp end of a line or at over 18,000′. Aaron is a licensed State of Alaska EMT.

Tyler Bieneman
Tyler is an accomplished ski-mountaineer and climber who has successfully traversed the Patagonia Ice-cap. As a climber, Tyler has lead trips in North and South America as well as New Zealand. Tyler is Avalanche level-2 certified and a Nationally Registered EMT.

Ken Caldwell
Ken is a passionate trekking guide who has lead multiple international boundary treks between the United States and Canada as well as having instructed technical mountaineering in Alaska and South America. With a technical skill sets in both swiftwater and the mountain terrains, Ken continues to exceed clients expectations. Ken is a certified Wilderness First Responder.