3rd Annual Alaska Ice Climbing Festival March 4,5,6 Portage & Anchorage, Alaska

Ice Climbing in Alaska in the Winter can be FUN!!!

Hey Matt,

We just wanted to thank you for the great time we had yesterday. Of all of our adventures in Alaska, including: snow-machining, skiing, hiking, and sport shooting, our ice climbing trip with you was by far our favorite activity. When we began, the climbing was difficult, however, by the end of the day we both had reached the top of our climb multiple times. Not only was the climbing challenging, but it was beautiful and greatly rewarding. Your expertise, guidance, and lessons made the climbing much easier, as well as more comfortable and enjoyable then we could have ever imagined. We look forward to climbing with you again in the future.

Thanks again Matt,

Vince and Cate (Manhattan, KS)

Ice Climbing with Joe Butler

We would like to thank you for the fantastic ice climbing experience that we had last week. Joe Butler was a true professional and he quickly gained our trust. His knowledge and experience was greatly appreciated.



Thanks for a great time, we will be back

George and Abigail O'Connor

Mat Glacier Hike 05/09 Sheelah Anderson; Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Matt and Heather

We toured the Matanuska Glacier with Heather in May. It is my unique Alaska experience. Even though I haven't written I think of you all the time and our wonderful experience of touring the glacier. EVERYBODY has to hear about it, the cramp-ons (and especially trying to find some to fit my husband), ice worms, how big the glacier is, how dirty it was, etc, etc. And people are getting presents of the glacier water Heather gathered for me.

I got to hike a rock glacier in Canada and we saw several glaciers when we did our "cruise", but there is nothing comparable to us being able to spend several wonderful hours on our "personal" glacier hike with Heather and all her knowledge, sharing and patience (especially with the 500 photos!)

It made it to the Christmas card (Heather made sure we had some photo choices), but since it was also our 40th anniversary it had to share the space. I'll be sending you one.

Thank you for helping me achieve one of the top items on my "bucket list" It really is one of the most special experiences of my life. We'll expect more of the same if (when) we make it to Alaska again.

Sheelah Anderson Louisville Kentucky

Guest Comment from 8/24 Rabbit Lake Hikers

Dear Heather,

Pat Cable and I both agreed that your tour (hike) of the Chugach Mountain Front Range from Anchorage was the highlight of all our Alaskan hikes. Your knowledge of the terrain was immense and I will never forget you excellent direction at a critical time during our trek down the trail. Having lived in the city all my life, I was clueless about what to do, and you treated the whole situation with professionalism and style. WHAT A RELIEF!

Well, our best to you and our thanks to you for a wonderful day. Pat and I will feel very confident referring you, and your husband (ice hiking), and your company, to any of our friends visiting Anchorage.

You're the best tour guide ever!

A friend in Newport Beach, CA,
Rick Ruiz

8/24 Rabbit Lakes Anchorage Day Hike

On my full day Anchorage Day Hike to Rabbit Lakes we saw 17 Dall Sheep in the cirque and we walked up onto a family of 8 or so ptarmagin in changing plummage. they were amazing in color. the Alpine Bear Berries were glowing red and the lichen around Rabbit Lakes was vibrant orange! Great day out to a new guiding location. I'll get my photos up soon! Heather

Ermine on the Byron Glacier

I love Ermine and once we get the video up of this cute little guy so will you.

Tons of wildlife on 10 am Anchorage Day Hike

My clients and I saw 7 Moose of which there were huge Bulls with large racks, 1 Dall Sheep with a coiler for horns, and an arctic ground squirrel with the hugest goiter from packing his jowls with berries for his winter food cache!!! We hiked up to the saddle of little O'Malley Peak and had a great time! It was a bit of a hike for one of the teenagers. But she was really impressed with her accomplishment after the fact--I knew she could do it with coaxing and a comfortable pace!!! We had a great hike-Heather

ICE ICE BABY

A Beginner Ice climber with upper ice fins in the background. Do you think she planned to wear the same color as the glacier? Color coordinated!!! At least she will not be in People magazine for a fashion faux paus here. She just makes the ice look bluer (if that is a word?). Coiling the wet climbing rope with the upper Byron Seracs in the background! Awesome blue.
Ryan Davis Soloing to setp up the ice anchors on the Byron. Another day in the office for Ryan. He has single handedly ran the most ice trips on the Byron for us. He rocks!!!
A Better image of the ice fins and the waterfalls that spill from the glacier and hills surrounding the Byron! Very picturesque.
Can you ICE CAVE BABY? This has Vanilla Ice's tune all over over it....ICE ICE BABY.....

Anchorage 1/2 Day hike 6pm 8/11/09

Tundra Rose or Shrubby Cinquefoil.

There is always a silver lining in life :)

Fireweed in its fall colors.

White puffy clouds on the south-eastern flank of O'Malley peak.

Moose on Willawaw Trail 8/11/09

The momma moose is checking us out. Wondering if we are a threat or if her and her calf can continue nibbling on the grass. Who is looking at who here? Peek-a-boo.

Not a very good picture of water fowl and ducks.

Power line pass and Ptarmagin Peak lit up in the amazing light.

Anchorage 1/2 Day Hike 8/11/09 6pm

The Sunlight is absolutly amazing this time of year. I found myself toting my large SLR and lenses around on a few trips this time of year for the first time. My clients were kind enough to let me photograph them. I was discreet but couldn't help myself wanting to capture the light. I am not a photographer but thought of my time in Alaska since 1991; I don't have many pictures of the summers as I am always working them. Thus, I needed to capture the beauty that I surround myself when sharing alaska to summer clients to help jog my memory in the dark depths of winter :) Heather Szundy We watched this moose calf and cow for about 45 minutes....funny thing is my clients had not seen moose on their trip to Denali and Seward. i had them for their last hours in Alaska and not even 15 minustes from the car we spotted 2 about 20 feet from the trail. I am the moose whisperer :) not really but I just know where to find them. I love moose even after seeing hundreds over the years. The sight of them still makes me get excited like a school child!

Lisa & Hanna entertaining me for a photo.

The Wedge & Powerline pass, Glen Alps.

Ptarmagin Peak, Glen Alps.

Flat Top Half Day Hike

Bright and sunny 6pm Hike at Glen Alps trail head to Flat Top. My two clients, mother and son, were from Mexico City. The mom had never hiked before but she was very physically fit. With encouragement, she made it to the upper saddle just below the last 600 ft to the summit of Flat top. Her son and I ran/hiked up to the summit and back down while taking photos of the awesome sunset. It was an accomplishment for the mom that she was marveling about the entire car ride back to downtown, Anchorage. I knew that the mom could do more than she thought. So, it was very gratifying to me to know that she pushed her limit just a little higher. Her sense of accomplishment was overwhelming to her. I love my job!!! I have a feeling she will become a hiker as she loved the bonita vistas!!! They have headed up to Denali and Fairbanks but they might come out on a Glacier Hike or Ice Climbing on their way back through Anchorage :) Yahooo, it is great bonding with clients and having an extraordinary time in the Alaskan mountains. For some, Flat Top is not wilderness but for others it can be the most wilderness they have experienced. They get a taste and then they get hooked :) ----Heather Szundy

Video of Summer Ice Climbing in AK

Tram Rock, more local flora

Goldenrod

Alaska Cotton

Baneberry - beautiful, but POISONOUS!!

Kerisa nears the top of tram rock

Matt explains technique

Matt and Kerisa watch as Shamarcus climbs

07/28 3 Day Private Ice Climbing & Camping trip Byron Glacier

Hi there it's Ruth and Allan Conway here. Thanks again to Ryan for the fantastic trip that he gave us ice climbing as part of our honeymoon! I wondered if it would be possible to reach Ryan to ask for copies of the photographs that he took of us during the trip? he mentioned that we could perhaps e-mail them to us but we forgot to exchange e-mail addresses.
If it is possible to get this request to Ryan that would be fantastic!
Kind regards
Ruth Conway

Rainforest Hike to Hand Tram