“First time backpackers, my 14 year old son and I, we went out on a 7 night trek with Joe who is an outstanding guide. He has great expertise of the area and knew the best spots to camp each night. We were rewarded with impressive views of Denali throughout the week. We were in contact with Joe throughout the planning process and were able to work with some dietary specifications.The trip was totally suited to our abilities and we had a great time learning about Alaska and the tundra and enjoying being in this setting of magnificent beauty. The hotels upon arrival and the lodge at the end of the trek were well selected and everything worked out just as we had planned. I highly recommend a trip with Traverse Alaska.”
Traverse Alaska Philosophy
Traverse Alaska specializes in private, custom human-powered adventures based in Denali. We provide single-day and multi-day hiking, rafting, backpacking, packrafting and custom trips that focus on deep exploration and education across Alaska. Partnering with the highest quality local lodges and restaurants enables us to create seamless itineraries that inspire connections to our natural world and ignite the soul. Our custom-designed trips challenge guests while creating the opportunity to experience true, wild freedom at their own unique pace.
Testimonials
We’re continuing with our guide introductions. Next up, Kate Orlofsky, who has been a Denali local for years, and this was her first year guiding with Traverse Alaska.
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Kate is an outdoor professional with more than a decade of experience traversing wild landscapes, as guide for dog sled tours, caring for and training teams of sled dogs, conducting wildlife research in remote locations, and working on trail crews all over the Unites States—across the northeast, mountain west, and Alaska. Kate is a solid professional, and we appreciate her calm demeanor, her strong work ethic, and how detailed and thoughtful she is. We are lucky to have her on our dynamic team of professional Alaskan guides.
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Where are you from?
Maine
How long have you been in Alaska?
I’ve lived in Alaska for 6 years
What do you love about guiding?
I love that guiding lets me focus on building connections - connecting people to the land, each other, and themselves. I love watching people develop a sense of place and sense of self.
What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska?
I’m most passionate about sharing reverence for the land & waters and the stories that they hold. The natural & cultural history tell a rich story of interconnection, and I love weaving those pieces together to showcase the beautiful tapestry that is Alaska.
Why do you work at Traverse Alaska?
I work at Traverse Alaska because of the supportive environment and because of the love that everyone on this team shares for the incredible place we get to call home.
#traversealaskaguides
Now that our summer season has come to a close, we wanted to take some time to reflect back on highlights from our summer season.
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Kicking it off with our 6th Annual Swiftwater Rescue Training course with @lucmehl in late May. We are so fortunate to be able to host this safety course to start our summer boating season by practicing rescue skills and start off the season with safety first. Our local community is involved each year as well.
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Thank you @lucmehl @swiftwater_safety_institute and our amazing team of guides and local professionals 🙌
The fall colors have been glorious this year! We had to share some highlights from our adventures in the fall this year.
#privatepersonalcustom #traversealaska
We’re continuing with our guide introductions. Next up, Jason Reppert, who has been a friend and supporter of Traverse Alaska since its inception, however this is his first year as a guide on the team.
@jcrepp
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Jason brings decades of experience navigating wild places around Alaska by dog team, hiking, hunting, canoeing, bird watching and numerous other outdoor pursuits. We appreciate Jason’s positive energy and enthusiasm for learning and growing, even amidst challenging situations and conditions. He brings a variety of skills to our dynamic team of professional Alaskan guides, and we are thrilled to have him on our team.
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Where are you from?
Myerstown, Pennsylvania
How long have you been in Alaska?
After graduating from college, I moved to Alaska in 2006.
What do you love about guiding?
I enjoy watching people discover the Alaskan wilderness. It’s always fun seeing the landscape through the eyes of a visitor who have never been here before.
What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska?
The way humans and wildlife interact together on the landscape. The subsistence lifestyle most Alaskans lead.
Why do you work at Traverse Alaska?
Traverse Alaska has created a talented team of amazing guides and staff with diverse skills. We are a small family! Everyday is different and I get to work in some of the most incredible wild places.
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#traversealaskaguides
Footage from a recent fly-in backpacking and packrafting trip in the rugged Alaska Range mountains.
#privatepersonalcustom #traversealaska
📸 G. Norton
With our Exclusive Rafting Trips, it’s just your Friends & Family, and our team of professional river guides. It turns out, when it’s just you and your group, everyone can relax and we have plenty of time to laugh and enjoy the experience together. It’s a great trip for families, kids ages 5+.
#friendsandfamilyrafting #traversealaskarafting
📸 @jcrepp
Guides: @hugh_janus_24 @kaitlynweitzeil @80billwheat
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful team of professional, local Alaskan guides. We’d like you to meet our team. We’ll kick it off with Victoria Burman who has been a guide with Traverse Alaska since 2023.
@victorialeighwild
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Victoria i.e. Vicki is a guide with more than a decade of experience guiding across the globe, from South Africa to Alaska, and other wild places in between. One of the things we really appreciate about Vicki is her positive outlook—no matter the conditions—she seems to always have a big smile on her face. Plus she is a hard worker who is down for any new challenge. We are lucky to have her on our dynamic team of professional Alaskan guides.
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Where are you from?
Houston, Texas
How long have you been in Alaska?
My first season was the summer of 2022 and I moved here permanently in February of 2023!
What do you love about guiding?
What I love most about guiding is the mystery. No matter where you explore, there is always something to talk about. Everything has a story and in some way contributes to the story of what’s around it, and I love being a part of that exploration with other curious nature lovers.
What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska?
Alaska’s colorful history! From its geological formation to the evolution of the organisms that had to be extra tough to survive.
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#traversealaskaguides
It won’t be long until the landscape transforms colors and rainbows appear in the sky, and across the tundra. 🌈
#denalifallcolors
📸 @mollieofdenali
Q: I’m traveling solo, can I book a private tour for myself?
A: Definitely! We’ve been seeing more solo travelers over the years that want a private, custom trip.
Here’s a review from a recent solo traveler:
“What a great time! Laid back and easy to coordinate with. I didn’t realize how much I’d love an individual tour. Everyday was something different and tailored to how I was feeling that day. I couldn’t have had a better experience to get out there and explore some Denali wilderness. Got along famously with my guide, Joe. Highly recommend!”
-Mitch L.
