In search of wilderness guides.

• Author: Ajango, Deb
• Position: Includes related article

Alaska's outdoor guide business is blossoming like fireweed in the Bush. But to make sure you have an adventure, not an accident, you've got to search to find the right guide.

A group of eight students and two leaders from the Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico came to Alaska last summer, seeking adventure and memories they hoped would last a lifetime. After spending three weeks hiking and canoeing, the group, led by Steve Chapman, head of the school's department of experiential education, planned to end its adventure with a five-day kayak trip in Prince William Sound.

Unfamiliar with the region, Chapman and his co-leader, Susan Phillips, thought it prudent to hire a local guide, proficient in kayaking and knowledgeable about the natural and cultural history of the area.

Chapman turned to the University of Alaska Anchorage's Alaska Wilderness Studies program for help. He was advised to contact Adventures and Delights, a guiding service that specializes in kayaking. Because the New Mexico participants were highly motivated, college-bound teens, Chapman wanted an escort who would fit in well. After a fairly extensive conversation, Chapman found a specific guide for his group.

"The match worked very well," says Chapman. "We were hoping the kayaking trip would be the climax for us. It was." The guide, Kimmer Ball, instantly established credibility and rapport with the group and melded her own leadership qualities with those of Chapman and Phillips.

"She knew a lot about kayaking and the natural/cultural history of the area," Chapman explains. "This definitely enhanced the trip. She had a lot to contribute to the students."

Catering to Independent Travelers

Alaska is experiencing an increase in independent travelers -- people who choose to "do their own thing" rather than stick with low-risk package tours. These visitors hope to encounter adventure and a more intimate and rewarding experience with nature.

Many guide services are competing to meet the needs of these travelers. Because independent travelers are often at the mercy of their guides, a good guide can often make the difference between a pleasant and painful experience.

More realistically, Todd Miner, director of UAA's Alaska Wilderness Studies program and board secretary of the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association (AWRTA), says that a good guide usually means the difference between an excellent or an average trip.

Miner, an experienced outdoorsman who has climbed extensively in Alaska, adds, "Who you choose as a guide will often become a big factor in the experience you have." To make his point, he recalls a trip he was on last summer. During a glacier traverse, he ran into a tourist group led by an out-of-state guide.

Familiar with the area, Miner offered suggestions to the group when he saw they were about to tackle a dangerous slope. The guide, a stranger to the region, ignored the warnings.

A few days later, Miner learned that one of the hikers had fallen down the slope and sustained serious injury -- an accident that could have been avoided with a knowledgeable guide.

Miner admits that this is an extreme example. Yet he does believe it is important for a client to ask...