Monte Montepare

At 23 years old, I was in my third season working as a glacier guide in Alaska. I took people hiking on glaciers, ice climbing on glaciers, and that spring I had successfully summited the 16,000 foot glaciated volcano that looms over town. I was feeling very confident in my skills in the mountains, and I could finally grow a full beard.

At 23 years old, I was in my third season working as a glacier guide in Alaska. I took people hiking on glaciers, ice climbing on glaciers, and that spring I had successfully summited the 16,000 foot glaciated volcano that looms over town. I was feeling very confident in my skills in the mountains, and I could finally grow a full beard.

At 23 years old, I was in my third season working as a glacier guide in Alaska. I took people hiking on glaciers, ice climbing on glaciers, and that spring I had successfully summited the 16,000 foot glaciated volcano that looms over town. I was feeling very confident in my skills in the mountains, and I could finally grow a full beard.

So when my friend Elizabeth asked if I wanted to be her assistant on a fly-in base camping trip, I said, oh yeah, that sounds super chill. She told me the four clients were the women that I had met that afternoon on the deck of the guide service. They were decked out head to toe in brand new Arc'teryx rain gear, which is a red flag.

So when my friend Elizabeth asked if I wanted to be her assistant on a fly-in base camping trip, I said, oh yeah, that sounds super chill. She told me the four clients were the women that I had met that afternoon on the deck of the guide service. They were decked out head to toe in brand new Arc'teryx rain gear, which is a red flag.

So when my friend Elizabeth asked if I wanted to be her assistant on a fly-in base camping trip, I said, oh yeah, that sounds super chill. She told me the four clients were the women that I had met that afternoon on the deck of the guide service. They were decked out head to toe in brand new Arc'teryx rain gear, which is a red flag.

Not only is Arc'teryx the Prada of outdoor equipment, but generally speaking, the newer the gear, the less the experience. Which was exceptionally true in this case. They were from New York City. And had never been camping. They had never slept in a tent. I lived in a tent. Elizabeth said, yeah, that's why they want you along.

Not only is Arc'teryx the Prada of outdoor equipment, but generally speaking, the newer the gear, the less the experience. Which was exceptionally true in this case. They were from New York City. And had never been camping. They had never slept in a tent. I lived in a tent. Elizabeth said, yeah, that's why they want you along.

Not only is Arc'teryx the Prada of outdoor equipment, but generally speaking, the newer the gear, the less the experience. Which was exceptionally true in this case. They were from New York City. And had never been camping. They had never slept in a tent. I lived in a tent. Elizabeth said, yeah, that's why they want you along.

She said, they really like the idea of a full bearded Alaskan along to protect them from the wilderness. How could I say no? Flying base camping is like car camping with a bush plane. So all six of us get into an airplane the size of a minivan with wings. We fly for 40 minutes over forests and rivers and mountains and glaciers, some of the wildest landscape on the planet.

She said, they really like the idea of a full bearded Alaskan along to protect them from the wilderness. How could I say no? Flying base camping is like car camping with a bush plane. So all six of us get into an airplane the size of a minivan with wings. We fly for 40 minutes over forests and rivers and mountains and glaciers, some of the wildest landscape on the planet.

She said, they really like the idea of a full bearded Alaskan along to protect them from the wilderness. How could I say no? Flying base camping is like car camping with a bush plane. So all six of us get into an airplane the size of a minivan with wings. We fly for 40 minutes over forests and rivers and mountains and glaciers, some of the wildest landscape on the planet.

and the plane lands on a little gravel strip in a giant valley next to an even bigger glacier. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, dripping with ice. There's these babbling creeks, beautiful green alpine. I'm pumped, because I just got a free plane ride to a place I've never been before. Our clients are in a state of shock, and awe and stimulation overload.

and the plane lands on a little gravel strip in a giant valley next to an even bigger glacier. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, dripping with ice. There's these babbling creeks, beautiful green alpine. I'm pumped, because I just got a free plane ride to a place I've never been before. Our clients are in a state of shock, and awe and stimulation overload.

and the plane lands on a little gravel strip in a giant valley next to an even bigger glacier. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, dripping with ice. There's these babbling creeks, beautiful green alpine. I'm pumped, because I just got a free plane ride to a place I've never been before. Our clients are in a state of shock, and awe and stimulation overload.

And as the plane leaves and goes out of sight, I watch all four of them have the gut-wrenching realization that they just paid somebody to strand them out here. They wanted their own personal space because it was the end of a long trip, so they each wanted their own tent. But they also wanted to sleep next to each other because they were afraid of camping.

And as the plane leaves and goes out of sight, I watch all four of them have the gut-wrenching realization that they just paid somebody to strand them out here. They wanted their own personal space because it was the end of a long trip, so they each wanted their own tent. But they also wanted to sleep next to each other because they were afraid of camping.

And as the plane leaves and goes out of sight, I watch all four of them have the gut-wrenching realization that they just paid somebody to strand them out here. They wanted their own personal space because it was the end of a long trip, so they each wanted their own tent. But they also wanted to sleep next to each other because they were afraid of camping.

So I set up four identical tents, wall to wall, like a nylon apartment building in the wild. And that night, Elizabeth cooked dinner and I entertained, and their first night out was like an REI ad come to life. The goal of this weekend was to have a relaxing trip, maybe take a couple day hikes, so the next day we set out to hike to this area of Alpine on the other side of the valley.

So I set up four identical tents, wall to wall, like a nylon apartment building in the wild. And that night, Elizabeth cooked dinner and I entertained, and their first night out was like an REI ad come to life. The goal of this weekend was to have a relaxing trip, maybe take a couple day hikes, so the next day we set out to hike to this area of Alpine on the other side of the valley.