• Bush plane transporting mountaineers into remote Alaska terrain for leadership and expedition courses.

    IWLS students aboard ski plane 5-3 Charlie, Haines AK

  • Backcountry skier carving fresh snow high above the fjords and mountains of Southeast Alaska.

    A Heli Ski/ Snowboard student enjoying ideal conditions, Skagway AK

  • Skiers unloading gear from a helicopter on a backcountry heli-ski drop-off in Alaska.

    IWLS students loading the bird at the PZ

  • Backcountry skier practicing expert steep-skiing techniques on a heli-supported expedition.

    A student rips turns on great snow- Haines AK

  • Snowboarder carving deep powder during a heli-snowboard expedition in the Alaska backcountry.

    Classic IWLS Heli Ski/Board: Golden Light & Blower Powder

  • All-women’s sea kayaking expedition exploring glacier fjords in Glacier Bay National Park.

    An IWLS Student paddles the surreal landscape of SE AK

  • Kayaking launch site near Glacier Bay with calm waters, mountains, and expedition gear.

    Stopping for lunch and a lesson in in the Chilkat Inlet, Haines, AK

  • Backcountry sea kayaking expedition camp set along a rocky Alaskan shoreline.

    A room with a view- IWLS Sea Kayak

  • Calving glacier and remote mountain terrain in the East Arm of Glacier Bay, Alaska.

    Glacier Bay National Park kayaking

  • Backcountry mountaineering student ascending a snow-covered peak in Alaska.

    Endless Peaks Provide Endless Adventure, IWLS Alaska

  • Backcountry mountaineers skiing across a high-alpine glacier during ski guide training in Alaska.

    SKi/Board Mountaineering Students moving camp on a glacial highway

  • Wind-carved snow and steep glaciated slopes on Mt. Fairweather, a classic Alaskan mountaineering peak.

    Group descending Mt Fairweather

  • Two mountaineers ascending Mt. Fairweather with sweeping glacier valleys and rugged peaks below.

    High on Mt Fairweather, 15,300′

  • Backcountry mountaineering students camping on a glacier at sunset during an Alaska expedition.

    Students take it all in in August- IWLS Alaska Mountaineering

  • Roped climber walking along a snowy mountain ridge.

    A student puts it all together on the final snow ridge to the summit, Haines AK

  • Guided rafting trip on the Tsirku River

    Learning to Raft- IWLS Whitewater

  • Guided raft team approaching a massive Alaskan glacier on a wilderness leadership course.

    Incredible scenery abounds on an IWLS Whitewater Course

  • Adventure participants running a Class III–IV rapid on the Blanchard River in Alaska.

    Learning to hit the hole- Class III+ on the Upper Tatshenshini

  • Whitewater rafting team navigating a rapid on the Blanchard River during guide training.

    Experiential Education in Action

  • Canyoneering students navigating a narrow sandstone slot canyon in Utah.

    IWLS Canyoneering in Escalante, UT

  • Mountaineers climbing a steep snow slope surrounded by rugged Utah rock formations.

    Practicing mountaineering skills in Nevada

  • High-elevation Utah mountain range with fresh snow and rugged alpine terrain.

    The mountaineering course venue in Great Basin National Park

  • Backcountry skier dropping into fresh snow below rocky ridges in Utah.

    Great spring conditions at Great Basin

  • Skier in soft powder snow while skiing a steep Utah mountain slope.

    Backcountry skiing in the Wasatch

  • Canyoneer preparing to rappel through a narrow sandstone slot canyon in Utah.

    A student goes for a Canyoneering Rappel in Escalante area, UT

  • Hikers crossing a shallow stream in a scenic Utah red rock canyon with fall colors.

    An IWLS class backpacking in Utah’s canyon country

  • Outdoor leadership course participants admiring a waterfall section in a Utah canyon.

    Exploring a side canyon in Escalante, UT

  • Massive vertical rock walls in a remote Utah canyon landscape.

    IWLS Rock climbing course venue- Notch Peak, Utah

  • Technical ice climbing on a frozen waterfall in Utah’s mountains.

    An IWLS Custom Program can fit your needs

  • Ice climber ascending a vertical frozen waterfall in Utah using crampons and ice tools.

    An IWLS Custom Program could have you sending WI3+

  • Rock climbing student practicing slab climbing technique during a guide training course.

    An Alaska IWLS Rock Scene

  • Glacier crevasse ice climbing on a mountaineering skills course in Alaska.

    Climbing out of a crevasse on an IWLS trip

  • Glacier trekking training group navigating crevasses and ice ridges in Alaska’s wilderness.

    Southeast AK offers a range of environments for custom course development

  • Trad climber placing gear and ascending a granite crack as part of climbing skills training.

    A student learns Multi-Pitch Rock climbing in Utah

  • Alpine rock climber navigating rugged terrain on a guided climbing expedition.

    Alpine Rock Climbing- IWLS Alaska

  • Student rappelling down a rock face during an outdoor climbing course in Alaska.

    Learning to Rappel- IWLS Alaska

  • Climber placing gear and navigating a crack system on a granite cliff in Alaska.

    Rock climbing course in Alaska

  • Scenic kayaking on Lynn Canal with glassy water and dramatic coastal mountains in Alaska.

    Charting the Course on the Lynn Canal, Haines, AK

  • Couple kayaking in Lynn Canal overlooking the town of Haines and rugged coastal peaks.

    Paddling back towards Port Chilkoot, Haines

  • Sea Lions resting on coast of Lynn canal in Alaska

    Wildlife viewing on an IWLS Sea Kayak Course can be spectacular

  • Group of sea kayakers paddling towards island lighthouse in Alaska

    Island Hopping Objective- IWLS Sea Kayak

  • Mt Fairweather in View from the water in scenic Alaska

    Johns Hopkins Inlet and the Fairweather Range

  • Kayakers on Alaska waters toward snow-covered mountains in Glacier Bay

    Navigating a Fjord on an IWLS Kayak Course

  • Sea Kayak Leadership Training on Alaska’s Coastal Waters

    Launching off Kelgaya Point, Haines, AK

  • Bear Paw Print in Silt Flats of Alaska Shoreline

    Bear Safety is core curriculum for IWLS Alaska/ Yukon Watersports programs

  • Black Bear Exploring Grass Meadow in Alaskan Wilderness

    Wildlife Abounds In SE AK

  • Puffins launching from water surface in Glacier Bay Alaska

    Sea Kayking provides an excellent platform to view wildlife

  • American Bald Eagle perched along river bed in coastal Southeast Alaska

    Bald Eagle on the Tsirku River

  • Brown bear fishing on Chilkoot River in Haines, Alaska

    Bear on the banks of the Chilkoot River, Haines AK

  • Skier descending steep ridge in Takshanuk Mountains

    Skiing off Kashagnak, Haines AK – Jay Beyer

  • Skiplane landing in Alaska backcountry wilderness during Heli-ski excursion

    Ski plane pilot waves hello, Haines AK

  • Mountaineer ascending snowy peak in backcountry wilderness

    Backcountry skiing in Great Basin NP

  • Skier enjoying fresh powder on backcountry mountain slope in Alaska

    IWLS heli ski program in Haines

  • A heli-skier descends a steep powder slope in the mountains of Southeast Alaska, showcasing advanced backcountry terrain.

    Perfect snow from the heli, Haines, AK

  • Hikers making their way up a high mountain pass on Mt. Ripinsky, overlooking dramatic alpine peaks and a turquoise glacial lake.

    Backpacking above the tree line- IWLS Yukon

  • A hiker walks across a wooden bridge spanning a fast-flowing river in Southeast Alaska.

    Hiking the historic Chilkoot Trail, Skagway, AK

  • A group of hikers follows a narrow trail along the edge of a river on the Chilkoot Trail in Southeast Alaska.

    Hiking towards Lake Bennett on the Chilkoot Trail

  • A group of backpackers trekking through rugged alpine scenery on the Donjek in the Canadian Yukon.

    Hiking up Expectation Pass on the Donjek Route

  • Hikers moving across the Donjek Route in Canada, practicing expedition travel and backcountry leadership skills.

    Hiking on the Donjek Route, Kluane

  • Two hikers wade through a cold river during a backpacking trip in Alaska.

    Creek Crossing on the Cottonwood, Kluane National Park

  • Views of Yukon Backcountry

    Crossing over the Chilkoot Pass early season

  • Scenic View of Mountain Alpine Valley

    Backpacking in Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park

  • Brown bear sow with cubs foraging among tidepool rocks during low tide in Southeast Alaska.

    Mama bear and cubs in Glacier Bay

  • Kayaking in Glacier Bay's West Arm

    Paddling among icebergs in the West Arm

  • Paddling in Glacier Bay with Mt. Fairweather in the distance

    Mt Fairweather towers above Glacier Bay

  • Two hikers stand on a tall moraine overlooking two glaciers in the Alaskan backcountry.

    Late season Alaska mountaineering

  • Mountaineers climbing through mixed terrain in the Cathedral Peaks outside of Haines

    Practicing Simul-climbing on an IWLS Mountain Course

  • Alaska Glacier Mountaineering: Advanced Ridge Ascent Training

    Alpine climbing in Glacier Bay area- IWLS AK

  • Two mountaineers crossing a steep snow slope near a large crevasse, practicing glacier travel, hazard recognition, and safe route selection.

    Negotiating a crevasse on mountaineering course

  • Backcountry skiers pulling sleds across a snowy alpine landscape

    Hauling sleds while moving basecamp on an IWLS Mountain Course