Meet the Guides

The instructors and guides at Alaska Mountain Guides and Mountain Guides International are professionals. They are special individuals who have a passion for being in the wilderness environment. They bring a wealth of experience from years of guiding throughout Alaska and the world to every course, and they genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge. Their skill and positive attitudes ensure our guests a great experience during their outdoor adventure. The following is a partial list of our guides' accomplishments:

* More than 75 Mt McKinley expeditions (20,320 ft.).* Extensive climbing, trekking, and skiing trips throughout the Wrangell, St.Elias, Alaska, and Fairweather range in Alaska.* More than 90 expeditions to Aconcagua (22,829 ft.) in Argentina.* Climbing expeditions and treks throughout Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.* Sea kayaking expeditions throughout Alaska, Mexico, Honduras, and Greece.* Guided technical climbing on objectives as varied as Ama Dablam (22,493 ft) in Nepal's Everest region, and classic alpine rock routes on Patagonia's infamous towers.* Exploratory sea kayaking expeditions to Dundas and Taylor Bays in Glacier Bay National Park.* 30-Day ski mountaineering trip from Skagway to Juneau Alaska. This was the 1st crossing of the Juneau Ice Cap from this direction.* 25-day ski mountaineering trip from Mt. Fairweather to Haines Alaska crossing the remote Fairweather range.* Climbs and treks throughout Greenland.* Trekking in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia.* Treks throughout Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.* Expedition to Broad Peak (8000 meters) in Pakistan.* Cultural treks in Guatemala, Ecuador, Nepal, Pakistan, Greenland, and Africa.* Rafting trips in Pakistan, Alaska, Nepal, Africa, and Costa Rica.* Multiple Climbs of the volcanoes of Ecuador.* Expedition to Bogda Feng in Xinjiang, China.* Multiple climbs of the volcanoes of Mexico.* Training of US Army Special Forces in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.* Canoe trip down the Yukon River to Dawson with a team from National Geographic. The article is in National Geographic Adventure Magazine's March/April 2001 issue.* Expeditions to Mt Elbrus in Russia.* Over 150 ascents of Mt Kilimanjaro.* Multiple Ascents of Mt Vinson in Antarctica.

AMG and MGI have over 50 guides. Below is a partial list of these special individuals.

Sean Gaffney
Sean is the President & Executive Director and has been instructing and guiding for 25 years. He is an international climbing guide with more than 75 ascents of mountains over 18,000 feet (5500m) including an alpine-style climb of Ama Dablam in Nepal and a new route on Aconcagua in Argentina. He has led extensive skiing, rafting, and trekking expeditions throughout North and South America, Africa, and Asia.

Eli Fierer
Eli is the Vice President of Alaska Mountain Guides. He has over a decade of guiding experience throughout North America, Alaska, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, and China. He is a certified EMT II, holds an Avalanche Level III, and is an accomplished teacher.

Charlie Stewart
Charlie is our Expedition Manager and leads trips in Alaska, South America, and Africa. Charlie grew up on the East Coast and developed his love for the outdoors in the Adirondack Mountains of NY. An avid skier, climber, and paddler, he enjoys spending time in wild and remote mountains around the world. Charlie is an EMT, AVPRO certified through the American Avalanche Association and has Swift Water Rescue training. When not leading trips with Alaska Mountain Guides, you'll find him ski patrolling in the PNW.

Ian Roy
Ian has been guiding in Alaska since 2018, he guides many of our Backcountry skiing and mountaineering trips. Ian is a WEMT and holds a Pro 1 avalanche certification. When not in Alaska he can be found in Lake Tahoe ski patrolling or summiting volcanoes in the PNW

Brian Rougeux
Equally, at home on the high peaks of South America or the granite cracks of Utah, Brian is an EMT and has been leading AMG and MGI trips since 2005. He brings a wealth of skill and experience from instructing and guiding on Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, the Cordillera Blanca, the volcanoes of Ecuador and Mexico, and peaks throughout Alaska.

Bob Daffe
Bob is a whitewater pioneer. He has over 30 years of experience in whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. He is a Rescue 3 International instructor, a raft guide examiner, and a canoe and kayak instructor. When he isn't leading whitewater in the Yukon, Bob can be found teaching courses in Nepal and Ecuador or leading personal expeditions in Chile and Africa.

Harry Subertas
Harry has led numerous mountain trips in Alaska and around the globe. His Alaska mountaineering achievements include successful summits of Denali and Mt. Fairweather. Harry is a licensed Alaska State EMT and certified WEMT. When he’s not guiding Harry can be found participating in ultra-marathon events.

Timmy Sonnenberg
An active rock/ice climber and mountaineer from Helena, Montana Timmy leads high-altitude mountain expeditions in Argentina and Nepal. With ascents on Aconcagua, Denali, and Mount Fairweather, Tim is at home in the big mountains. Timmy has AIARE level 2 avalanche training and is a Wilderness First Responder.

Aaron Friedland
Aaron is an enthusiastic climber and mountaineer. With multiple ascents on Aconcagua and hundreds of rock and ice routes throughout the United States and South America under his belt, Aaron is equally at home on the sharp end of a line or at over 18,000′. Aaron is a licensed State of Alaska EMT.