ABEC Alaska
Experienced Guides

ABEC’s Alaska Guides have extensive outdoor experience. Backpacking, paddle rafting, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, skiing, mountaineering, and dog mushing are activities we enjoy. Each guide has a love for and commitment to the wilderness lands of Alaska. We know our state, both the summer and winter season, and can offer a local perspective on all aspects of Alaska; the land itself, its wildlife, people, and the unique lifestyles that have evolved from the interaction of all three.

It is our goal that the focus of a trip into Alaska's backcountry be on the land itself, however, not the trip leaders. Hours of meticulous pre-trip preparations go into each outing to simplify cooking, packing and other camp chores so that we can maximize time spent exploring and enjoying the areas we travel through. Outdoor living in Alaska's dark and cold season has impressed upon us the need for organization, good equipment, and careful planning, all of which make a trip in any season more fun and relaxing.

Guides

Dave Hamilton's passions are dog mushing and long distance running. Dave's experience as a Forst Service wilderness ranger and smokejumper gives Dave an edge when training his dog team for the trail. This mountain man has been leading ABEC trips since 1995. Dave is a behavioral psychologist working with students in Alaskan school districts.

Ramona Finnoff is a "river rat". Oh sure, she enjoys many other outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and gardening, but a smile this big means she is on a river somewhere. Ramona has been guide for ABEC’s Alaska Adventures since 1980.

Mike Reitz is our "Mr. Fixit"; stoves, tents, boats and buildings. When he is not fishing for salmon, halibut and crab on Alaska’s rugged coastlines, he’s guiding trips for ABEC or building log cabins and homes.

John Schauer's favorite activities include whitewater kayaking, nordic skiing and ski-joring, and exploring Alaska's wildest mountains and rivers. A teacher of biology and earth sciences for most of his career, John now mentors teachers and students in computer technology at North Pole High School. John has led Brooks Range trips for ABEC since 1986. John's adventures in web design include the ABEC website and the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks' site.

Carol Scott enjoys the freedom of the skies... or is she just checking out new backpacking routes? Carol teaches science to junior high school students in Fairbanks. These days, much of her free time is spent with her Piper Pacer.

Andriana (Ana) Stossmeister is ABEC's new Office Manager. When she isn’t taking care of day to day office details for us, she is taking care of her new baby girl. Ana loves hiking and taking trips with her dad, David Hamilton. In addition to their Alaskan adventures, they have backpacked in Washington, New Zeland and Mexico. Ana also helps her her husband with his contracting business, Exxel Builders. For her next adventure, Ana hopes to dive in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Other ABEC guides include Aaron Hamilton, Paul Schauer, Karl Schauer, Shawn Deford, Matt Cornell, Gregg Flekke, John Jodwalis and Joe Durrenberger.

ABEC's Alaska Adventures, LLC
PO Box 10791 | Fairbanks, Alaska 99710
Toll Free: (877) 424-8907 | Fax and Local Phone: (907) 457-8907
abec@abecalaska.com