Why CMI is your best choice for a guided Alaska backpacking trip:

• Private and small group trips for all ability and experience levels
• Guided by a resident and outdoor educator with over 2,000 days experience
• Trips offered throughout the state
• The most affordable trip prices on the market
• Support an owner-operator guide committed to delivering the most rewarding adventure and wilderness experiences

CMI offers private and small group trips for all ability and experience levels. From introductory and family friendly trips to the most challenging commercially offered backpacking routes in the world, CMI specializes in providing optimal adventure whether you’re new to backpacking or are an experienced wilderness trekker. 

Learn about trip intensity levels here. Trip intensity levels are discussed in the destinations pages below and/or provided for specific trips listed.

In addition to guiding, CMI can help you develop the knowledge, skill, and ability to plan and undertake trips on your own (independently and without a guide).

When you choose CMI you’re guided by a year-round Alaska resident, mountain guide, and outdoor educator with over 2,000 days experience skiing, climbing, and trekking throughout Alaska (from the northern Arctic to the southern coast).

By choosing CMI, your adventure is planned (and you get to communicate) directly with Mat who will also be your guide in the backcountry. You get to start developing a relationship and establishing rapport with your guide before you even arrive in Alaska. Contrast this to communicating with a guide company owner and/or office staff who will not be your guide in the backcountry, and not meeting (or even getting to talk with) your guide until your backcountry trip starts.

CMI has extensive experience, and provides trips, throughout the state. CMI can guide just about any trip offered by any other guide company, including all the classic Alaska backpacking routes, but specializes in trips to lesser known (and even unknown) areas where other companies aren’t currently operating. CMI has pioneered many spectacular proprietary routes.

Mat will discuss options in order to coordinate the most cost-effective and convenient trip that will allow your backpacking to mesh ideally with any other Alaskan travel plans. CMI is happy to advise you in regard to other activities for your Alaska trip.

CMI trip prices are the most affordable on the market, especially relative to the qualifications of your VERY experienced guide. If you find a better rate with a more experienced guide, contact CMI.

When you choose CMI for your trip, you support an owner-operator guide committed to delivering the most rewarding adventure and wilderness experiences.

The unfortunate reality of the backpacking industry paradigm in Alaska is that most guides don’t get paid a living wage. The industry largely depends on short-term, seasonal, non-resident guides that come to Alaska for a summer job experience. Lead guides working for companies that operate this way may only get paid $100-200 for a 24 hour day. Assistant, or “intern,” guides may not get paid at all and only receive room, board, and the summer work experience from their employer.

Within this paradigm guides are wholly dependent on client tips, which (whether or not clearly communicated by guide company owner and/or office staff) should be 15-20% of trip cost. While guide companies operating within this paradigm may show a lower “sticker price” on trips, an additional 15-20% of the trip cost in tip is a huge added expense. Since your guide will expect that tip in cash, that’s another burden to deal with.

This is not the CMI paradigm. CMI trips prices provide your guide (who is also the owner-operator) a professional wage without being dependent on an additional 15-20% of trip cost tip. A professional wage provides for a highly professional, qualified, and experienced guide (which is what you get when you choose CMI).

While CMI specializes in private trips, and offers them at surprisingly reasonable rates, open group backpacking trips are an option for individuals or couples that want an even more affordable option. These trips allow you to join other solo travelers or travel partners on a route. Check the calendar below, call/text 907-831-9686, or email info@chugachsnow.org for small group trips offered early June into October.

Each season CMI offers new and exclusive trips throughout Alaska: from the northernmost Brooks Range mountains of Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the mighty Chugach Mountains on Alaska’s southern coast.

Trips for other dates and destinations are also available. CMI operates statewide and specializes in custom trips. Call/text 907-831-9686 or email Info@ChugachSnow.org for inquiries and availability.

Backpacking trips with CMI include:

• Guiding from a master’s-level outdoor educator and one of the most experienced Alaskan backcountry travelers (about Mat & CMI)
• Backcountry charter flights
• All backcountry meals and snacks
• Group camp and kitchen gear
• Comprehensive backcountry first aid kit
• Emergency backcountry communication via satellite
• All necessary wilderness safety gear

Backpacking trips with CMI do not include:

• Transportation to and from Alaska (typically via Anchorage International Airport)
• Transportation to and from point of departure to the backcountry (typically a trailhead, air charter service business location, or local accommodations), but CMI can coordinate this for you
• Local accommodations (but, again, CMI can advise and/or coordinate this for you)
• Personal clothing and gear (see summer gear list for details)

Arctic backpacking trips: Gates of the Arctic National Park & Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in Gates of the Arctic and ANWR early June through September. Fly-in trips available through Fairbanks (direct or via Coldfoot or Bettles). Walk-in trips available from the Dalton Highway.

Opportunities for base-camp style, loop, and point-to-point traverses are endless. Through a trip customized for your ability and experience level, CMI can show you the most jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring terrain in the mountains of Alaska’s Arctic.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve backpacking trips

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in Wrangell-St. Elias early June through September. Fly-in trips available from Glennallen, McCarthy, Nabesna, and Tok. Walk-in trips available from Nabesna Road, McCarthy Road, and Kennicott.

CMI is one of the park’s most experienced, qualified guides and has established new routes that have never been done before or repeated. CMI can guide you on any of the classic routes, as well as offer alternatives other guide services don’t have experience with.

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve backpacking trips

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve June through September. Fly in direct from Anchorage or with a layover, and additional activities, in the one-of-a-kind community of Port Alsworth.

This area has endless opportunities for exploring, peakbagging, traverses, and fishing. Enjoy fresh grayling cooked at camp on the shores of wondrous Turquoise Lake (beneath the towering granite peaks).

Talkeetna Mountains backpacking trips

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in the Talkeetnas early June through September. Fly-in trips available from Anchorage, Palmer, Talkeetna and the Matanuska Valley. Walk-in trips available from the Parks and Glenn highways 1-3 hours north of Anchorage.

This vast and wild range provides world-class backpacking. It’s easily accessible with convenient logistics being near the international airport in Anchorage. CMI has been exploring the Talkeetnas for nearly two decades, has pioneered new routes, and can show you the most incredible terrain this range has to offer.

Chugach Mountains backpacking trips

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in the Chugach from June into October for all ability and experience levels. In CMI’s opinion, the Chugach is the mightiest range on the planet. It’s huge, rugged, wild, and heavily glaciated. It spans the entirety of southcentral Alaska from Anchorage to near the panhandle.

Just consider CMI’s name: the Chugach is a very special place worth honoring by an institute dedicated to improving relationships between people and planet through outdoor education and guided mountain adventures. No other guide service is as experienced and qualified as CMI to guide you in the Chugach. Fly-in and walk-in trips available from numerous locations.

Kenai Mountains backpacking trips

CMI offers guided hiking and backpacking trips in the Kenai Mountains from June through October. With hundreds of days experience hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, hunting, and fishing in the Kenai Mountains; CMI can help you experience the best terrain, scenery, and adventure the Kenai has to offer.

This vast and wild range is a conveniently accessible world-class adventure destination. Most trips into the backcountry depart via float plane from Lake Hood, which is right next door to Anchorage International Airport.

Alaska Range backpacking trips

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in the Alaska Range from June through September. This huge range spans across much of interior southern Alaska and is home to some of North America’s highest peaks.

Some regions are well known. Other regions aren’t known at all, and offer the most incredible adventure. CMI is the only guide service with experience in many lesser-known areas of the Alaska Range.

Fly-in and walk-in trips are available from many locations in southcentral Alaska. There are several options with relatively easy access and convenient logistics.