Alexis Alloway
Alaska Mountaineering/Hike Instructor Course date: 5/4/2025 - 5/29/2025
Please contact field_faculty_development@nols.edu with any questions you might have.
This mountaineering-focused instructor course will be conducted in the mountains of Southcentral Alaska. Towering peaks, massive glaciers, and dynamic weather and terrain make this a great classroom for teaching mountain travel techniques and outdoor living skills. This course will specifially focus on traveling through Alaskan glaciers and alpine terrain: which can include roped travel on snow, navigating through icefalls, management of firn zone, bare glacier, and moraine travel. Ice climbing, rappelling, and peak climbing are also possible. The Alaska instructor course will build on any outdoor and education experience you already have, while allowing you to fine-tune your teaching and leadership skills. Successful completion of this course will prepare you to work moutaineering and/or wilderness backpacking courses for NOLS.
*Update to Home Location: One aspect of prioritization for selection to the NOLS Field Instructor Course is the applicant’s home location. We will prioritize those whose home location is in regional proximity to NOLS’ operating locations (eg: United States, Chile, Mexico, India, East Africa, and New Zealand.) This does NOT mean we will only enroll people who live in these countries. It does mean we will examine your proximity to these NOLS locations in relation to your skills resume and the course skills offered at each of these locations. If you are curious if your home location and skill set fit into our priorities, please reach out to field_faculty_development@nols.edu.
“I've had a few days to reflect on the experiences of my first course. I've thought about many things, but mostly I have thought about the students. How they pushed themselves physically. How they gained self-awareness through their words and actions. How they learned to be comfortable in an environment that was initially far beyond their comfort zone. In a month of working with these students, I saw them grow and learn a great deal about themselves and their capabilities.”