Our Final Farewell!
July 30, 2025
Good day, friends, family, and other readers of our NLT trip updates!
Well, the wheels are up on the final flight of the kiddos heading back home after 20 days in the Alaskan backcountry. By the time you read this update, they will have likely landed back home in their hometowns, eager to share stories of their times on Northern Lights (after some sleep). We leaders can’t wait to see everyone’s photos on our shared album in the coming days. These past 21 days have truly been magical. Between climbing up glacial crevasses, trekking through rugged off-trail landscapes in the Talkeetnas, rafting down the mighty Matanuska River, and paddling to tidewater glaciers in Blackstone Bay, we have done things that many people can’t say they have. We are really proud of this crew, and we know they are taking lessons home that they will carry with them in the coming years.
Our flight over Denali this morning was nothing short of breathtaking. A perfect bookend to a wonderful trip, we spent an hour soaring over the Alaska Range’s incomprehensibly large peaks and incredible glaciers. While there is no life in this barren alpine tundra, we saw a myriad of colors, from the incredible aquamarine of glacial pools to the imposing greys and blacks of the granite peaks of Denali, Mt. Foraker, and their neighbors. Being surrounded by these giant peaks in a tiny plane helped us all grasp the importance and rarity of the opportunity that we had indulged in over the course of the past three weeks.
As leaders, we would like to sincerely thank you for sharing your kiddos with us for their trip to Alaska. Trusting their care to us in rugged wilderness is an honor we don’t take lightly, and we are grateful for the time we spent with them as they transition into young adulthood. Completing this trip is a milestone. The growth and maturity shown by all is impressive, and we know that the experiences gained in Alaska will take them far. We are so proud, and we will cherish these memories forever.
With gratitude,
NLT2A (Porter, Matt, and Ellie)
Final Update from NLT!
July 29, 2025
Helloooo Moondance! Things are rapidly coming to a close over here in Alaska, and we can’t believe we all have to say goodbye tomorrow. These past few days have been full of fun and excitement, as well as appreciation and gratitude for this special place and experience. We cannot thank you enough for trusting us with your amazing children, and are so proud of how far they have come over these three weeks!
We arrived in Whittier for our sea kayaking section five short days ago. Upon arriving, we spent the afternoon exploring the town, getting goodies at the gift shops, and even finding the time to play a pickup game of basketball with some of the local kids. Eddie and Reed took this game particularly seriously, playing their hearts out and impressing the rest of us. That night, we marked the beginning of the last activity by treating ourselves to amazing seafood and ginormous slices of chocolate cake. With full bellies and a bright blue sky, we went to bed happy and comfortable before our sea kayaking adventure began.
The next day we were awoken by noises of raindrops hitting our tent, and that whole day we experienced what true Alaskan rain was like! Although it dampened some of our gear, it did not dampen our spirits! With our fancy rubber boots, jackets, and overalls provided by our outfitters, we were ready to face the rain head on. Instead of paddling to Blackstone Bay, we took a charter boat to our campsite by the water because of the rain. That afternoon, we spent time talking under the tarp, playing card games, and admiring the scenery around us. Ellie and Eleanor played with rocks and created “Rock Baby,” and Gigi led a walk around the campsite, finding a beautiful marsh that we all admired greatly. That night, we had vodka pasta for dinner and sour patch kids, which we needed after a cold and wet day. After moonup, we all slept soundly in our warm sleeping bags.
The next morning, we were greeted by a shining sun and a clear sky! Anxious to get on the water, we quickly ate breakfast and headed to Blackstone and Beloit Glacier. After paddling four miles to the Blackstone Glacier, we were blown away by how massive and beautiful it was. The light blue glacier with the backdrop of a bright blue sky was indescribable, and we were all in awe. We even got to see some ice fall – Jack’s favorite part of the day. We stopped for lunch before heading to Beloit Glacier, and ate right by a salmon run. Ford and Gigi impressively caught a salmon with their bare hands, and we all admired it before putting it back in the water. Most of us had never seen a salmon run before, and it was a truly impressive sight. After lunch we paddled to Beloit Glacier before heading back towards camp. On the way back, we pulled over on the shore and our guide, Jamie, took us on a small hike to the base Lawrence Glacier. He gave us the option to do a cold plunge in the glacier water, and everyone in the group jumped in! This group has enjoyed cold plunges since day 1, so we were not surprised in the turnout. Natalie brought the stoke, and cheered everyone on as they jumped in, and even jumped in twice! The encouragement even had Gwen jumping in, who was not planning on it but ended up being so happy that she did. After a refreshing shower in the glacier water, we walked around the glacier and it was spectacular – like we were on another planet. We got back to camp late and Matt made us carbonara, which was delicious. To close off the perfect day, it was only fitting that we had a perfect sunset. With a clear view of the glaciers and mountains, we sat and admired the view as the sun slowly set. It left a light pink and orange light on the mountains. This was the kind of sunset that will be cherished forever by every member of this group.
The next day we paddled to Decision Point, where we would be spending our last night in the backcountry. Practically professional kayakers, we got to camp with plenty of time to spare and spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and swimming in the ocean. It was a perfect afternoon. That night, Gigi and Eleanor helped cook burrito bowls, and we made a fire right by the beach. Jack and Reed led a thoughtful moonup where we were able to reflect on how we have changed throughout the trip and discuss what we value about each other. Dash noted that this trip has made him appreciate the little things, and we could not agree more. This group has truly grown to love each other, and we are so grateful for the everlasting bonds Alaska has brought us.
This morning, we were up early and paddled four miles back to Whittier. Asher was very helpful (no surprise there) in moving the boats, making our exit incredibly smooth. We are now headed to Talkeetna for banquet and truly can’t believe it’s already here! As sad as we are to say goodbye, we are excited for you all to hear about your kids’ adventures in Alaska. It’s been a wonderful few weeks and an honor to lead this group of rockstars. Until next time!
With gratitude,
NLTA (Porter, Ellie, and Matt)
From Moose to Moonup: Tales from the Trail!
July 25, 2025
Good day, friends, family, and other readers of our NLT trip updates!
It’s been a hot minute since you last heard from us, but your travelers have been busy in the Alaskan backcountry over the past 12 days! We have traversed rugged mountain passes, basked in the sunshine on the banks of snowmelt-fed creeks, and paddled through Class-IV whitewater. Most importantly, we’ve become a community. The growth that us leaders have noticed in your kiddos since leaving for backpacking has been tremendous. They have grown to be comfortable living together in the truly rugged Alaskan wilderness, sharing stories, laughs, and camp chores like professionals. Beyond the hard skills development, seeing everyone’s leadership development and care for each other on the trail, in the raft, and at camp has been gratifying to watch unfold.
12 days ago, we set off for the backpacking section at the Pinochle Trailhead. We immediately saw a moose and calf before heading towards the Talkeetnas towering in the distance. After a gritty ascent up to Hicks Creek, we followed it to Hicks Lake for a lovely campsite by the water. Natalie, Ford, and Gigi helped cook our first dinner on WhisperLites, our backpacking stoves. We shared a wolf howl to close our first Moonup in the backcountry.
The next day we followed a drainage down to Caribou Creek and towards an airstrip. The crew quickly adjusted to their backpacks and hiking boots, making the day super smooth and filled with laughter. After a full day of hiking, we headed to bed early to prepare for Chitna Pass the next day.
Pass Day! We were awoken by a clear blue sky with the sun shining, the perfect beginning to an amazing day of hiking. The sun was shining and we all ate our oatmeal in excitement to get the day going. After a successful river crossing across Chitna Creek, we bushwacked and followed game trails up to the pass. After some intense uphill, Reed gave the group a motivational pep talk that helped group morale and encouraged all of us to keep going. We reached the top of the pass late that afternoon and celebrated with a pop tart party and music. The entire group did such a good job getting up the pass, but Gwen showed a special tenacity in smiling her way up the pass without complaint. Everyone in the group felt incredibly accomplished to reach the top, and us leaders were so proud of them. It was a special moment and one that we will cherish forever. After an hour of celebration, we headed down the pass and camped at the base, with the view of towering peaks around a huge golden mountain greeting us. We named that campsite “Field of Dreams,” because it truly was magical. That night our LODs, Asher and Eleanor, led a thoughtful moonup where we were able to reflect on the big day, and we ended the night with an epic dance party.
The next couple days we followed East Boulder out and ending with an incredible view of the Chugach Mountain range. We hiked across rivers, through bogs and swamps, and were also able to see some awesome beaver ponds! One afternoon we were able to stop by a lake and fly fish, and Jack and Porter caught rainbow trout. Another morning, we made pancakes and hot chocolate, and every night ended with gratitude for the mountains and the beautiful backcountry. Spending eight days together out here was a special and unique experience, and one that made us all grow closer together and grow more confident in ourselves.
On our last day, we said farewell to the backcountry and celebrated the past eight days with burgers, fries, fried pickles, and onion rings at a real live restaurant! It was a feast that everyone deserved. We unpacked gear and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine filled with card games and hacky sack, which Reed and Dash took pretty seriously. While it was nice to have a lazy afternoon, we were all very excited to go white water rafting the next morning!
The next day was the start of our one-night whitewater adventure. We went down class 3 and 4 rapids, and no one fell in! The group made some of the rapids, called Pop Quiz, Entrance Exam, and Coffee Grinder look easy! Eddie took the lead in paddling one of the rafts and proved to be a natural as he called out strokes above the roar of the whitewater. We made it to camp late that afternoon at the base of the Chugach range, enjoying some time at camp before a lovely dinner of enchilada lasagna. Everyone had a lot of fun setting up our mega-sky-tarp to hang out under for Moonup. After Moonup, we crawled into our dry tents, falling asleep with the sound of raindrops hitting the rainflies.
Our last morning in the Matanuska Valley was lovely. We took an enjoyable float down to the confluence of the Chickaloon and Matanuska rivers before taking out for lunch and camp under Kings Mountain. We played cards and recounted memories on the river before having a true Alaskan dinner of reindeer hotdogs and bratwurst. Yesterday, we traveled to Whittier and prepared for sea kayaking. By the time you’re reading this, we will be paddling through Blackstone Bay towards the distant tidewater glaciers. We can’t wait to tell you about our adventures in a few days!
With gratitude,
NLTA (Porter, Matt, & Ellie)
Thank yous
Natalie: Thank you mom and dad for this amazing trip, I’ve been having more fun than I could’ve even imagined. I can’t believe I’m able to see and do all these things while still being in America. I can’t wait to tell you all about my time here
Reed: Dear mom and dad – we are currently driving to Whittier to start the sea kayaking part of the trip. We just finished our 8 days of backpacking in the backcountry and 2 days of rafting to give us a little break afterwards. Being in the most beautiful and remote place ive ever been while completing a challenge like the backpacking with some new but close friends was awesome. Thank you guys for the amazing opportunity and sending me way out here! I cant wait to show you guys all the great photos and stories and to eat LA food again when im back. Thank you guys again love you!
Asher: Dear mom and dad, I am having so much fun in Alaska! Everything is so beautiful here! Lately I have been really reflecting on how lucky I am to be here with such awesome people in such special places. All the days are filled with laughter and friendship, and its so great to be able to just hang out and be looking up at huge jagged mountain ranges. Just know that I mean it when I say I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Please send my love to all the fam. Missing you tons and hoping you guys aren’t too bored without me!
-Asher
Jack: Hey y’all, we just finished rafting and backpacking, which was some pretty fun stuff. The lakes here are crystal clear and I caught a trout on our last full day of backpacking. You can see for miles and I need to get up in the air here. I hope y’all have fun in Nashville with everyone, and Hollis has a good time in Iceland. Also, thanks mom for figuring out my GT math stuff. See y’all in like a week!
Eddie: Hey Mom and Dad, I am having a fantastic time here! We went backpacking for eight days and the views and the backpacking was excellent, and after that we went rafting for two days and have had a few chill days. I have enjoyed my time here so much, this place has been one of a kind! Having a moondance trip in the US has its really cool parts and my group is awesome and everyone is very nice. We have also been eating well. I will never forget this fantastic place it has its own feeling and views and everything about it is so breathtaking that is doesn’t get old! Thank you guys.
Ford: Hey again, we just finished the backpacking section, and it was amazing, this place tops even the Galapagos as the coolest place I’ve ever been. Thank you so much for sending me here. I was telling the people in my group that I’ve been grateful for all the trips leading up to this year, but I had never felt the overwhelming sense of gratitude that I have felt here. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to see you again and have chicken minis. I love you.
Dear parents I am having such a good time thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I am so grateful for everything – dash
Gigi: Hey Fam! THANK YALL SO MUCH FOR SENDING ME HERE. I am having one of the best experiences of my life. Although I miss yall so so much, I never want to leave Alaska. Everywhere we go, we are surrounded by the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. We are headed to the coast for Sea Kayaking and I think I’ve changed my mind on whether I prefer beach over mountains. Its gonna have to be mountains. I’ve seen no bears yet, but I’ve seen some moose. My leaders have great music taste, and will play drive by truckers at dinner time which is great. I really love my group and this trip tops all of them. Thank you Honey and Love yall!!!
Gwen: Hey mom dad and Syd! We are on our third week of the trip now and I have been having a really good time! Backpacking was amazing being so deep in the backcountry for 8 days was the coolest thing I’ve ever done and each campsite we stayed at was beautiful. Everyone on the trip is great! and now we are driving to where we will sea kayak and the mountains with the ocean is beautiful. I love being here so much thank you for this great opportunity see you soon love you all!
Eleanor: Hi Mom and Dad! Alaska has been so much fun and so special to get to see. We just finished 8 days of backpacking and white-water rafting. Spending time so far into the backcountry was such a unique experience, and I have loved every minute of it. Now, we are on the way to Whittier for sea kayaking. Thank you again for everything, and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Love you!
Shoutouts!
July 14, 2025
Jack: Hey y’all, were about to start our 8 day backpacking trip, hope everything has been running smoothly, and Hollis good luck on your trip it’s going to be awesome. Also, tell Katie how to see the trip updates because I forgot. Thank y’all!
Reed: Hi mom and dad, were leaving today to start our 8 day trek into backcountry. It’s been a super fun and unique experience so far, the glacier exploring was really cool . I love y’all so much hope stuff is good in LA. Thank y’all for the trip!! (PS tell Avery thanks for the letter)
Dash: we just finished ice climbing and are about to go on our backpacking trip. It is cool I am having fun.
Nat: Hi guys, I’m about to go backpacking and I am having an amazing time. This trip is incredible thank you!
Eleanor: Hi! Alaska has been so much fun, and I’m having such a great time. We just finished glacier climbing and are starting our 8 day backpacking trip today. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Ford: hey mom and dad, I’m chilling out here. It’s a lot of fun, were about to start backpacking. The group is great and everyone is really nice. When I get home, please make sure I can have a ten count mini because I am really looking forward to that. Love y’all
Eddie: Hi Mom and Dad I’m having a good time. We are about to go backpacking for eight days straight and we will be carrying everything we eat and use. It’ll be a pretty good experience, I’m excited. After that we will go kayaking and rafting for a bit. The last two days, we have been ice climbing on glaciers. It will be fun to see y’all soon!
Gwen: Hi mom dad and Syd I am having a really great time its my fourth day here and I’m already sad to leave we went ice climbing the first couple days and everything is so pretty and I loved it and am excited to show you the photos. Today we are starting backpacking! Everyone on the trip is great and we all are pretty close love you see you!
Asher: Hey guys! Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip to Alaska! I’m glad everything worked out in the end! Everything is so beautiful and we’re all having so much fun. Sending love to you and family.
Gigi: HI FAM!!! We just got done ice climbing it was really cool(haha) and now were about to go backpacking in the backcountry for 8 days. I’m very exited and I really love my group. I love the landscape here and it reminds me a lot of Colorado but way way better. Love y’all so much!!
Update from Alaska!
July 14, 2025
Hello from Alaska! The 13 of us are having an awesome time in this beautiful place, it is flying by! We are stoked about this group and are excited to share some highlights from our first couple days together.
The group arrived at staggered times in the Anchorage Airport, us leaders highly anticipating their arrival and ready to get the trip started. Once our kids arrived with the highest level of excitement, we gathered their belongings and headed over to Eagle River to camp for the night. We had our first “Moonup” – an evening ritual where the group comes together to reflect on the day and share special moments from various parts of our lives. We discussed why we wanted to do this trip and connected instantly, setting a strong foundation for the rest of the trip. The kids had their first night sleep in broad daylight, the first of many!
The next morning was early, and we feasted on breakfast burritos and fruit. The kids were instant professionals at taking down their tents, and by 9 a.m. we hit the road in our coach to Glacier View. The drive was incredibly scenic, with large mountain ranges towering around us as we all got to know each other better. We bonded over a shared love of music, getting some deep pulls from everyone’s eclectic music taste.
We camped at the NOVA base, right along the Matanuska River. We were greeted by beautiful purple fireweeds that surrounded the camp. That afternoon, we played group card games of tongues and B.S. Eddie took the cake in B.S., sneakily beating us all while none of us saw it coming. We taught Leave No Trace principles to the group, as well as animal safety. We walked along the Matanuska, and it was the first time the group was able to truly breathe in the Alaska air and take in all the beauty that was around them. They were in awe of the view, and so were we. It never gets old!
After an afternoon of getting to know each other and a million games of hacky sac, we made tacos for dinner. Gigi was the first to step up to help us cook, cutting all the onions and peppers for us quickly and efficiently. Gigi and Jack were our first LODs (Leaders of the Day), leading us in a special Moonup by the river, where we reflected about important events that had happened in our lives. We were serenated by Jack and his guitar, and we ended the night dreaming of the glacier adventures that awaited us the next day.
The next day we were finally taking on the ice! We woke up early and had a breakfast of yogurt and granola and met our NOVA guides who outfitted us with all the mountaineering gear needed for ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier. We had mountaineering boots, harnesses, crampons, and ice picks – the crew looked like true professionals! After gearing up, we headed to the glacier. We spent the afternoon exploring the glacier, walking up hills of ice and getting more comfortable with the crampons on our feet. Reed, who had expressed interest in glaciers in school, was especially in awe of the stunning glacier. We repelled down a wall of ice, hopped over crevasses, and learned about the complexity of glaciers from our expert guides. Once it was time for climbing, the kids brought the stoke. Everyone excelled at climbing, and we had an amazing afternoon on the glacier. Natalie was a natural, speeding up the ice like nobody’s business and encouraging everyone as they took on the wall. To make things even better, the sky cleared up and we were able to soak in the sun, appreciating it a little more than usual here in Alaska! After a few hours on the glacier, we packed up and headed back to NOVA for a well-deserved dinner of Gyros. Asher and Eleanor led an excellent Moonup, followed by a tight knit a circle of laughter and fun. The groups chemistry is growing stronger every day, and we are excited to see that everyone is connecting so well already.
After a successful climbing day two days ago, the group was ready to take on the ice again! This time, we had quite the journey to get to our climbing spot. We ferried a raft across the Matanuska River and hiked through scrub and sluggish glacial mud to get there. Asher was a natural explorer, conquering this new terrain elegantly and having fun while doing it! We were able to see a mini rockslide, which was awesome. The journey was worth it. We were climbing right above a river created from the glacier water, where the students were repelled down into a canyon and climbed back up. They also had the option to climb a 60-foot wall, which each kid took on with no fear. Ford and Dash decided to race up the wall with Ellie timing them, and the friendly competition made the day more exciting and fun. Everyone was enthusiastic and excited to try each pitch, while motivating each other when it was difficult. It was only fitting to end the day with ice cream, where we celebrated the successful completion of our first activity! After filling our bellies with moose tracks and brown sugar ice cream, we headed back to camp to prepare for our backpacking adventure. This included staging all our group gear, sorting snacks and meals, and packing clothes. Gwen was efficient and quick in her packing, being a great listener which helped the evening go smoothly. We had Korean BBQ for dinner and closed the busy day with Moonup led by Reed and Eddie, where we fantasized about places we would love to visit and discussed mentors in our lives. After a long and fun day of climbing and backpacking preparation, everyone slept soundly in their sleeping bags.
Backpacking time! Today we had a huge breakfast of steak and eggs for breakfast before hitting the backcountry. We packed up the rest of our gear, teaching the kids how to pack a backpack and the way it should fit. The kids are excited for our 8-day backpacking adventure in the Alaska bush, and us leaders know they are going to kill it!
We are so proud of how the group has come together and embraced everything Alaska has to offer. They are all incredibly grateful, excited to be here, and ready for the adventures ahead, and we can’t wait to see them grow in new ways and be challenged over this week in the backcountry. It is magical out there, and we can’t wait to experience it with them.
Stay tuned for updates from our backcountry expedition in the Talkeetna Range – the real wilderness adventure is just beginning!
-With excitement from Alaska,
Porter, Matt, & Ellie
Safe Arrival!
July 11, 2025
Hello Northern Lights Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Alaska! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
