July 29, 2026
Family and Friends!!
We’ve done it! The Alaskan adventure has come to an end with our final outings being sea kayaking and a flight tour over Denali. The group traveled from their familiar Glacier View spot to the unique town of Whittier. A town of only a few hundred residents gained 13 more as we came through the tunnel to waterfall views. The evening brought on a new challenge for our students… a cooking one. The teams had the opportunity to shop for their ingredients and chef up whatever they wanted. The showdown was between breakfast for dinner, Italian spaghetti, and Asian inspired stir-fry. All plates were delicious but the stir-fry, cooked by Smith, Elizabeth, and Caroline, prevailed with its awesome presentation. The group then packed for sea kayaking and got ready for the next day.
After being shuttled out into the Prince William Sound our group set up camp right along the beach. Chipotle inspired bowls kept us fed for the night as we looked forward to kayaking near the glaciers the next morning.
Led by our leaders of the day Miller and Elizabeth, our first day of sea kayaking in Prince William Sound took us near a couple of stunning glaciers. We explored the Sound while spotting sea otters and seals along the way. After an incredible day on the water, we enjoyed chicken Alfredo pasta for dinner and fell asleep to the peaceful sound of the ocean.
The next day, while paddling, the Finn spotted a black bear, couple of bald eagles, and salmon jumping out of the water. He helped show everyone Alaskan wildlife in action. We paddled to a new campsite, where we had the opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the icy Alaskan waters. Charlotte and Laurel jumped in from the rocks and enjoyed the splashing about. After warming up and drying off in the sunshine, Kingston helped make personal pizzas for dinner and spent our final night in the backcountry, soaking in the beauty and tranquility of Prince William Sound.
On our final day, we kayaked back to Whittier, once again sharing the water with playful sea otters, spotted by Glynn Rachel. Smith and Miller led the group as we completed our journey, reflecting on an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking scenery, wildlife, and lasting memories.
Sea kayaking then led to a drive up to the small town of Talkeetna. The night brought a banquet dinner family-style where the squad shared everything from pizzas to garlic bread. Reminiscing about the entirety of the trip was the main topic of conversation and the excitement for the Denali flight was fresh in everyone’s minds.
The next morning came with much appreciated sunshine and clear skies. The group took off from Talkeetna in their bush planes and flew off to Denali and the Alaskan Range. Connor took videos and pictures of the towering mountain. Breathtaking sights of the 20+ thousand foot mountain had the group speechless from wheels up to wheels down. The pilots weaved between the range and circled the behemoth that is Denali. It was the perfect way to cap off a perfect trip.
The group spent their last portion of the the trip together on the water and in the sky. We’re going to miss this group so so so much. They were so passionate throughout the trip and we couldn’t have asked for a better group. All of the students will be successes in their future and we hope they take something away from their time in the Alaskan wilderness. Stay weird!
Love your leaders,
Maya, Gavin, and Carson
July 23, 2026
Dear family and friends,
Backpacking has finished! The squad has all made it safely through the Alaskan wilderness and are feeling new and clean with a warm shower. The past 8 days have seen rain, mud, and sunshine. It’s seen laughter, conversations, and deep reflection. As a group, we’ve grown into a tight unit that does everything together, whether that’s cooking awesome backcountry meals, carrying heavy packs, or sharing special Moonup moments.
Day one was a grind. Muddy ATV trails led the way on a long day with heavy packs. Finn led the pack to our campsite before dinner time. He found a great spot near hick’s lake to set up tents and tarps for the night. The cook crew made some personal pizzas and the whole group took in some of the first views of the route.
Day two had us hiking to a backcountry airstrip as our campsite. We fought through some rain and made it to our campsite on the airstrip. As soon as we got there the sun shined down on us and the boys grabbed the Spikeball and football they packed and enjoyed the good weather. A group, led by Charlotte, ventured down the mountain to get water for the whole group, a deed that wasn’t left unnoticed. The squad was crushing and the mileage done the first two days allowed for flexibility in the journey moving forward.
Day three began with getting our feet wet (something we were very familiar with at this point) on a creek crossing. The crew powered their way through and continued on. The third day finished by lunch but not after some hard work bushwhacking. Conner led the trailblazing and kept the group as one through the tough day. He picked the right spots for snacks and water and eventually got the whole crew to our first of three alpine nights. Above the tree line we got beautiful views of the mountains surrounding us and after a pesto pasta dinner, slept under the sun once again.
Day four was the infamous Pass Day. A late wake-up and short but scenic hike had us go through some of the most scenic spots of the entire trip. The Henry’s both decided to go with one trekking pole to live out their Hobbit dreams alongside Carson. Once we made it to the pass, our packs were dropped and we sat enjoying the views we had been hearing about for months. Caroline, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Glynn Rachel, Laurel, Finn, Kingston and Maya all did handstands to celebrate our victory. After the pass, we followed the river and made it to the field of dreams. After Nutella PB&Js, the group hiked up the hill alongside the campsite and watched the view for hours. Laurel, Finn and Glynn Rachel made Carson’s famous murder Mac, and the night was ended with football and Spikeball with a view.
Day five was a much needed zero day, since the group had worked so hard the days prior. We all enjoyed a late start and shared oatmeal together. Shortly after, the entire group went back up the hill and continued to be in awe of all the views. Gavin played Minecraft music that made everyone feel like they were on their own vision quests. Once the rain came down, everyone hid under the tarp and laughed for hours. Feeling extremely grateful, Maya’s cook crew—the scrub daddies: Elizabeth, Kingston and Henry S—made a thanksgiving meal. To end the night we had a “cringe off” and between Kingston and Glynn Rachel. Glynn Rachel took the cake.
Day six the grind continued, but it didn’t feel like it since this group crushes every hard terrain thrown their way. We started the hike from field of dreams on the ridge of the mountains, one of the most beautiful sights of our backpacking section. On our decline down to boulder creek, Maya spotted a moose and its calf! Once we were back on flat ground, we raced to bear city and got there by lunch. Maya took Caroline, Laurel, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Henry S. on a walk to check out the trail for tomorrow, while Carson and Gavin taught Henry M, Glynn Rachel, Finn, Kingston and Connor the game werewolf. Once the walking group got back we all played that game for hours. After dinner, each group in the Frontier Faceoff performed a dance routine. The routines consisted of Starships, Beauty School Dropout, and Starships, while Carson Gavin and Maya performed a little dance of their own to Memories. Choosing the winners was hard, but at the end of the day Casa Del Perro (Finn, Charlotte, Glynn Rachel and Henry M) were triumphant. After we all shared laughs and drank hot coco.
Day seven we were back to our long hiking day routine. Carson and Gavin woke everyone up with urgency, and we were on the trail by 8am. We continued laughing and talking, making up stories and bonding over our aching backs and snack bargaining. Henry M led us through bushwhacking terrain and a flooded trail that eventually led to our dearly missed (not really) ATV trail. We were greeted by muddy terrain similar to day one, but the whole group knew what to expect and went through it with flying colors. Maya didn’t even fall! The group was so motivated that our “all day hiking” ended at 2pm, and we were able to soak up the sun for the rest of the afternoon. Carson started the trend, and everyone swam in the lake we were camping right next to. It was an amazing end of our long journey and so nice to rest under the sun. We made meat mountain—an assortment of chicken, tomato paste and pepperoni—and shared our final Moonup together in the backcountry (for now!).
Day eight we were up and at ‘em and finished the loop strong as ever. Once we completed, everyone’s energy was immaculate and we were all hugging and celebrating our accomplishment together. The gravity of completing the pass is great, and we were so proud of everyone for absolutely crushing it. Once we headed back to our front country base, we cleaned our gear, finally showered, and enjoyed a meal at a nearby lodge. It was a perfect way to end this section of the trip.
After backpacking, we went into the rafting section of our trip! Although everyone is super excited for sea kayaking, the rapids were a highlight for everyone as none of them have been in a river filled with glacial till (silt scraped up by glaciers) before.
Our first day of rafting started with a beautiful sunny day at NOVA base-our home for the summer. The beginning of the rafting consisted of class 4 rapids that woke us up quickly. Maya, Laurel, Connor and Glynn Rachel’s boat had the first swimmers of the day! During the second section of the river, everyone was able to get in to float in the rocky glacier water. Others like Elizabeth, Caroline, Charlotte and Henry M “road the bull” and sat on the front of the raft and held on to the rope attached. The rest of the afternoon we all talked about life and riddles on the rafts before arriving to camp.
Once we got to our spot for the night, Gavin instantly pointed out a moose and baby crossing the river a few 100 feet in front of us, a sight really cool to see. While we were waiting for dinner, Henry M, Henry S, Finn, Connor and Kingston collected huge tree debris and attempted to make a fort, while Charlotte, Caroline, Elizabeth, Glynn Rachel and Laurel painted with Maya. After our free time and delicious meal (with chocolate cake) Carson, Maya and Gavin hosted Moondance’s first ever improv show. Each group performed a variety of theatrical skits, and Kingston, Laurel and Connor triumphantly won. It was a great way to wrap up the day.
The next morning, we had a relaxing final boat ride and a yummy lunch provided by the guides. That afternoon we set up camp, Carson threw the football with Elizabeth, Glynn Rachel, Maya and Caroline while Gavin went to get surprise salmon for everyone to cook that night. Henry M, Charlotte and Connor took charge of the salmon and it was the most filling meal we’d shared thus far. That night, we played star wars music and watched Henry S and Finn fight to the death, played soccer with Henry M, Elizabeth, Kingston and Gavin, and chased each other in the tall grass.
On our last morning in the Matanuska Valley, we made Avocado toast and a fried egg before we headed off to Whittier for sea kayaking! The group is stoked and are looking forward to doing their last activity together in this beautiful place.
Cheers!
Carson, Gavin, + Maya
July 13, 2026
Our time on the Matanuska Glacier has been one of the most memorable experiences of the expedition so far. Over two days of ice climbing, our group pushed outside of our comfort zones, learned new technical skills, and experienced one of Alaska’s most incredible landscapes from a completely different perspective. Our first day on the glacier focused on building the foundation for everything to come. After gearing up with helmets, harnesses, microspikes, crampons, and ice tools, we made our way across the glacier to a warm-up wall. Before anyone started climbing, our guides taught us proper ice climbing technique-from swinging an ice tool with precision to trusting our feet and allowing the crampons to do the work. We quickly learned that efficient climbing is less about brute strength and more about balance, patience, and confidence. Throughout the day, we also gained a greater appreciation for the glacier itself. As we traveled across the ice, we crossed crevasses, carefully navigated ice creeks, and stood beside deep moulins where meltwater disappears into the glacier below. Along the way, our guides shared lessons about glacier geology, helping us understand how these massive rivers of ice move, shape the landscape, and continue to change every year. The first day also gave students plenty of opportunities to encourage one another. Elizabeth demonstrated incredible resilience while tackling some particularly difficult climbing routes. Despite facing setbacks, she refused to give up, ultimately finishing climbs that had initially seemed out of reach. Henry Miller, meanwhile, never hesitated when a guide asked for another volunteer. Time after time he was the first to say yes, eventually completing an impressive 14 climbs over the two days. His enthusiasm inspired everyone around him to keep pushing themselves.
Day two brought an even greater challenge. After another trek across the glacier, we reached a breathtaking glacial canyon carved deep into the ice. Instead of climbing in from the bottom, we began by rappelling into the canyon itself, descending between towering blue ice walls before beginning our climb back out using the techniques we had practiced the previous day. It was an unforgettable progression-from learning the basics on the warm-up wall to applying those same skills in one of the most unique climbing environments imaginable. While the climbing has been a major highlight, the community we’ve built together has made the experience even more meaningful. Every evening we gather for “Moonup,” where students reflect on the day and recognize one another for moments of kindness, perseverance, or leadership.
Finn has become known for making sure every single person feels appreciated by somehow finding a way to mention everyone by name. His quick wit, broad vocabulary, and perfectly timed jokes continue to keep the entire group laughing no matter how tired we are after a long day. Kingston has shared another side of himself through music, introducing the group to everything from old bluegrass to Portuguese songs. His stories about growing up by the beach and what that lifestyle means to him have also given everyone a glimpse into the places and experiences that have shaped him. Piper showed her creativity by helping design her Frontier Face-Offs team name and shirt! She showed her group that she would be constantly thinking of new ideas and bringing uniqueness to the group. Piper made sure to show off her climbing skills as well with some stellar footwork and ice tool usage! Glynn Rachel has quietly become one of the group’s strongest sources of encouragement. She consistently demonstrates what it means to be a great listener and friend, offering wisdom, optimism, and positivity whenever someone needs it most. Henry Smith has documented nearly every adventure with incredible creativity behind the camera. His photos have captured moments we’ll remember for years to come, and that same creativity has shown up in other ways, including helping design his teams fantastic Frontier Face-Off T-shirts. Connor continues to set the standard when it comes to helping the group. Whether it’s jumping into the cleaning crew without being asked or making sure camp is left better than we found it, he’s always willing to lend a hand. When the work is done, he’s usually leading some intense Spikeball games that have become a nightly tradition. Caroline has continued to be a dependable and positive presence throughout the expedition, always willing to support her teammates and embrace each day’s new challenges with enthusiasm. Charlotte has been a standout member of the cook crew, helping prepare what many of us agree has been the best dinner of the trip so far. She has also shown genuine respect and appreciation toward our climbing guides, taking every opportunity to learn from their experience. Laurel has shared her passion for physics with anyone willing to listen, sparking conversations that somehow make glaciers, climbing, and science all connect. Her excitement for the backpacking portion of our expedition has been contagious, and she has fully embraced the backcountry lifestyle that awaits us.
Adding another layer of excitement to the trip has been the ongoing Frontier Face-Off. Throughout the expedition, students have been divided into three teams that compete in a different challenge each evening. From creative competitions to team-building activities, every event earns valuable points that will be added together before one champion is crowned at the end of our three-week adventure. The friendly competition has brought out plenty of laughter, creativity, and school spirit while strengthening the bonds between everyone in the group. As we leave the glacier behind and prepare for the next stage of our journey, it’s clear that these two days offered much more than just learning how to climb ice. The group has challenged themselves to trust each other, rely on teammates, and appreciate the incredible environment surrounding them. With new skills, stronger friendships, and countless unforgettable memories, our expedition is only getting started. Let’s go backpackineg!!!!!
Shout Outs:
Elizabeth: Hey Madre and Padre (and Caroline)!! This is the most amazing, stunning place ever. We’re about to go backpacking and we just ice climbed. My group is awesome too! See yall soon!!
Caroline: Hi mom and dad, it’s so cool out here, I’m having so much fun, see you guys soon!
Henry Miller: Hi mom and dad. So far we have ice climbed and it was really fun. Got me very excited for Mines. We’re about to leave for 8 days of backpacking that will be very wet and muddy and cold. See you soon!
Henry Smith: Hi mom and dad, we just finished ice climbing and it was awesome. Can’t wait to be back home in three weeks. We are starting our 8 days of backpacking this morning!! See you soon.
Connor: Hi! I’m having a lot of fun! This place is really cool! See you soon!
Finn: this place is so fucking rad the views are unreal and the sun never sets. I love my group everyone meshes so well ice climbing was so rewarding and we’re about to start backpacking
Kingston: we went ice climbing and went on the glaciers pretty fire and today we are starting our backpacking trip for eight days which will be good. See yall soon.
Laurel: Hi guys! Alaska is so much fun; we got to go ice climbing and are about to leave for backpacking. I’m having a great time but I miss you all!!
Charlotte: hey! The trip is so much fun, we just finished ice climbing and I had a lot of fun! I love my group but I miss you all!!
Glynn Rachel: Hey!! I am having so much fun on this trip. Alaska is beautiful and there are so many pretty views. We are packing to go backpacking right now. I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it. See y’all soon!
July 11, 2026
Hello Northern Lights families,
We heard from our leaders last night that the group has arrived safely!
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