February 7, 2007 - Diane and Brian Okonek

Alaska - Denali Guiding Inc. Operators, Wilderness Experts

Established the Talkeetna-based Alaska-Denali Guiding in 1983.  Led Denali expeditions, mountaineering courses, and backpacking trips through Alaska’s vast wilderness.  Emphasized outdoor skills, safety, and appreciation of the Alaskan landscape.

February 21, 2007 - Alaska Avalanche School

Avalanche Training

Founded over 25 years ago by two of Alaska’s premier avalanche specialists, Doug Fesler and Jill Fredstone.  Presents avalanche awareness classes to promote safety in Alaska’s winter environment.

March 7, 2007 - Dean Cummings

Extreme Skier and Kayaker, Owner of H20 Heli Guides

Won the World Extreme Skiing Championships in 1995 and was a member of the U.S. Ski Team.  Selected as one of the 48 greatest and most influential skiers of our time in Powder Magazine and remains the only skier to ever descend the West face of Meteorite Mountain in the Chugach Range.

Jason Geck

Adventure Racer, Pack Rafter, Trail Runner

Traversed Alaska’s largest and most contiguous wilderness with only 47 pounds of food and less than 10 pounds of gear, covering over 540 miles in 21 days.  Co-director of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic with four race finishes, including a first place finish in the 150 mile Eureka Roadhouse to Talkeetna route in less than 48 hours.

April 4, 2007 - Robert Schnell

Pararescue Jumper for the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic Winner

First place finisher in the last two Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classics, setting the race record for the Eureka Roadhouse to Talkeetna route in 2005.  Serves as a pararescue jumper for the Alaska Air National Guard with deployments to Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.  First man to land on the 650 ft cougar Ace ship that turned over near Adak in the summer of 2006, a rescue that required 11 hours of helicopter flight time in order to reach the site.  Covered 300 miles in 17 days and pack rafted six different rivers while traversing the Brooks Range.