Outdoor Adventures
It is the mission of Outdoor Adventures to foster personal growth and a spirit of adventure for the UAF community through education, experience and accessibility in the wilderness of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and right here on campus.
Spring 2025
Outdoor Adventures offers a wide variety of trips and programs each semester. We have
lots of popular classics, like ice climbing in Denali, XC skiing in the White Mountains,
ice fishing, and an overnight cabin trip. This spring, we have added some new offerings
that we are excited about. Check out our new fat biking trip and our kayak rolling
clinics, among others.
Outdoor Adventures is excited to offer UAF students a fleet of season-long XC Classic Ski rental packages for $50. We have 25 sets of skis devoted to the long-term rental program. Students can check the skis out anytime in the season and keep them until the snow melts in April. We will also continue daily and weekend rentals with our standard fleet of classic, skate, and backcountry skis.
Outdoor Adventures will be closed Dec 20th - Jan 9th. To help students get out over
the winter holiday we are offering a rental special. Rent any gear after 12/9/24
and keep it until 1/13/25 for a two week rental rate.
Outdoor Adventures is open Monday-Friday.
Monday 12-6 pm
Tuesday 12-5 pm
Wednesday 12-5 pm
Thursday 12-5 pm
Friday 12-6 pm
Starting on Monday, 1/27 we will have two drop-in XC ski lessons each week for UAF students. No sign ups necessary.
Just show up ready to be outside skiing for about an hour.
Cost-
$5 includes the ski rentals (if needed)
When-
Mondays at 4-5 pm, Wednesdays at 12-1 pm
What-
These lessons generally focus on beginner classic skiing techniques, but if you are
interested in skate skiing, we will see if we can make it work, too.
Stay healthy and get out in the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ wilderness. A big part of enjoying life in Fairbanks is embracing an active, outdoor lifestyle. UAF Outdoor Adventures offers Wilderness Welcome Orientation before the traditional New Student Orientation. There are now two trip types for our pre-orientation experience. There are two wilderness based trips or a campus based adventure trip series. Start your time at UAF right by participating in this awesome event.
During Wilderness Welcome students from all over the U.S. and the world get to know
each other while they explore ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥'s vast wilderness. No experience is required,
but all students will be challenged.
Outdoor Adventures has a wide variety of rental gear for both summer and winter. Canoes, rafts, backpacks and tents are our most popular summer items and XC skis, AT skis and ice climbing gear are our most popular items when winter arrives. Please check out our price list for a complete list what we rent. Also check out gear details tab to see the specifics about our gear. Please give us a call at (907)474-6027 or email us at uaf-oa-staff@alaska.edu with any questions about our rentals
This video presentation gives folks the information to do a winter trip into the Lower Angel Creek Cabin in the Chena State Recreation Area. It also provides a blueprint for getting out to the many different public use cabin trips in the interior. to go this Google drive file to download the maps and gear lists for this trip.
The waterfalls above the Jack River in the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Range provide one of the most beautiful and engaging ice climbs in the Interior. Many years, the falls will form a fat, steep, 50m WI 4 first pitch, which is generally followed by a more mellow WI 2 second pitch. The link will take you to a video guide to the logistics and specifics of a day climbing at Jack River. to access the files for the slideshow, maps, and gear list from the presentation.
This video presentation gives folks the information to do a backpacking trip into the Mount Prindle area in the White Mountains Recreation area. This great hike takes you up a valley and onto an alpine ridge that has dramatic granite spires rising out of the tundra all around you. You can camp in the valley or on the ridgetop. From camp you can do the scrambly ascent of Mount Prindle which is the tallest peak in the White Mountains. .
This video presentation provides the general information and logistics necessary to get out and enjoy the Delta Clearwater River. Maps, gear list and a discussion of the hazards encountered on this trip are all included. to go to the Google drive and download the maps and gear lists for this trip.
Glacier Travel and Route Finding on Glaciers
This video presentation will guide you through some tips and tricks for route finding
on glaciers, and ways to reduce the risks associated with crevasse falls and traveling
through glaciated mountain terrain.
The Outdoor Adventure's LLC brings together students with similar identities, values or needs. We have staff who support your experience within the residence halls and at the Outdoor Adventures office. A successful first year of college looks different for every student, so we offer programs to appeal to a diverse set of interests and structure them so students are given opportunities to adjust to UAF academically as well as socially.
Outdoor Adventure Staff
Frank worked as a staff member for Outdoor Adventures since 2010. Frank has lived in and played in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ for 30 years, and loves exploring the mountains on foot or on skis. Climbing and skiing are his main passions when he is not hanging out with his kids. Frank also enjoys exploring ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ in a kayak, raft and packraft as well as doing bike tours around the world.
Credentials: Wilderness First Responder, A3 Pro 1 Avalanche, A3 Rec 1 Provider, AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, PCIA SPI, AMGA Alpine Skills Course, AK Avalanche School Avy 1 and Avy 2, PCIA CWI-L, USSA Level 100 Alpine Coach, ACA Level 1-2 Coastal Kayak Instructor, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, USA Climbing Level 1 Route Setter, ACA Level 1-3 Canoe, AMGA SPI and CWI-L (expired 11/17)
Christian has worked as a member of the climbing wall staff since the spring of 2013. Hailing from Denmark, Christian has been living in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ since January 2012. He is a graduate student in the Northern and Arctic Studies program and is conducting research on optimal experience (aka Flow) in outdoor recreation activities. Christian loves spending time with his family, and spending time outside rock and ice climbing and mountaineering.
Credentials: Wilderness First Responder, PCIA CWI Provider, PCIA CWI-L, PCIA SPI, Swift Water Rescue Technician, ACA Canoeing Level 1&2, USA Climbing Level 1 route setter, ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Avalanche School Avi 1
Sam is the most recent addition to the Outdoor Adventures staff. He grew up in midcoast Maine and has always been drawn to outdoor pursuits. Sam's undergraduate studies focused on Outdoor Based Environmental Education and he recently finished a Master's program in Cultural Foundations of Education at Syracuse University.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, American Canoe Assoication L4 Swiftwater Instructor, American Canoe Association L4 Sea Kayak Instructor, American Canoe Association L5 Whitewater Kayak Instructor
Joy has been working at OA since the Fall 2022 semester. Growing up in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ has shaped her love for outdoor adventure no matter the season. When she's not in class she loves to be out backpacking, climbing, or skiing.
Credentials: Wilderness First Responder, PCIA CWI
Dorothy started working for Outdoor Adventures in Fall 2022. While she was raised in Indiana, she feels right at home exploring the wilderness of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥. Dorothy came to UAF to study biology, and when she's not studying, you can find her hiking, climbing, skiing, hammocking, or petting the nearest cat or dog she finds on campus.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid
Hazel, born and raised in Fairbanks, has been working at OA since the beginning of 2023. She studies Anthropology and Environmental Politics at UAF, but in her free time you can find her skiing, running, climbing, or yogaing. She has her Wilderness First Aid Certification and is super excited to get paid to be outdoors.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, EMT-1
Max grew up in Anchorage ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and began working for Outdoor Adventures in the Fall of 2023. Growing up in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ instilled in him a deep passion for the outdoors. In his spare time he is usually planning the next weekend trip. His recent favorite outdoor activities include ice climbing, skiing, packrafting and climbing.
Shannon was born in Fairbanks, AK and grew up around the UAF campus. Due to her love for the tight-knit community that Fairbanks provides, she decided to enroll at UAF and is majoring in the Geosciences. When she is not studying or working, you can find her snowboarding, backpacking, rock climbing, floating a river, or looking for cool rocks.
Credentials: Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, PCIA CWI-A
Alex began working for Outdoor Adventures in Fall 2023, and is a Geoscience major. Recently moving from Texas, he is able to pursue newly available winter sports while continuing to hike, fish, and kayak. If he's not in the office or doing homework, you can find him trudging to upper campus for chem.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid
Abby was born and raised in Fairbanks, ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and started at Outdoor Adventures in fall 2023. She grew up camping and fishing with her family, and continues to fulfill her passion for the outdoors by backpacking, alpine skiing, and skijouring with her dog. Abby is currently a student at UAF studying biology.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder
Kaija grew up in Wasilla, ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and enjoys hiking, Nordic skiing, and camping in her free time. She began working at Outdoor Adventures in fall 2023 and is majoring in psychology.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid
Micah came to UAF in 2022 from the Berkshires, Massachusetts, in pursuit of a degree in Natural Resources & Environment. He enjoys many outdoor activities including skiing, mountain biking, and climbing. He began working for Outdoor Adventures in fall of 2023.
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid, PCIA CWI-A-L
Helen was raised on rocks in Colorado, spending any free moment climbing or collecting them. This passion led her to pursue Geology at UAF. You can find her taking any free moment to ski, climb, or hike. She is excited to learn anything she can about leadership in the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥n outdoors!
Credentials: Wilderness First Aid, PCIA CWI-L, AAA Avi Rec 1
Lily grew up in Southeast ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, and has been exploring the outdoors since childhood. She loves to ski, hike, bike, sea kayak, and climb, and she is majoring in natural resource management and outdoor education. Lily is excited to explore interior ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ more with Outdoor Adventures!
Credentials: PCIA CWI
Grant was born and raised in sunny southern California, spending much of his free time in the water. He now studies Homeland Security at UAF and has been enjoying the great ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥n outdoors. Three words that describe Grant perfectly are Sick, Dope, and Awesome.