Meet Your High Vibe Guides!
Jule Harle
Owner & Executive Director, ACA Certified L4 Whitewater Packraft Instructor Trainer, L3 Kayak & L4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Jule has been whitewater kayaking, packrafting, canoeing & rafting Alaskan rivers since 2007. She’s passionate about being in the mountains while using packrafts for wilderness exploration & whitewater access.
Jule is the founder, owner & primary instructor for the Alaska Packraft School holding ACA certifications in Whitewater Packraft, Whitewater Kayak & Swiftwater Rescue Instructor- also the 1st female ACA Packraft Instructor Trainer (IT). She's invested in the development of river sports and supporting the water community worldwide. She serves as a packraft discipline committee member for the ACA Safety, Education & Instruction Council & the American Packrafting Association to help support APA's core values: an organization invested in its community, supports packraft education, river access & stewardship.
Jule wrote & published The Alaska Packraft Guidebook: Premier Rivers & Creeks in the 49th State- the first ever packraft specific whitewater guidebook highlighting 70 of AK’s best runs ranging from Class I-IV.
When she’s not on the river, Jule lives in Girdwood, AK & spends time immersing herself in Eastern wisdom traditions of Yoga & Ayurveda…but also entertaining random cabin projects or going to silly costume themed dance parties with friends. In the “off season,” Jule works part time as a Licensed mental health counselor specializing in trauma, addictions/substance abuse & mental health struggles while integrating yoga therapy, Ayurveda modalities & meditation as healing paradigms.
But thinks you'll find life's medicine & answers just by being on the river.
"Go with the flow...& force nothing; all you can do is steer your ship."
Brian Powell
ACA CERTIFIED L4 PACKRAFT INSTRUCTOR, LEAD & ASSISTANT GUIDE
Previously owning a construction company, Brian started off whitewater kayaking over a decade ago in the warm waters of the Southeastern US. After moving to Alaska in 2020, he fell in love with packrafting. He took several courses with the Alaska Packraft School & quickly progressed from "eager student" to professional whitewater instructor.
"Brian's skill progression since I've known him is impressive & inspiring- I've watched him transform from a newer packrafter to one of our senior guides in only a few years. I love his enthusiasm & ability to take his passion to the next level." -Jule
Brian lives in Girdwood, where he also works as a nurse for the Girdwood Health Clinic. A builder, medical provider & packraft instructor, he's a man of many trades.
Pete Biskind
ACA Certified L4 Packraft Instructor, Lead & assistant guide, ACA Certified L4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor & Instructor Trainer Candidate
Pete began guiding whitewater in 2001 to support his kayak addiction; since then, he’s river guided throughout 10 states and 3 continents. He has made a career of helping people explore wild places- he loves it wholeheartedly. In the winter months he works as a heli-ski guide & avalanche forecaster.
Moving to AK in 2017, Pete soon began packrafting- he’s passionate and looks forward to sharing his skills & love for Alaskan rivers with students. If he's not skiing or paddling, he’s spending time building his dream home & airplane hangar near Tonsina, AK.
Pete holds several certifications including Advanced Swiftwater Rescue, Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Avalanche Level 3, AMGA Ski Guide, and Leave No Trace Trainer. He's the champion & lead educator for our Swiftwater Rescue Courses.
ACA CERTIFIED L4 PACKRAFT & L4 SWIFTWATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR, LEAD & ASSISTANT GUIDE
Russ Hathaway
Hi, I’m Packraft Russ. A semi-professional noodler on the xc sticks, and a white water enthusiast. I began packrafting in 2019 after seeing my first boat, and being blown away about the possibilities of travel and adventure it that would open up. It truly reinvigorated my outdoor enthusiasm.
I love sharing that stoke and I really enjoy teaching. I work in the summers for New Wave Adventures in Denali, and have had the opportunity assisting Swiftwater Rescue courses with The Rescue company & Luc Mehl's Triple Point Training. I feel humbled to be a part of Alaska Packraft school and can’t wait to continue the learning process on and off the water!
I love packrafting so much I founded the Denali Packraft Co-Hort & the "Gnarnana 50" Packraft Race & Whitewater Festival.
AMANDA KALYN
KAYAK & PACKRAFT ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, NOLS EDUCATOR
Hi! My name is Amanda and I love rivers! I grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada so naturally I began my love of rivers in an old canvas canoe on the prairies. In the years that followed I fell in love with rafting, kayaking and packrafting as I explored wild places. Since 2008, my passion for expeditions and rivers turned into a career of Guiding and working as a NOLS Instructor ever since. I've been lucky enough to explore rivers in NZ, India, Borneo, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Canada, Alaska, and many rivers in the lower 48. I'm so excited to be working for The Alaska Packraft School this summer because I love coaching students to their full potential in skills and risk management in the river environment. I look forward to meeting you on the river!
KAYAK, PACKRAFT & SWIFTWATER RESCUE ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, NOLS educator
Kurt Hotchkiss
Howdy! My name is Kurt, I love floating, boating, fishing and fungi- all over the world, but especially in Alaska. I’ve been leading wilderness trips for NOLS in AK every summer since 2012 including several month long packrafting course expeditions. In the off-season, my wife and I spend a good portion of the year in the Mojave desert, working with endangered tortoises and enjoying sandy beach vibes. I’m passionate about wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship-I want to play, explore & take care of our AWESOME planet
LEAD & ASSISTANT KAYAK, ACA L4 Packraft, L4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. NOLS Educator & Ski patroller
FIONA BROWN
David Apperson
Assistant INSTRUCTOR, ridiculously skilled handyman-jack of most trades & a great dancer.
David grew up in Seward and fell in love with the Alaska backcountry while romping around the mountains and forests of the Kenai Peninsula. He was drawn to packrafting because of the capability of the boat to access untamed areas. Like a typical packrafter eager for adventure, but still new to rivers, David created a resume filled with safety and trip planning mistakes. After these difficult lessons & a few “near misses,” David took some packraft classes & learned more river skills. Now, he’s fired up and truly enjoys sharing the Culture of Safety with others & spreading the good word.
When not paddling whitewater, Mr. Dave spends his work week solving mechanical problems, & fixing large industrial boilers before going home to chill on his couch & listen to sweet dubstep beats.
Sam Hooper
L4 ACA Packraft Lead & Assistant Instructor
L4 ACA Packraft Lead & Assistant Instructor, Army National Guard
Dylan Weldin
Dylan's first love was climbing. But after seasons of sweating on the rim of West Virginia’s New River Gorge, he scratched the whitewater itch and fell in love. He has a.master’s degree in recreation, sport teaching methods & 16 years of professional outdoor education experience helping him blend technical precision with a deep understanding of how people learn. Teaching toddlers to “old timers” refining hard-earned skills in Appalachia, the Alps, Patagonia & New Zealand- his approach emphasizes playful coaching, repetition, progression, & helping you discover your own judgement and risk management decisions. Whether on rock or in the river, he's here to help students read terrain, trust their training, and enjoy the ride.
And, critically, HAVE FUN doing what you love! He's also notably regarded as the top hula-hooper in the Alaska Packraft School staff team. Nothing gets that shoulder girdle ready for whitewater like a good high-lasso… ;)
Tim Kelley
Assistant PACKRAFT & KAYAK instructor, nols educator
Tim has worked over 10 years as an outdoor educator leading whitewater paddling, backcountry skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing and backpacking courses around the globe. He has taught packrafting for NOLS, the Montana Wilderness School, and Westminster College. While he began his paddling career as a whitewater kayaker, Tim has fully embraced the “liquid sports couch” and all the possible adventures a packraft enables. When he is not combing over satellite imagery of remote rivers, he can be found wandering with a camera, playing board games, or discovering new ways to eat chocolate. You can check out some of his adventures on his site. Tim shares helpful descriptions, amazing photos, integral details for planning & overall useful information-a valuable tool for anyone seeking inspiration or quality trip beta. www.timkelleyimages.com
Taylor Guetschow
ACA Certified L3 Packraft LEAD Instructor, Ski patroller & Mountain Guide
Taylor moved to Alaska from Park City, UT in 2011 to ski for the University of Alaska Anchorage. Growing up in the desert, Taylor had little exposure to water sports and began paddling in 2013 after rehabilitation from a hip surgery required a shift in gears. She immediately fell in love with the water and began sea kayak guiding and training with the American Canoe Association in 2014. While guiding operations were paused in 2020, the tides began to switch for Taylor as she fell in love with packrafting. With this new found passion, Taylor left her position as a program coordinator of a remote sea kayaking operation to come back to town for whitewater access.
With a decade of experience coaching and instructing in the outdoor industry and an ACA Level 3 River Packrafting Instructor certification, Alaska Packraft School is the perfect convergence of Taylor’s passions: teaching and whitewater. She believes the best days include witnessing someone find new skills, joys and high moments on the water, then finishing the day sharing snacks in the takeout.
ACA CERTIFIED L4 PACKRAFT & SWIFTWATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR, LEAD & ASSISTANT GUIDE
Kevin Kelly
Kevin teaches courses with the Alaska Packraft School, Luc Mehl, and the State of Alaska. He grew up paddling canoes and kayaks on the Midwest’s Rivers, Great Lakes, Boundary Waters, and the Quetico. His packrafting career began at the Six Mile Creek Whitewater Festival in 2019 and he's been hooked since. Besides packrafting you'll also find him skiing, nordic skating, figure skating, whitewater kayaking, and biking. Kevin also serves on the Alaska Chapter of the American Packrafting Association Board.
Kevin is certified as an ACA L4 Packrafting Instructor, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Wilderness First Responder, and Swiftwater Rescue Instructor for the State of Alaska.
Penelope Cruise: Penguin Mascot
COMPANY CEO & FOUNDER OF THE POSITIVITY & JOY DEPARTMENT
Adopted from a GoodWill thrift store in Arizona, Penelope was originally raised near the South Pole, before happily joining the Alaska Packraft School in 2021.
She immediately took to whitewater on a Grand Canyon trip- now she lives & breathes for time on the river.
While Penelope has zero formal training or certifications whatsover, she has a positive presence & contagious joy that brightens anyone's day- capable of curing hangovers, making bad weather better- a loyal buddy, always there with a listening ear. This river penguin not only floats when sopping wet, but is a skilled breakdancer, can sort of play checkers (watch out, she cheats!) & is currently learning how to row rafts.
