Nicolas Bakken-French

Nick came to us from McCarthy, Alaska where he grew his passion for skiing and climbing and the mountain ecosystems that make it possible. He guides across Alaska, but primarily in Denali  and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. During the winter, he works as a ski guide and avalanche educator in Lake Tahoe, California. Nick also works as a glaciologist and environmental researcher studying glacial environments and human impact on the West’s ecosystems. He conducts his research in the Pacific Northwest, where he leads field studies for the Oregon Glaciers Institute. Nick’s focus is connecting people to the natural world and communicating humanity’s complete dependence on our healthy intact ecosystems. His goal is to show people that our natural systems are not only existential, but more fascinating, beautiful, and complex than anything we as humans could ever hope to create. He believes the mountains are a place to re-establish our connection to the planet upon which we all depend.