MEET THE GUIDES OF ARCTIC DOG ADVENTURE CO.
THE ARCTIC DOG STANDARD
At Arctic Dog Adventure Co., guiding is more than just showing guests the trail — it’s about delivering safe, meaningful, and educational experiences grounded in professionalism and care. We proudly maintain industry-leading standards for our guides. Every team member is required to hold a current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification before leading tours. These credentials ensure that our guides are trained to respond to medical and environmental emergencies in the Alaskan front and backcountry.
But certification is just the starting point. Our guides are also:
-
Experts in dog care and team dynamics, trained to monitor canine health, behavior, and performance in all conditions.
-
Fluent in risk management, with the judgment and training to make safe, informed decisions on the trail.
-
Educators at heart, who share Alaska’s natural and cultural history with clarity, accuracy, and respect.
-
Stewards of the land, practicing Leave No Trace principles and modeling low-impact backcountry travel.
We expect our guides to be calm under pressure, compassionate with clients, proactive in their decision-making, and committed to continuous learning. Whether you're with us for a short tour or a multi-day expedition, you can count on your guide to lead with integrity, experience, and heart. This is the Arctic Dog Standard — and it's how we ensure every journey is not only unforgettable, but responsibly and expertly led.
LISBET NORRIS
OWNER & LEAD GUIDE
Lisbet grew up surrounded by sled dogs in Willow, Alaska, where her family has bred and raced Siberian Huskies for almost eight decades. She is a three-time finisher of the Iditarod, the longest sled dog race in the world. Lisbet has a strong love for the North. She feels at home in the boreal forest of Interior Alaska and loves sharing the northern landscape with others.
Prior to starting Arctic Dog Adventure Co. in 2016, Lisbet worked as a musher and expedition guide for outfitters in Alaska and Arctic Norway and has two decades of experience guiding dog sled tours and expeditions. Lisbet is known for her leadership qualities under adverse circumstances and through sound preparation and experience, she makes the most unique and challenging adventures possible for her clients. Lisbet is a certified Wilderness First Responder and holds a BA degree in Northern Studies and History from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Lisbet met Nils while on a mushing training trip in Fairbanks. In July of 2016, they bought their homestead off Hattie Creek with the intention of pursuing a nature-based lifestyle with their sled dogs and Karelian Bear Dogs.
NILS PEDERSEN
OWNER & GUIDE
Nils Pedersen was born and raised with sled dogs in the Murphy Dome region of Fairbanks, Alaska. After finishing an undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Nils began training and working with Karelian Bear Dogs as a bear-human conflict specialist across western North America and the Arctic for the Wind River Bear Institute; an outfit he now heads as Director.
Nils completed an M.S.c. Degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from UAF in 2019. His research focuses on grizzly and polar bear conservation in the Arctic. An avid hunter, skier, dog driver, and outdoorsman, Nils is known for his friendly, easy-going disposition, complimented by his meticulous attention to detail and safety in the planning and operation of his programs.
When Nils is not guiding, he is working in his role as Director of the Wind River Bear Institute, a group dedicated to reducing human-caused bear mortality worldwide. When visiting us, you may have the opportunity to meet the members of Nil's bear conflict team: Wind River Soledad, Erauspojan's Rio, and Wind River Mardy (Rio x Soledad), Nils' trio of Karelian Bear Dogs. For more info on the Wind River Bear Institute and its work in the field of bear conservation, please visit www.beardogs.org.
ALYSSA VOLZ
ASSISTANT GUIDE
Alyssa's nomadic childhood taught her the crucial skill of asking, "Can I please pet your dog?" across many states and countries. Raised in North Carolina with a background in Global Studies, Spanish, and Communications from Appalachian State University, she spent five years working in Environmental Nonprofit before moving to Alaska. She still considers her time in the rolling mountains of Boone to have been her “gateway drug” to Alaska.
Realizing that desk life wasn't her calling, Alyssa ventured to Alaska in 2023 with her Lab, Everest, and just one suitcase, proving that some people really do run away to join the circus… or, in this case, the Alaskan tourism industry. She now strives to support our natural world through responsible, educational, and exciting touristic experiences.
Since arriving in Alaska, she's acquired a "sled dog dropout" named Umpqua and can often be found on the trails with her canine companions, hiking, camping, kayaking, and skijoring. She likes to say they do Labrador stuff in the summer and Husky stuff in the winter. At home, she enjoys needle felting, cooking, gardening, and brushing up on her Spanish, all while plotting her next adventures.
KATIE BROADHURST
& WILL BENNETT
Peak Flow OBM has been supporting the backend of ADAC for 3+ years. Katie & Will bring a combined 20+ years of backend business experience, adventure guiding, B&B accommodation management and operations management experience to the team.
Peak Flow helps adventure travel and tourism businesses with software and process improvements as well as digital marketing so owners can reclaim their work/life balance.
They hold certifications in areas like online business management, SEO and automation (as well as as WFR, AVI 1 and mountaineering), and bring a holistic, modern approach to operating a travel or tour business.
