Profile: Alaska Wild Guides

Catching up with Amanda Clayton, co-owner of Alaska Wild Guides, felt like getting a glimpse into a true Alaskan legacy. Born and raised in Alaska, Amanda spent her childhood exploring Xtratuf's, a tradition she’s carried forward with her own family. Alongside her husband Derek and kids Alex and Madison, she’s built a life where work and play are rooted in adventure. From launching Seadoos in Whittier to exploring hidden corners of Prince William Sound, the Claytons embody what it means to live, work, and explore in Alaska.

Recently, Xtratuf Pro Team Member, Abby Cooper, visited Amanda at Alaska Wild Guides for a memorable day on the water. They loaded up the Seadoos adorning tufs, and headed to the Blackstone Glacier for memories of epic proportions. Waterfalls, sea lions, Kitiiwake rookery, calving glaciers and bopping icebergs, there’s nothing comparable - sincerely a once in a lifetime opportunity for those fortunate enough to find themselves in Whittier. Abby and her curious mind couldn’t help but beg to understand how one ends up riding Seadoos all summer and Skidoos all winter to explore the vast, wild and epic Alaska landscape for a career- so here we are, with a blog about exactly that. Que our chat with Amanda Clayton.

Q+A WITH AMANADA CLAYTON

Born and raised?
 Alaska.

Time in Xtratufs?
 As far back as I can remember, I've worn Xtratufs. I bought my kids their first pairs when they were only 8 or 9.

Do you remember your first pair?
 I don't remember my first pair, but I do remember that as a kid I used them while camping and fishing in the summers. When my kids, Alex and Madison, were younger, we all used them while exploring and camping. In their teen years, we did a fair bit of boating and remote camping in Prince William Sound. Alex started working with Alaska Wild Guides when he was 14, and we ran kayak tours, he wore his Xtratuf’s while launching clients. Now he wears them while launching Seadoos as the offerings of AWG have evolved.

When are you wearing Xtratufs now, and why?
The entire crew uses Xtratufs while launching and retrieving the Seadoos. If we didn't have the tall boots, our feet would be wet since we need to get onto the trailers and push the PWC back into the water. The 4-place trailer requires the crew to walk out into the water to get the boat furthest from the dock.

When did you first get into exploring by Seadoo?
I bought my first Seadoo in 1998, and we would buzz around lakes pulling friends on tubes. Derek and I started running tours on Seadoos in 2018 out of Whittier, AK. Ocean riding is very different from lake riding. It's more about the adventure and sights. Whittier tends to be a bit rainy in the summers, so if you want to have dry feet, you need to wear waterproof boots - Xtratuf has always been the answer.

What is it about the mountains that draws you in?
Mountains are what I've always known. Although I don't climb nearly as much as I used to, I love that my kids do.

How did AWG start, and when?
Alaska Wild Guides, LLC (AWG) was formed in January 2011 by Derek Ruckel. In the beginning, AWG was run as a single-man operation with the primary focus on multi-day snowmobile adventures throughout Alaska’s backcountry. The tours traveled from lodge to lodge through a network of trails only known by Derek. When he wasn't on a multi-day, Derek would conduct day tours to Spencer Glacier. During the summer months, he also offered kayak tours in Prince William Sound which have been replaced by the jet ski tours. As the company grew and became more than Derek could handle alone, I joined in 2017, and we quickly hired employees and added an online reservation system. In 2018, we started the Seadoo tours in Whittier. Since then, they have become our #1 tour.

What did it look like in its infancy? I imagine you were wearing a lot of hats then.
We are a small, family-owned and operated company, all born and raised here in Alaska. Currently, 6 of our 8 employees are family, and those who are not blood are in all respects family. In the beginning, I handled all the customer interface until the client was delivered to the guide (outfitted into gear, driven to the trailhead, etc.). I also took care of all clerical functions such as HR, accounting, and reservations. Now I mainly handle the back end of operations, although I'm thrust into guiding as needed.

Any future plans for AWG?
There is quite a bit of new competition in the winter market. Since our motto is to provide a unique Alaska experience, we have had to make changes to our winter multi-day snowmobile adventure so our tour stands out from what other companies are offering. This year, we have partnered with some new lodges that will be hosting our groups exclusively, and they are in areas that are not currently being ridden in. Our guests will be the only ones in this backcountry.

If there’s one thing in this world that’s certain, it’s that a life well lived is defined by following passions, chasing dreams and being in tune with what makes you happy and it’s incredibly rewarding to see Amanada and her family doing exactly that. We look forward to seeing the evolution continue for this Tuf-loving family.

Follow Alaska Wild Guides: https://www.instagram.com/alaska_wild_guides/
Follow Abby Cooper: https://www.instagram.com/abbydells/