Testimonials
What went well?: Everything, basically. We covered all the intended material, we got lots of practice, Rob answered all the questions well, he had clearly planned out the field route to suit the needs of the course, and we finished on time. This is exactly what I wanted, and I consider the cost of the course to have been well worth it.Leo, Wilderness Navigation 2
Testimonials
Success on all fronts! Hiking, backpacking, submitting the glacier were all great even in the rain! Connecting with a great group to enjoy the experience. Having the peace of mind knowing we were safe and being guided/ supported made the adventure more enjoyable.Anonymous , Comox Glacier Hike
Testimonials
Instructors attitude and engagement with the group was 10/10. Instructor allowed students to set their own learning objectives while sticking to the overall goal of the weekend. Made it very fun as a learning environment. This is definitely a highlight of my winter.AAG,
Helene was an amazing instructor! She managed to teach a huge amount of content over the course in a way that was easy to understand and remember. She highlighted dangers in the backcountry I was never aware of, and gave lots of resources on how to travel in the winter safely.Nick,
Testimonials
Love it, straightforward and informative. Matt is super smart and well spoken. It had all I needed for a 2 hour session.Jamie, Online - Intro to Weather Forecasting
Amazing instruction from an awesome instructor, Matt was very engaged in hooking us as future weather nerds! Course flow was engaging and informative and the recordings are appreciated as it was a content heavy course. As a pure intro course this was above my expectations.Brian, Online - Intro to Weather Forecasting
Amazing instruction from an awesome instructor, Matt was very engaged in hooking us as future weather nerds! Course flow was engaging and informative and the recordings are appreciated as it was a content heavy course. As a pure intro course this was above my expectations.Brian B,
It was a great session. I have done lots of weather courses with flying and sailing but Matt’s approach to digesting weather reports from broad strokes down to local phenomena was brilliant!! An approach that is so simple and logical once it is pointed out! Thanks again.Peter, Online - Intro to Weather Forecasting
I was really impressed with the course. Matt obviously understands how to teach. There was just the right amount of information, presented to the right depth, with just enough emphasis and repetition of the most important points for it to sink in. While I do need to review some of the material to gain the greatest value, the main concepts are well ingrained into my understanding already.Tim, Online - Intro to Weather Forecasting
I really liked how the course was structured around what we wanted to learn, Rob was a great instructor who was really accommodating, patient and kind. He was genuinely interested in why we wanted to take the course and how to best support us in our learning.Lucy Rohatynchuk,
Thanks for organizing my hike of Mt Arrowsmith with Christine. I wanted to let you know that she was outstanding as a guide - incredibly supportive, skilled, knowledgeable and patient and also excellent company. Even though we didn’t summit - I learned a lot and felt in the best hands and look forward to having another go now I am familiar with the hike!Rosemary,
Great course, I learned a ton. It was broken down into two days theory and two days/one night practical.Rob is an amazing instructor with a ton of experience and his teaching style accommodates all learning styles. He is extremely passionate and really wants the students to learn the material. Highly recommend the course and Rob as an instructor!Pat Colvey,
I thought the course was extremely valuable. The topics covered were delivered by Rob in a thoughtful and logical manner that allowed me to build confidence toward the practical portion. Putting the skills together in the afternoon was great. Rob coached us through our own mistakes which let us understand and correct them as we progressed. Having a knowledgeable and respectful instructor reflects well on Hike Vancouver Island / IAG and I hope to learn more from them in the future.- Dave,
I thought the course was extremely valuable. The topics covered were delivered by Rob in a thoughtful and logical manner that allowed me to build confidence toward the practical portion. Putting the skills together in the afternoon was great. Rob coached us through our own mistakes which let us understand and correct them as we progressed. Having a knowledgeable and respectful instructor reflects well on Hike Vancouver Island / IAG and I hope to learn more from them in the future.Dave ,
I thought the course was extremely valuable. The topics covered were delivered by Rob in a thoughtful and logical manner that allowed me to build confidence toward the practical portion. Putting the skills together in the afternoon was great. Rob coached us through our own mistakes which let us understand and correct them as we progressed. Having a knowledgeable and respectful instructor reflects well on Hike Vancouver Island / IAG and I hope to learn more from them in the future.Dave,
I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with Christine’s knowledge and skills as a guide. I will certainly book another trip with IAG and Christine!Chantal, Victoria, BC.
Thanks for the wonderful experience! We had a great guide with Derek, and he gave helpful hints when needed. And to me it was an extra bonus that he cooked for us!Simone O., UK
Our trip on the Juan the Fuca was amazing. Our guide was excellent and a great cook. Wonderful!Angela O. , UK
Such an epic women's backcountry skills course this past weekend at Forbidden Plateau in Strathcona Park. Thanks to Meaghan Buisson for being an amazing guide, going above and beyond to help this newbie find her feet on the mountain. I met some amazing people and learned so much. More trips like this please!Sharyn Alexander,
I absolutely loved the course. The instructor was outstanding. Thanks again and I look forward to taking more courses through you.Roslyn Van der wal,
We're all still in the afterglow phase of the trip ... i.e. tired legs and full hearts. I'd like to recognize Graeme's part in our success. Thanks again for helping make the trip a reality.Mike Winstone,
Yesterday’s GPS course was so great. I got everything I wanted out of it and more, and our guide Christine was truly a delight.Sarah S.,
The woman’s backcountry skills trip was by far one of the most memorable things I’ve ever done. As a beginner in backpack camping I was a little nervous, but our guide Sofia made everyone comfortable and confident right away. I can’t thank her enough for sharing her knowledge and love for the outdoors and adventure! I discovered that I was able to push my body further than I ever thought I could. Having an awesome group of ladies and a strong guide made this trip amazing.Ashleigh,
This course was very informative on navigation and shelter building and starting/maintaining fires, as well as useful tips on who to call in an emergency, how to assess any risks, and necessary steps to help someone if they are injured or missing. Our instructor was extremely knowledgeable and engaging!Naia Patterson, Forbidden Plateau
I have to say I absolutely loved the Women's Backcountry Skills! It was probably one of the most amazing things I've ever done. It was both mentally and physically challenging and very informative for someone new to this kind of thing. Sofia was a great guide and we really enjoyed her company and appreciated all of her knowledge! We couldn't have asked for a better guide.Jen Wynia,
Christine was very professional, knowledgeable, empathetic and caring. Full marks!Michael, Victoria, BC.
I really enjoyed the Navigation course. Nate was an excellent instructor who was very engaging, knowledgeable and responsive. The course was well paced and just what I was looking for. Can't wait to go out and try my new skills with my newly purchased compass. Thank you!Lisa Booth, Esquimalt, BC
The survival course exceeded my expectations. Brianna was brilliant as the instructor and trip guide. Learning was well paced throughout the weekend focussing on navigation, shelter building, fire making and survival techniques. Her scenarios and camp and sunday hiking location choices were well executed and thoughtful. I will recommend this course to friends and family. 5 star rating!!Lisa Booth, Esquimalt, BC
My friends and I just completed Wilderness Navigation One with Brianna and it was an awesome day. She was extremely knowledgeable and we are anxious to do another course with this outfit. Highly recommend this company and Brianna to anyone wanting to expand their knowledge base.Sherry M, Comox, BC
Brianna is incredibly knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions. Great day of learning!!Patricia D, Campbell River, BC
The course was great, exactly what I was looking for! Our instructor did a great job explaining maps, compass use, and how to apply them in the field. She was very patient with us when reminding us how to find our position. Our group had quite a few questions, which she had no problem answering! I would definitely recommend this course to others.Ian Scott, Victoria, BC
We had a fantastic time. Ken was the best, not only a great guide but a nice person and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed getting to know him. It was a great trip and the best way to celebrate our 30th anniversary. The scenery took our breath away and will forever leave a special mark on our hearts. We appreciate the care you took in organizing everything from beginning to end. It was perfect! We are sad it is over and we have to return to the real world.Tom & Pat, California
Our instructor was very knowledgable, helpful, and prepared. Money well spent.Vic Marchiel, Courtenay, BC
Our guide was amazing. He gladly adapted our days to make it enjoyable for everyone. He used his extended experience with ropes to lower us in very steep sections. We all felt very safe under his supervision.Michel Pinault, Victoria, BC
We were more than impressed with Jan as our guide! Our heli climbing on Mount Matchlee was a memorable experience! Looking forward to returning sometime in the near future. I'm still enjoying the after-effects of our day!Judith Freed, Vero Beach, Florida
It was amazing! We all had a great time thanks in a large part to Lyle. We look forward to our next trip with Island Alpine Guides!!Jennifer Gunning & Family, Victoria, BC.
Mattias was an excellent teacher. He was adaptable and able to keep the course interesting and fun throughout the day. His passion for navigation really shone through and both Robbie and I left feeling inspired to learn more. As well as being clear and organized, he was also very engaging and fun to talk to. All in all, it was an excellent experience- and we would be excited to take more classes in the future, and would strongly recommend them to our friends.Katelyn Kennedy and Robbie Young, Powell River, BC
Thank you for leading such a great course today. We really enjoyed ourselves and got a lot out of it. We'd both be very interested in an advanced version to build on these new skills.Silas and Irini Sandham, Nanaimo, BC
Thank you again for a great trip and adventure. We are all looking forward to another next year!Jacquie Bourdon, Comox, BC
Thank you so much for looking after everyone so well — the organization really was fantastic. The confidence and experience you gave us all was incredible.Miranda Jones, Courtenay, BC
