All of our Alaska adventure tours convene and depart from the Great Alaskan Tourist Trap.
We have been a family-owned business for over 20 years. We have combined our gift shop as a warm meeting place for you to get “Suited and booted” before your Snowmobile Tour. Don’t let the name fool you. The Great Alaskan Tourist Trap is a lively place, an upscale gift shop with a humorous twist. It’s the best trap in all of Alaska! We are located conveniently at the entrance to Girdwood, a scenic 45-minute drive South of Anchorage.
The staff at the Tourist Trap will help make your snowmobile tour reservations and arrange other activities for you such as dog sledding, flightseeing, transportation, or accommodations.
***Glacier City Snowmobile Tours is an equal opportunity provider
Meet the owners
The Owners, Justin, and Erin, take great pleasure in showing visiting guests a memorable and enjoyable trip. While Justin is out breaking new trails or running a tour, Erin makes sure that everything goes smoothly behind the scenes. Often she will spring herself from the “Trap” and join you on a snowmobile tour.
We are lucky to have some of the most seasoned guides in the whole state. They are not only highly trained in CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Responders, and Avalanche Awareness- but have a knack for showing you a great time.
“The Safety of our guests is our number one priority and their maximum enjoyment our personal challenge”.
Our Story
Justin was “Just-a-Guide” when he first started working for Twirl in 2012 – now he and his wife Erin own Glacier City Tours and have expanded into a year-round operator with the addition of Glacier City Rafting & Hiking! We now operate under US Forest Service permits for both winter and summer.
The Glacier City Crew
Justin Siemens
Owner and Operator
Guiding in Alaska and throughout the Chugach National Forest for 10 years in snowmobiling, rafting, kayaking, hiking, and more. He will show you a great time and keep you safe! Living in Alaska his whole life has allowed him to explore all the hidden gems the state has to offer – often times with his wife and adventure pups Skookum and Alyeska!
Certifications – CPR/AED, WFR, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Advanced Swift Water Rescue Tech, Swift Water Rescue Instructor, Advanced Ice Rescue Tech, Technical Rope Rescue Tech, AIARE Avalanche 1&2
Check out his adventures and guided tours on Instagram.
Brandon Thompson
Head Guide
Brandon has been guiding snowmobiles, world-class fishing, and rafting for over fifteen years. He was born and raised in Wyoming but could hear the call of the Alaskan wild at a young age when he came to Alaska for one summer but never left! He now owns and operates interior Alaska’s premier fishing and rafting outfitter – Copper River Guides. When he isn’t snowmobiling with us he is probably on a raft with his co-captain Otter the Raft Dog.
Certifications – CPR/AED, WFR, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Advanced Avalanche
Check out his summer operation at:
https://copperriverguides.com
https://www.instagram.com/copperriverguides/
Sadie Fox
Pro Guide
Born and raised in Alaska, Sadie grew up outdoors. She has been skiing since she could walk, and picked up many sports along the way such as climbing, rafting, mountain running, and snowmobiling! She spends most of her time with her dog Tutka, playing outside and picking blueberries whenever possible! She has her degree in Outdoor Education, Recreation & Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage, Sadie wants to continue showing people everything Alaska has to offer!
Certifications – CPR/AED, WFR, AIARE Avalanche 1&2, ACA Level 2, PRO 1 Avalanche(pending)
Check out Tutka’s adventures on Instagram.
Corey Anderson
Pro Guide
Corey has been a guide for over ten years; kayaking, rafting, & skiing from Southeast Alaska to Southcentral Alaska and the Chugach Mountains. His hobbies include anything H20… either sliding down it in frozen form or floating on it with the flow of gravity. Corey was drawn to Alaska by a combination of mountains and ocean in the same geographic locale. Corey is also a top-notch photographer, check out his Instagram for some more amazing AK photos.
Check out Corey’s adventures on Instagram.
Erica Balkema
Lead Guide
Erica is from Michigan and made her way to Alaska in 2012. She came for a summer job, but fell in love with the mountains and is here to stay. Her favorite Alaskan hobby is chasing the Aurora (The Northern Lights). What she loves most about snowmobile guiding is seeing people experience Alaska for the first time. Erica spends her summers as a fishing guide working for Head Guide Brandon in Copper Center, AK.
Certifications: CPR/AED, WFR, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Avalanche Level One
Cody Kitchen
Guide
Cody grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and moved to Alaska in 2015. He loves all the outdoor activities that Alaska provides and the beautiful scenery. He loves being a snowmobile guide because every day he gets to play in the snow and explore during the glacier season. In the summer he spends his time fishing and working on the never-ending road construction in Alaska.
According to Cody’s Girlfriend Thea, “Cody loves winter, and snow-machining snowmobiling) more than most things. You can catch him watching snowmachine videos in his spare time, and probably counting them while he sleeps”
Certifications: CPR/AED, WFR
Brittney Mucino
Guide
Brittney was born and raised in sunny Florida. After some travels and looking for a change of pace she first moved to Juneau, Alaska in 2018 and worked on an alpine glacier at a dogsled camp. Eventually, she made her way to Girdwood, AK, and started working as a glacier jet ski guide. Brittney loves playing in winter with people as a snowmobile guide.
Certifications – CPR/AED, WFA
Tim Knutson
Master Mechanic
Tim came to Alaska from Minnesota. He moved here in 2001 and loves winter more than summer because there is so much to do in the snow. Tim loves fixing things and helping people when their stuff is broken. Tim lives and works in Girdwood/Portage with his partner Grace and their baby girl Sylvi and big girl Olive.
Certifications – CPR, Snowcat Certified, Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki Certified
Gordie Siemens
Shuttle Manager
Gordie Siemens was born in Dinuba, California. He came to Alaska 40 years ago and worked for Weaver Brothers Trucking for most of his career. He met and married his wife Laurie and they brought up two boys in the Anchorage area. With all his driving experience he is the best shuttle driver on our Alaskan roads. Gordie is also the best Grandpa is Jr Guide Ridder
Certification – CDL
Ridder Siemens
JR Guide
Ridder Siemens was born on an early season snowstorm on September 24th, 2021 as an excellent omen to our snowy winters. Ridder is a 4th generation Alaskan and enjoys his time outside with his family. Ridder will be helping to host Jr Ride Clinics in no time.
Erin Henszey
Owner/Operator
Skookum
The Alaskan Malamute Mix and works on trail crew “clearing sticks’ and doing early morning grooming laps with Justin.