Rustyn Mesdag

Rustyn was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up exploring the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. From an early age, he developed a love for snow and ice that naturally led to climbing, mountaineering and eventually international travel. After working as an alpine guide in the United States, he relocated to Chilean Patagonia in 2004, where he founded a guide service near Torres del Paine National Park.

For more than 25 years, Rustyn has led climbers, trekkers and travelers through some of the world's most challenging and remote landscapes. Alongside his guiding career, he worked as a travel writer and for many years published an English-language newspaper for travelers in Patagonia. That combination of guiding and writing led to his first journey to Antarctica, where he documented his experiences while exploring the continent.
Always eager for the next adventure, Rustyn's work now takes him to destinations including Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Amazon and East Africa. He enjoys helping travelers experience these remarkable places while sharing insights gained from decades of guiding and exploration.

When he is not traveling or working outdoors, Rustyn enjoys life off the grid and has a longstanding interest in outdoor equipment, old cars and motorcycles. He is also a proud father of two grown sons. Fluent in English, Dutch and Spanish, Rustyn is always happy to swap stories about world travel, alpine climbing or the finer points of managing gear in cold-weather environments.