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We had a fantastic time camping on the glacier (the only place in the world where one can do that). Everyone we encountered at Mica Guides was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to make our experience great. I was fearful about the ride on the tiny helicopter, but it was smooth and quick. The pilot is obviously very good at his vocation and was patient with us. Our guides spoiled us with cocktails, dinner and breakfast in the morning, and gave us fuzzy blankets to wander around in when it got very chilly. The tent is still a tent, but they did put a nice bed with a real mattress in there. We made s'mores and had great conversations during the evening time. The glacier itself is magical. We loved exploring on it and learning more about its history and its geology. I highly recommend glacier camping with MICA.
We had the best time on the glacier today. Our guide Will took us to all the cool spots. He's the very best guide, ever!
Alec, Levi and Brexton were awesome! We came 5 years ago to do the ice climbing adventure and loved it so much that we came back for more. The Heli explorer trip was also so much fun! The ability to get a birds eye view of the area and the various glacial exploration spots of interest is an experience everyone should have. Alec was great getting us setup with gear and Levi and Brexton also were very knowledgable and shared interesting facts throughout the experience which greatly added to the adventure. Highly recommended.
In a different spot on the red asterisk one can find consternation over the perceived commercialization of Matanuska by concessions and such. To degrees I once shared this sentiment, but as the years have worn me like a glacier wears its valley I've taken a slightly different view of things. Because, how can we expect Everyday People to appreciate the wonders and make lifestyle choices to protect and sustain if they aren't able to experience them first hand? And I'd not disagree that the wonders in their natural state are still inviting and accessible to degrees without guidance, but Everyday People have Everyday Trepidation and Limitations and if we're honest with ourselves we'd admit that chances are greater many more folks will take a sip of glacier water if we make a way for them to get there more easily. And once one has a sip of said water, one thinks more expansively about the natural world and our place in it. This isn't to say we need to pave a trail into every corner of the Wilderness, we can just save a little spot at its edge for those who would not otherwise have a taste. So. These MICA people. They're one of several outfitters that take folks different places on the ice. They know the others and it seems like there's enough ice for everybody as the pleasantries exchanged between guides were pleasant and there was no crampon sabotage that I observed. Shannon led us on a half-day walk. We'd have liked more but for reasons had to limit ourselves to just a tease. Like many of the seasonal folk she's not from these parts, but you'd never know it without asking. She led like she'd lived in an ice cave for all her natural life. Safety was clearly of paramount importance, as important as the undertaking itself. What's the point of a surreal adventure, I suppose, if you're dead halfway through. Booking was simple, orientation to the gear and the experience straightforward, and each and every MICA person we touched had a super strong and happy vibe. I'd say that this was actually the highlight of my time. The them part of it. The ice was cool and the walk was fun but my takeaway more than anything was the reminder that we were born with a strong free spirit and it isn't the natural world that tries to stuff it in a tight windowless cell. Not hardly. And just being in MICA company makes this perfectly clear. No matter how far along this path you've traveled, you can still shake some of the dead weight that civilized life hangs round your neck. Come visit MICA. They've got tools to help drop that millstone.
We were SO lucky that we were able to do this and reschedule our glacier hike before our flight home. On our original booking date, there was pouring rain and thunder. Originally, we were going to still go glacier hiking with the rain, but for safety reasons, the hike was rescheduled due to the lighting being close by. My family of five booked a Private Trek to glacier hike on the Matanuska Glacier. We were provided with crampons that were sized to our hiking boots (even for kid-sized feet like mine!), helmets, and backpacks if we needed to fit our stuff and crampons in. They also have hiking boots (that come over the ankle) if needed. I highly recommend gloves to protect your hands for when you touch the ice or if you accidentally fall. The glacier moraine can be pretty sharp. Another item to bring is a reusable water bottle to fill with (500 years old) glacier water to drink! Our guide, Annie was amazing and knowledgeable! She catered the hike to suit our family's physical fitness level and we were able to view some amazing crevasses in the glacier and hike a mile in the glacier. This was an incredible and memorable experience. My family and I all agree that this was our favorite activity we've done in Alaska.
Samantha was our guide on the glacier tour. She has shown a lot of passion for what she does, and it inspires everyone around her. She's professional, enthusiastic, and made the trip creative and fun for everyone. totally recommend, will come back a second time for sure. and she speaks Chinese too, what a beautiful surprise!
We had an incredible experience. Our guide Annie was the best. I highly recommend this group. Everyone was welcoming from the start and made us feel confident hiking on the glacier. A life changing experience!!!
Do it - you won't be sorry! MICA Guides is a great way to see the Mantanuska Glacier up close and personal! We did the Advanced Trek! My fiancé is a little more adventurous than I am. This was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but was so easy to take that step into the uncomfortable area. I knew that I was being guided by someone who was professional, fun, knowledgeable, safe, and had my best interest in mind! I highly recommend this unparalleled experience! This is not a trip for "that instagramable moment" - take it seriously, enjoy your time, and the photo ops will be available!
My family did an advanced trek (private) in June and it was GREAT. Julian was our guide and he was super nice and knowledgeable about the glacier. My youngest was 10 yrs old and even though there was some dangerous terrain Julian never had us worried he was very cautious and safe. We loved the trip and would do it again! Highly recommended.
Annie was great and showed us all the awesome stuff on the glacier while keeping us safe from crevasses and other dangers. So glad we did this hike! We had so much fun exploring the glacier.
Took the Matanuska Glacier trek in late July, with Elena as our guide. What a great experience. Our group was small, and Elena was very knowledgeable about the science of the environment we were walking through. We generally knew how glaciers work, but she took the time to convey how dynamic they are. We went over (and into) features that didn't exist the week before, learned not to step in seemingly shallow puddles that concealed deep - really deep - crevasses, and drank the purest water on earth. My wife got to screw in and test the strength of an ice anchor. It was such a spectacular setting! We saw another outfit that seemed to be racing through with a larger group, and we were really appreciative of the pace and personal attention we received. Went back to our comfy glacier view tent at Alpenglow when our trek was done to wrap up a great time. I can't overstate how enjoyable this trip was, and how much our guide Elena contributed to the experience. This was without a doubt a highlight of our Alaska trip.
We went on an advanced trek with Julian and Jenny on Monday. We had a great time!! We hiked a little over 5 miles and were able to do some rappelling and climbing. We had a small group that was nice to be able to converse and hear everything that was being shared. Julian was very knowledgeable and kept us informed and entertained. Julian made sure we were safe and gave us some exciting challenges as he determined we were ready. Jenny was very nice and took some great pictures. We would definitely recommend them to everyone. This is our second time doing a tour with this group. The last time was seven years ago. They are an exceptional group of people and a company that takes safety and fun seriously.
This is one of the best and bucket list experiences of my lifetime!! Here's a quick breakdown of our tour: What we booked: Private ice fall tour with a tour guide as we had a toddler with us. Pricing: Their website is very transparent about pricing of the tour and also mentions about the extra glacier access fee ($55 adult, $44 kid in year 2026) because the only access to glacier via land is on privately owned land. Also, I loved that they never insisted on tipping, just mentioned that if one would like to, they may refer a board they had for Venmo QR codes. Check in: 30 mins prior. Waiver signs. Easy breezy and good dos and donts. You also do your hiking boot fitting if you don't have one and your spike and helmet fitting and pick up. Our guide: CASSIDY, YOU WERE BEST THING ABOUT OUR TOUR!! To the person reading this review, if you get Cassidy, you can be rest assured you will be super well taken care of. I was initially nervous having a young kiddo in tow but having Cassidy by our side, I immediately relaxed into it. She is also soooooooo good with kids, I kid you not!! My little one is a talker and tends to get distracted a bit but Cassidy always had her eye on kiddo all the time! She is also so knowledgeable and was able to answer all our queries. Even the endless questions coming from our little one! Bottom line, Cassidy is a wonderful guide and we consider ourselves very lucky to land her. It shows in her dedication and efforts that she absolutely loves what she does and definitely enjoys it and makes it a point to educate herself really well. We love her! Tour: Bus takes you to the point where you need to put on your spikes and helmet. You walk a little on the mud flats, the floating bridges before you land on ice. Once on the ice, it's a wonder trip!! We went through ups and downs of the ice, the bends, black ice, blue ice and we crossed several crevices. Cassidy was so fun helping us with some glacier water and ice pieces, my kids were stoked!! The trail we did is like a loop trail before we head back to the check in and gear hut. Facilities & equipments: Very well kept facility and very good and reliable equipments. They are quality ones! Finally, the coffee shop opposite is a wonderful way to end your trek with a hot cuppa made with love by Lucy! Thanks Lucy! All in all, stellar! If I could give more than 10 stars I would! Highly recommend, sign up with them right now for a lifetime memory. Cheers! Happy trails! read more
Wanted to do some sort of glacier activity in Alaska, and hiking Matanuska Glacier was highly suggested online, so we decided to try it out. Definitely recommend booking well in advance because most spots were filled up about two weeks out in June. We chose MICA Guides because of the small group size of 6 and the high reviews. We booked the 3.5 hour Ice Fall Trek for the 2:30pm slot on a Tuesday. The activity itself was about $146, and there was an additional $55 glacier access fee upon arrival. Our guides were Jack and Augie and there were 5 people in the group. We started with a small safety talk, and gear like helmets, jackets, shoes, and microspikes were provided. The guides were friendly, helped us put everything on, and they made us feel very safe throughout the hike. After that, there was a 15- 20 minute ride to the start of the glacier, which goes through an unpaved bumpy road. While walking on the glacier, Jack and Augie pointed out different features, like crevasses, and answered questions we had. It was interesting learning about glaciers, but I did feel like there could have been more explanation throughout the tour. On top of that, it was also a bit difficult hearing the guides sometimes because they would talk while we were walking in a single-file line and we were in the back, so I had to ask them to repeat themselves at times. The hike itself is only about 2-2.5 hours, and even with that, I felt like we mostly saw similar things throughout the activity, mainly different crevasses. For the price of the tour, it would have been nice to have professional photos included. Our guides took a few pictures on their phones, but most pictures we took ourselves and/or asked them to take for us. After the activity, we received a link to a photo album, but the pictures were not from our tour and I didn't think they were worth paying $15 for since they were just smartphone photos. Overall, it was a cool experience, and I'm glad I can check hiking on a glacier off my bucket list. The guides were kind and made us feel safe, but I was a bit underwhelmed, especially considering the price point. I'm glad I did it once, but personally I wouldn't consider it a must-do activity in Alaska. I would maybe recommend it if this is something you have always wanted to do and it fits well into your itinerary + budget. read more
2 years ago
Highly recommend MICA's Advanced Trek to someone who wants to hike on the glacier for a closer look and experience some ice climbing. Our guide Quinn is passionate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. We really like him and it was fun and exciting going on the tour following his lead! My friend and I (both female in our late 30s) went on the Advanced Trek in late-June. It was a sunny day, around low to mid-60 degree Fahrenheit on the glacier. The entire tour including the gear-up time was about 6.5 hours. We arrived 30 minutes prior to the start time to check in (sign the waivers and pay the glacier access fee). The participants to guide ratio was 3:1 in our group, allowing us to move efficiently and have all our questions and needs taken care of throughout the tour. Before heading to the field, Quinn brought us to the gear room and thoroughly walked us through the gears: microspikes, crampons, harness, and helmet... etc. Next we took a 10-minute car ride to the glacier trailhead. We first hiked for about 2 miles on the moraine which didn't feel like a long walk probably due to our quick pace. During the time on the ice we saw a beautiful blue glacier lake, walked on a shallow glacier stream, climbed an ice slope about 3 or 4-story high, and hung on a slope to see a moulin (vertical well-like shaft) from above. It was incredibly fun to get the close look and feel of the glacier! There were also snack breaks when Quinn was building the rope system and stairs. Kudos to him for working so hard while we were on breaks. During our time in Alaska, we had seen glaciers from an overlook on a trail and from a cruise in Seward, and they were both really great experience. However, going out and actually stepping on the glacier is another level and a very unique, memorable experience. I recommend doing it if you feel adventurous and have the energy to explore in the wild! read more
3 years ago
We had a fantastic time camping on the glacier (the only place in the world where one can do that). Everyone we encountered at Mica Guides was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to make our experience great. I was fearful about the ride on the tiny helicopter, but it was smooth and quick. The pilot is obviously very good at his vocation and was patient with us. Our guides spoiled us with cocktails, dinner and breakfast in the morning, and gave us fuzzy blankets to wander around in when it got very chilly. The tent is still a tent, but they did put a nice bed with a real mattress in there. We made s'mores and had great conversations during the evening time. The glacier itself is magical. We loved exploring on it and learning more about its history and its geology. I highly recommend glacier camping with MICA. read more
2 years ago
We had the best time on the glacier today. Our guide Will took us to all the cool spots. He's the very best guide, ever! read more
4 years ago
Alec, Levi and Brexton were awesome! We came 5 years ago to do the ice climbing adventure and loved it so much that we came back for more. The Heli explorer trip was also so much fun! The ability to get a birds eye view of the area and the various glacial exploration spots of interest is an experience everyone should have. Alec was great getting us setup with gear and Levi and Brexton also were very knowledgable and shared interesting facts throughout the experience which greatly added to the adventure. Highly recommended. read more
In a different spot on the red asterisk one can find consternation over the perceived commercialization of Matanuska by concessions and such. To degrees I once shared this sentiment, but as the years have worn me like a glacier wears its valley I've taken a slightly different view of things. Because, how can we expect Everyday People to appreciate the wonders and make lifestyle choices to protect and sustain if they aren't able to experience them first hand? And I'd not disagree that the wonders in their natural state are still inviting and accessible to degrees without guidance, but Everyday People have Everyday Trepidation and Limitations and if we're honest with ourselves we'd admit that chances are greater many more folks will take a sip of glacier water if we make a way for them to get there more easily. And once one has a sip of said water, one thinks more expansively about the natural world and our place in it. This isn't to say we need to pave a trail into every corner of the Wilderness, we can just save a little spot at its edge for those who would not otherwise have a taste. So. These MICA people. They're one of several outfitters that take folks different places on the ice. They know the others and it seems like there's enough ice for everybody as the pleasantries exchanged between guides were pleasant and there was no crampon sabotage that I observed. Shannon led us on a half-day walk. We'd have liked more but for reasons had to limit ourselves to just a tease. Like many of the seasonal folk she's not from these parts, but you'd never know it without asking. She led like she'd lived in an ice cave for all her natural life. Safety was clearly of paramount importance, as important as the undertaking itself. What's the point of a surreal adventure, I suppose, if you're dead halfway through. Booking was simple, orientation to the gear and the experience straightforward, and each and every MICA person we touched had a super strong and happy vibe. I'd say that this was actually the highlight of my time. The them part of it. The ice was cool and the walk was fun but my takeaway more than anything was the reminder that we were born with a strong free spirit and it isn't the natural world that tries to stuff it in a tight windowless cell. Not hardly. And just being in MICA company makes this perfectly clear. No matter how far along this path you've traveled, you can still shake some of the dead weight that civilized life hangs round your neck. Come visit MICA. They've got tools to help drop that millstone. read more
We were SO lucky that we were able to do this and reschedule our glacier hike before our flight home. On our original booking date, there was pouring rain and thunder. Originally, we were going to still go glacier hiking with the rain, but for safety reasons, the hike was rescheduled due to the lighting being close by. My family of five booked a Private Trek to glacier hike on the Matanuska Glacier. We were provided with crampons that were sized to our hiking boots (even for kid-sized feet like mine!), helmets, and backpacks if we needed to fit our stuff and crampons in. They also have hiking boots (that come over the ankle) if needed. I highly recommend gloves to protect your hands for when you touch the ice or if you accidentally fall. The glacier moraine can be pretty sharp. Another item to bring is a reusable water bottle to fill with (500 years old) glacier water to drink! Our guide, Annie was amazing and knowledgeable! She catered the hike to suit our family's physical fitness level and we were able to view some amazing crevasses in the glacier and hike a mile in the glacier. This was an incredible and memorable experience. My family and I all agree that this was our favorite activity we've done in Alaska. read more
3 years ago
Samantha was our guide on the glacier tour. She has shown a lot of passion for what she does, and it inspires everyone around her. She's professional, enthusiastic, and made the trip creative and fun for everyone. totally recommend, will come back a second time for sure. and she speaks Chinese too, what a beautiful surprise! read more
4 years ago
We had an incredible experience. Our guide Annie was the best. I highly recommend this group. Everyone was welcoming from the start and made us feel confident hiking on the glacier. A life changing experience!!! read more
Do it - you won't be sorry! MICA Guides is a great way to see the Mantanuska Glacier up close and personal! We did the Advanced Trek! My fiancé is a little more adventurous than I am. This was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but was so easy to take that step into the uncomfortable area. I knew that I was being guided by someone who was professional, fun, knowledgeable, safe, and had my best interest in mind! I highly recommend this unparalleled experience! This is not a trip for "that instagramable moment" - take it seriously, enjoy your time, and the photo ops will be available! read more
4 years ago
My family did an advanced trek (private) in June and it was GREAT. Julian was our guide and he was super nice and knowledgeable about the glacier. My youngest was 10 yrs old and even though there was some dangerous terrain Julian never had us worried he was very cautious and safe. We loved the trip and would do it again! Highly recommended. read more
5 years ago
Annie was great and showed us all the awesome stuff on the glacier while keeping us safe from crevasses and other dangers. So glad we did this hike! We had so much fun exploring the glacier. read more
2 years ago
Took the Matanuska Glacier trek in late July, with Elena as our guide. What a great experience. Our group was small, and Elena was very knowledgeable about the science of the environment we were walking through. We generally knew how glaciers work, but she took the time to convey how dynamic they are. We went over (and into) features that didn't exist the week before, learned not to step in seemingly shallow puddles that concealed deep - really deep - crevasses, and drank the purest water on earth. My wife got to screw in and test the strength of an ice anchor. It was such a spectacular setting! We saw another outfit that seemed to be racing through with a larger group, and we were really appreciative of the pace and personal attention we received. Went back to our comfy glacier view tent at Alpenglow when our trek was done to wrap up a great time. I can't overstate how enjoyable this trip was, and how much our guide Elena contributed to the experience. This was without a doubt a highlight of our Alaska trip. read more
4 years ago
We went on an advanced trek with Julian and Jenny on Monday. We had a great time!! We hiked a little over 5 miles and were able to do some rappelling and climbing. We had a small group that was nice to be able to converse and hear everything that was being shared. Julian was very knowledgeable and kept us informed and entertained. Julian made sure we were safe and gave us some exciting challenges as he determined we were ready. Jenny was very nice and took some great pictures. We would definitely recommend them to everyone. This is our second time doing a tour with this group. The last time was seven years ago. They are an exceptional group of people and a company that takes safety and fun seriously. read more
4 years ago
We went on the Extreme Zip Adventure with MICA Guides and had a blast. It was a beautiful day and we got some awesome photos. The two guides were super helpful throughout the whole trip. This package included both the Nitro zipline and the G2 zipline. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
11 years ago
Everything about this place is excellent. I mean, all of it. The ice climbing was a surreal experience that left me driven to come back to AK for more as soon as I possibly can. The guides are great with a bright attitude (Noah and Sandra) and the day never felt rushed. I used to be a climbing nut in my 20's and climbed all over Italy and France. Now, in my mid-40's, I am energized to climb again and the Mica team (and the glacier) brought it back to me. Some other props for the Mica Guides post: Great baked goods, great hats (yeah, I bought two...), and amazing coffee that they take very, very seriously!!!!! If you are in Alaska for any reason, take the drive and let the Mica Guides give you a day of amazingness that you will never forget. read more
5 years ago
We were on vacation in Alaska and this glacier tour was definitely the highlight! Annie Foote was our guide and she was amazing! Annie was knowledgeable, helped those in the group that needed a hand, and was genuinely passionate about the surrounding environment. Everyone had an amazing experience and the landscapes we saw were truly breathtaking. read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
Dad, sis, and I did the half-day climb on Matanuska with Brett Winterbottom of Mica Guides on July 29. After we received a fast, thorough, and efficient orientation at the 'Gear Hut' with Brett, we got outfitted in all the gear--harness, snow boots, crampons, gloves, helmet. Brett walked us through the process in the best way--keeping us adrenalized without overselling the experience and assuaging our fears. We knew we were in good hands as he ran us through the safety checks and his climbing credentials. At the practice climb (20-25 ft or so?), Brett expertly walked us through all the techniques, from how to angle our feet and hips, to how to hold and wield the ice pick (ok, it's all about the wrist flick!). He demonstrated and then it was our turn, one by one. It's the kind of thing where you can only learn by doing and when you finally get it--how to position your hips and make contact with the ice--it's like a revelation. BING! After the first climb, we trekked through otherworldly crevasses (lots of time to take pictures) until we found an enormous shelf of ice that dropped underneath into an ice cave. My sister go the first inaugural slide down... It was technically not a climb, but Brett happily indulged her. He also let her name it: Pica Slide. The trek physical, and we had to be roped up and down over various peaks. Finally, we reached our Matanuska 'Mt. Everest', a wall that was maybe three times the height of our practice wall (or at least it looked that way). Brett reviewed techniques again and we were off! When we were on the wall, it was as if the world had fallen away and it was just us clinging to the backs of some mythic ice beast. It goes without saying that we loved the entire experience. This could have been a Disneyland tour of the ice, but it wasn't. Two walls of climbing may not seem like a lot but it was about quality, not quantity. It far exceeded our expectations, and a big part of that was our guide. Brett pushed us with patience and genuine enthusiasm for our own learning. He loves what he does but he's also an exceptional teacher. A great guide can adapt and improvise to you. It was also clear that this particular climb was tailored to our group quirks and energy. Thank you to Brett and Mica for creating some of the best memories of Alaska for us. read more
6 years ago
By all accounts this was my kids favorite hike ever! We did a private Ice Fall Trek for our party since we had a 7 yo while my older son did the full day Ice Climbing. The glacier was stunning and our guide, Decker, was friendly and knowledgeable. She kept things interesting and was very focused on keeping it safe and fun for all of us. We definitely would do this again and my kids preferred this even over the flight seeing tour we had splurged on the day before. Come do this! read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
4 years ago
11 years ago
Absolute amazing experience. Between the sheer beauty of the Matanuska Glacier and the friendliness and competency of our guide (Ari, not sure if I am spelling her name correctly) this was a day I will never forget. MICA Guides is a well oiled machine and first class operation. Comfortable hiking boots are provided as well as crampons so you can easily trek deep into the glacier. Prices are extremely reasonable and group sizes kept small so you receive lots of individual attention from the guide. Definitely opt for the three hour versus the shorter trek; the time flies and it is such an exhilarating experience you will really cherish your time. Guides are knowledgeable and informative but do not bore you with minute details but provide interesting information about the glacier's history. Likewise just enough instruction is provided that you will feel safe and confident but not have to endure a tiresome speech. While the hike is somewhat strenuous, the guides are so masterful that one does not have to be in tip top shape to succeed. I highly recommend to anybody visiting this region of Alaska. If staying in Anchorage and you need transportation Planet Earth is a wonderful company to book this experience through. While one can pay $20 to enter the glacier area without a guide, I do not recommend this a you really need proper equipment to walk on the glacier and in addition to the safety factor, you would miss out on a lot of interesting information if you do-it-yourself. Money well spent and an unforgettable experience. Be sure to bring a camera as the vistas are stunning. read more
10 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
What a great experience! Well worth the drive to Glacier View. Our guide Steve was very knowledgeable! read more
8 years ago
11 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
My friend Ruby and I happened upon this gem of a place by accident and are so happy we did! We stopped by for information and an hour later found ourselves on a brilliant tour with the most fantastic guide Chris. We lucked out and it was just the two of us with Chris on the advanced trek. Chris went out of his way to make sure we had a thrilling experience with awe inspiring feature one after another! We couldn't have asked for a better experience. The ice climbing portion was phenomenal, albeit the descending makes you catch your breath a touch! Thank you to MICA and Chris for starting our Alaskan vacation 2027 off with an awesome adventure!!! Highly recommend everyone do this trip and see this beautiful glacier up close and personal!! read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
12 years ago
More info about MICA Guides
31090 W Glenn Hwy
Glacier View, AK 99674
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(907) 351-7587
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http://micaguides.com
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