General Statement

Alpine Ascents’ philosophy is based on a true love and understanding of mountain wilderness. Our mission and goals are simple: By using the best climbing talent in the country, we offer the opportunity for climbers at all levels to achieve their personal aspirations through quality, challenging, risk cognizant, environmentally friendly, ethically sound and fun expeditions/courses. We also look to provide guides an outstanding and career developing work environment.

ALPINE ASCENTS GENERAL STATEMENT

Entering our 39^th year of leading successful expeditions in 2025,  Alpine Ascents International, Inc. is a leader in the climbing industry and has been instrumental in setting guiding standards in the international climbing community for most of our history. This year, we will offer more than 30 different expeditions and 50 training courses in 14 countries, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These expeditions range from three-day climbs of Mount Rainier to six-day training courses in the North Cascades and Alaska ascents of Kilimanjaro to three-month expeditions to Mount Everest. In addition to our newest ski trips and avalanche courses we recently added expeditions to New Guinea, Patagonia, Nepal and India in our continued quest for remote destinations.

At Alpine Ascents, we pride ourselves on the excellence of our safety record. When making decisions or organizing expeditions, the wellbeing of our climbers is our primary focus. By establishing a prevention program, we ensure each expedition and each course is as risk cognizant as possible.

As important as the protection of our climbers is the protection of the natural environment. All Alpine Ascents guides are expected to present a balanced philosophy of wilderness ethics through discussions focusing on preservation, appreciation, and enlightened, sensitive use.

Our environmental leadership has also been integral in shaping the climbing community and we are always looking into how we can better keep mountain environs clean and thriving.  Among  numerous initiatives in our 35+ years:  we have helped pioneer the WAG BAG system, organized and participated in clean ups around the world and most importantly developed waste removal protocol on mountains around the world, in many instances simply by setting an example.

Environmental initiative is inseparable from business ethics and we are equally committed on this front as well. Refunds, policies and inclusions are always clearly stated, updates to policies are delivered by multiple methods and leadership in areas such as seriously vetting climbers and often expensive protocols are part of our mantra. We look to work with government agencies and other guide services that are both our competitors and partners and of course work with our guides and employees who help share and create our vision. Policies and choosing excellent local partners are equally important along with understanding local protocols and working with organizations that help raise local standards such as Porters Assistance Project.

For most of the last 35+ years, twice a year, Alpine Ascents has guided large Himalayan expeditions to include not only Everest, but Cho-Oyu, Shishapangma, Baruntse, Ama Dablam and others. Since our inception in 1986, Alpine Ascents has established alpine standards throughout the climbing world through its unparalleled ability to guide, train and develop climbers. Alpine Ascents leads expeditions to the highest mountain on all seven continents and has achieved prolific success on our Mt. Everest expeditions (operating regularly since 1992). Alpine Ascents has guided over 280 climbers to the summit of Everest. While we may have guided more climbers to the summit Everest than any other outfit, more importantly it is the success and safety record which we are the most proud of. Climber happiness is the true goal.  In an effort to continually explore and share more remote places of the world, expeditions have been developed recently in Bhutan, Iceland, Patagonia and India. We also support our guide staff in exploring new areas through our JRG exploration grant. Alpine Ascents’ reputation in guiding peaks around the world and training climbers is unsurpassed we look to continually challenge ourselves to be better each season.

Alpine Ascents has served as a resource and been featured in most major print and media publications, including the ABC Nightly News, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC TV, The New York Times, Rock and Ice, Climbing Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Outside, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, USA Today, 20/20, Dateline, Turning Point, ABC, NBC, Business Week, National Geographic Adventure and the Los Angeles Times among others.

Our website garnered a prestigious Webby Award among others and our climbs have been a Best of Travel selection by numerous magazines such as Forbes and National Geographic. Past honors include: Travel and Leisure selected Alpine Ascents as one of the Top (40) Adventure Outfitters in the world. We are proud to be the only climbing company chosen! Alpine Ascents was honored multiple times as one of “The Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure.

Our cybercasts from our Mt. Everest climbs, and from other expeditions, are legendary and have become the premier cybercasts/web shows in the travel industry keeping friends and family members up to date on our expeditions. We were pioneers in the webcasting of mountaineering trips.

Working with not-for-profit organizations has enabled Alpine Ascents to participate in local communities and help raise funds and awareness through the achievement of a mountaineering objective. Alpine Ascents also operates, and donates to, the Alpine Ascents Foundation. This foundation was established in 1999 (one of the earlier chartered foundations) and focuses on helping educate Nepali children. This is one example of our commitment to local mountain cultures based on our interested in being a part of them, not simply an event-driven response. We have worked for nearly 20 years fund raising for the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center and alongside many fundraising non-profits such as TAPS and The Heroes – Wounded Warrior Project.

In summary, Alpine Ascents International, Inc. is a full-service guiding concern that specializes in organizing international expeditions to the highest peaks in the world. We prepare our climbers thoroughly for the technical and physical challenges of alpine mountaineering. We seek to enhance their appreciation for and sensitivity to the natural environment. And we hope to strengthen their confidence by helping them master the skills they need to approach high alpine, Arctic and Antarctic environments. Our purpose is to transcend a one-dimensional approach to guiding and to develop risk cognizant, satisfied, self-sufficient and environmentally sensitive alpine mountaineers.