Category: Blog

Avalanche Awareness Webinar with Alpine Ascents & NWAC

avalanche awareness webinar with alpine ascents & nwac

Alpine Ascents partnered with the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) to bring you this free, 90-minute Avalanche Awareness presentation—an essential introduction for anyone heading into the winter backcountry. Whether you ski, splitboard, or snowshoe, this session will help you understand how avalanches happen, how to read avalanche and weather forecasts, and how to recognize early signs […]

Climbing Mount Vinson: A Journey to the End of the Earth

climbing mount vinson: a journey to the end of the earth

by Don Wargowsky Antarctica isn’t just another destination. It’s the end of the Earth. As the coldest, windiest, driest, and highest continent on the planet, it feels more like visiting another world than just another climbing trip. Each year over 100,000 people visit the frozen continent, but almost all of them stick to the coast. […]

2026 Denali Webinar Recording

2026 denali webinar recording

Join Alpine Ascents senior guide Don Wargowsky for a deep dive into one of the world’s most iconic climbing objectives — Denali.  In this webinar, Don breaks down the expedition logistics, training requirements, and day-to-day realities of climbing North America’s highest peak (20,310 ft / 6,190 m). You’ll get a realistic look at what it […]

Belonging on the Mountain: Lessons from the 2025 Kulshan Affinity Climb

A group of hikers poses together in a scenic mountainous area, surrounded by greenery and towering trees, with a snow-capped peak in the background.

By Chris Chou I came to the Alpine Ascents 2025 Kulshan Affinity Climb without much knowledge of the importance and history of affinity groups. I left with a firm belief that these types of opportunities are a critical element of building community for underrepresented groups in the outdoors and that the impact can be felt […]

2025 – 2026 Mexico Volcanoes Webinar

A snowy mountain peak under a clear blue sky, with two climbers trekking along the sharp ridge.

Missed our live session? No worries — we’ve got you covered. Join Alpine Ascents senior guide Hannah McGowan for an insider’s look at our Mexico Volcanoes expedition. In this recording, Hannah breaks down the logistics and itinerary of this high-altitude adventure, from acclimatization climbs on La Malinche and Sierra Negra to standing on top of […]

2025 Aconcagua Webinar

2025 aconcagua webinar

Enjoy our 2025 Aconcagua webinar hosted by senior guide and Aconcagua expert Rachel Molstad. In this video, Rachel covers pre-trip planning, a detailed overview of the expedition, important gear considerations, and more. You’ll also get to hear thoughtful questions answered during the Q&A session that followed the presentation. Whether you’re deciding which route up the mountain […]

The Cascades Climbing Season comes to a Close

the cascades climbing season comes to a close

Greetings Fellow Climbers, After a stretch of hot and dry weather across the Cascades, the past week has continued to bring rapid seasonal changes to the glaciers. A few days of rain and cooler temperatures have offered a temporary reprieve, but climbers should be prepared for late-summer conditions across all routes. Looking ahead, high pressure […]

Cascades Conditions Report 8/26/2025

Silhouetted figures ascending a snow-covered slope at dawn, with a vibrant orange and blue sky reflecting the early morning light.

Greetings Fellow Climbers, After a stretch of hot and dry weather across the Cascades, the past week has continued to bring rapid seasonal changes to the glaciers. A few days of rain and cooler temperatures have offered a temporary reprieve, but climbers should be prepared for late-summer conditions across all routes. Looking ahead, high pressure […]

Cascades Conditions Report 8/7/2025

cascades conditions report 8/7/2025

After an extended stretch of hot and dry weather, this week brought a welcome change with significant rainfall across the North Cascades and even a light dusting of snow on Mount Rainier above Camp Muir. The new precipitation has provided a temporary reset for alpine environments and some relief from wildfire concerns throughout the region. […]

Cascades Conditions Report 7/30/2025

Hello climbers, We’ve had a stable week of weather across the North Cascades, with a welcome cooling trend settling in. Forecasts show more of the same on the horizon, with chances of isolated thunderstorms over the Cascade Crest. Overall, conditions remain favorable for climbing and travel in the alpine. We’ve also been fortunate to experience […]

Rainier/Cascades BLOG

  • Cascades Conditions Report 9/3/2026

    Hello climbers, It felt like the switch to fall happened in the mountains this week!  Cool temperatures and precipitation have returned to the mountains.  New snow returned to mid and upper elevations over the last couple days, and a handful of inches is expected over the next few days and leading into the weekend as […]

  • Cascades Conditions Report 8/13/2026

    Summer keeps on rolling and climbing in the Cascades is still going strong. Forecasts for the next week look promising. There will be a slight dip in the freezing levels over the weekend which should help keep things nice and cool higher up in the mountains. There’s also a slight change of picking up some […]

  • Cascades Conditions Report 8/5/2026

    Hello climbers, It’s hard to believe, but the first week of August is almost finished! Climbing conditions throughout the state haven’t changed much since last week. Smoke has moved in the last couple of days throughout the area, but thankfully hasn’t impacted trips or teams up high. We expect a lot of the smoke to […]

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Alpine Ascents International is an authorized mountain guide service of Denali National Park and Preserve and Mount Rainier National Park.
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