Why Climb Denali with Alpine Ascents?
Everything I hoped for. Both of these guys are top notch guides. These guys consistently used every opportunity to teach us how to be better climbers. I was impressed how they would tutor us, but not treat us like children. They expected us to be experienced climbers and demanded that we rise to the occasion. It was great. As always with Alpine, everything was 1st rate. Particularly the Hilleberg tents. Great addition – especially as a cook tent. They made it easy for us to get together as a group. I normally have suggestions, but this trip was blessed with great guides and a strong climb team. I wouldn’t have changed anything.
Once again, AAI provided a top quality, first class expedition with great attention to all details. – 2016 Climber
Since the inception of our Denali program, Alpine Ascents has continued its industry leadership on Denali with extremely high summit success. Much of our success can be attributed to our outstanding guide staff and climbing teams. With strong praise from the National Park and Media, and excellent working relationships with other guide services, we look to equal our success this year. We continually assist with rescues on the mountain. In fact, many of our guides have received “Denali Pro Pin” awards from Denali National Park in recognition of their high safety standards and selflessness in aiding others. As Alpine Ascents operates an intensive mountaineering school, we often get to know our climbers before they embark on such a climb as Denali.
Much of our guiding reputation was forged on Denali and we are a longstanding provider on concessionaire of Denali National Park. We hand pick lead guides and assistants and since we operate a mountaineering school and concession on Mt. Rainier our guides are employees and not hired on a 1 time basis for Denali. We have an office and launch facility in Alaska providing both smooth logistics and well needed resources for getting climbers on and off the mountain.
Recent Success
Alpine Ascents saw a record 86% summit success in 2016. Our 2015 season had 9 of 11 teams reach the summit and some of the best climber evaluations in our history. 2014 was marked by some difficult weather to start but we had some strong summit success as in past seasons – 8 of 12 teams reached the top of North America! 2013 saw 11 of 12 teams reach the summit.
Key Elements of our Climb and Success
Alpine Ascents carefully selects each Denali guiding team, aiming for the highest experience level possible. Our team of lead guides is composed of established climbers, instructors and regional experts. Guide bios can be found here.
Our climber to guide ratio for this climb is 9 climbers plus 3 guides for all departures.
Our climbers must prepare for the challenges of the ascent and the safety of their fellow team members. Every team member must have climbed with us in the past or have their climbing history evaluated by our guiding staff. Please see the Denali Screening page of the website. While there is always a level of trust when reviewing a bio, we work hard to have the strongest overall teams on the mountain. Many of our climber comments reflect being part of a team well suited for the challenge.
Alpine Ascents’ Denali trips are renowned for their safety and their summit success. We encourage you to contact former climbers to discuss their experiences.
We have been a concessioner on Denali for 15 years, and our guides have been working on the mountain for over 20 years. We are one of five authorized Denali concessionaires (all other outfitters must act as subcontractor), and one of two companies with concessions on Rainier and Denali.
Each team is equipped with satellite phones, and we offer cybercasts for each team. Alpine maintains an office in Talkeetna. We have postings on our web site (cybercasts) noting team progress.
We offer as many as 14 trips per season, allowing teams to assist each other.
Competitively priced for 2017. All meals are included (we ask you to bring some supplemental snack foods). Meals are pre-planned and purchased in our Talkeetna office (airplane hangar) with great care to ensure that meals are of the highest quality.
Every effort is made to provide quality gear such as tents, as well as pre-planned menus. We provide all meals but do ask climbers to bring preferred snack foods as outlined in your confirmation package.
If you are interested in climbing Denali and need to review or hone your skills and/or physical conditioning, we offer a number of courses to help you prepare. Contact us with questions and feel free to speak with former expedition members.
My expedition was great. Weather prevented a safe summit, but the mountain will always be there so its ok. The quality, as always is above all the rest. Eating better, living better and having more fun than other companies’ trips is always awesome.
