Guides

Guides

Alpine Ascents is known worldwide for the unparalleled quality of its guide staff. While many other outfitters are little more than a “one-man show,” our trips are led by professional mountaineers with great flexibility in guide staff, full-time office support, logistics and access, and information for other great climbs around the world.

Guide Staff

Ben Jones

Ben Jones
Senior Guide: International, Washington, Alaska

Vern Tejas

Vern Tejas
Senior Guide: International, Washington, Alaska

Carole Tejas

Ctejas Sm
Guide: International, Nepal Program Director

Excellent. A great trip! All was planned well. Our lead guide is an excellent guide. His planning and leadership makes the trips enjoyable.

Mount Elbrus double-coned summit. Left summit is the highest at 18,510 feet
Russian Orthodox Cathedrals in the Kremlin, Moscow.
Cultural Museum on Red Square, Moscow.
Climbers on an acclimatization hike, with Elbrus in the background.
Looking outside out hotel window at the Caucasus Range. Lucky 7
View from the new Elbrus Huts.
Relaxing at the top of an acclimatization hike, Elbrus in the background.
Snow Cat used to transport gear to our highest hut.
Sunrise on Elbrus summit day.
The last 400 feet to the summit.
High on summit day with the shadow of Elbrus under the full moon.
Ushba, one of the most famous mountains of the Caucasus.
Celebration party after summiting Elbrus.
Climbers high on summit day.
View of one of the new Elbrus Huts
View of one of the new Elbrus Huts
View of the new Elbrus Huts
Eugene and Nicolai, two of our Russian guides.
Sunflower fields outside Mineral Vody, southern Russia.
St. Isaacs Cathedral, St. Petersburg.
Peter and Pauls Fortress, St. Petersburg
The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the greatest mueseum of Russia.
View of one of the new Elbrus Huts

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

  • Cascades Conditions Report 5/13/2026

    Greetings Fellow Climbers, The Cascades climbing season is now fully underway, and overall climbing conditions across Washington remain quite good for mid-May. Over the past two weeks, our teams have been active on Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and throughout the Cascades, with guides reporting generally favorable travel conditions, strong route coverage on the upper mountains, […]

  • Cascades Conditions report 5/6/2026

    Rainer is in Full Swing! This past week has been a gorgeous one here in the PNW with ample sunny skies across the region. Our guides have been calling in great conditions from all around the state, with lots of people climbing and skiing off the tops of the peak in the Cascades.  As a […]

  • The Cascade Climbing Season Kicks Off this week!

    Here we go! We’ve begun the summer season and our teams are already in the field. Our first Mount Rainier climb reached the summit on April 28, and our first mountaineering course on Mount Baker also successfully summited yesterday. It’s a strong start to the season. While there has been considerable discussion around a low […]

Partners & Accreditations

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