Don Nguyen

Don Nguyen

Guide: Washington, Alaska, International

Don is a first-generation American and was born in Oklahoma City’s Little Saigon. His parents were refugees of the Vietnam War. Growing up in a flat place with little woods or topography, Don was drawn West to the Colorado Rockies to study mountain guiding. Further travels brought Don to the PNW where he began his guiding career on Mt Rainer and Mt Shasta. The ubiquitous human journey and pilgrimage in the wilds has always been very important to Don and, it is his passion to be able to guide and work with people in the outdoors.

Don loves mountaineering, ice climbing, rock climbing, backpacking, hunting, and traveling with his partner Emily.

Don was a contestant in 2015 on the Reality TV show “Naked and Afraid” in Namibia.

Guide For:

Aconcagua
Denali

Significant Ascents

Mt. Whitney
Mt. Rainer 10 summits
Mt Shasta 3 summits
The Grand Teton
Gannet Peak
Mt. Adams
Mt. Hood 5 summits various routes 3 ski descents.
Mt. Baker 3 summits
Mt Shuksan two summits and a ski descent.
Pico de Orizaba
Iztacciulatl
Many Colorado 14ers and ski descents.

Certifications

WFR/ CPR
Avalanche Level 2
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Alpine Skills Course
Alpine Guide Course
LNT Trainer

I will be completely honest in telling you that I consider Alpine Ascents employees to be friends. These are friendships that were formed not prior to but because of my continued success with and confidence in the services Alpine Ascents provides.

More Testimonials

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

  • Puffy

    Down Fill-Weight vs. Down Fill-Power: Why the Latter Doesn’t Matter

    How exactly can you shop for a down jacket…and be confident it’s going to be warm enough? Here, we break down one aspect of down jacket selection. Alternatively, check out the insulation we offer for men and women, and email us with your questions. How much down is in this jacket? The key question to […]

  • Boots for Mount Rainier: Singles or Doubles?

    Easily the most common question we are asked is, “What kind of boots will I wear on my Rainier climb?” Here, we break down how we decide. Two Boot Types We use two main types of boots in Washington’s Cascades Range, which includes Mount Rainier and Mount Baker among other peaks: double boots and single […]

  • Bigr

    The Notebook: When Should I Climb Rainier?

    Alpine Ascents climbs Mount Rainier from May through September. We are often asked which dates to choose, so here we break down the merits of each month. Mount Rainier’s Climbing Season(s) Mount Rainier can be climbed year-round. For climbers willing to adventure, even the more challenging shoulder seasons can provide interesting climbing or skiing. A […]

ALL POSTS

WHY BOOK WITH ALPINE ASCENTS

Partners & Accreditations

Alpine Ascents International is an authorized mountain guide service of Denali National Park and Preserve and Mount Rainier National Park.
© Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved. Alpine Ascents International