Guided Climbing & Mountaineering Instruction


Click here for the ongoing '99 Vinson, Antarctica Cybercast

Todd Burleson guides the summit ridge of Mount Everest

Many new areas in both the mountains and behind the scenes were developed last season. Alongside record success in Greenland and Antarctica, we tracked our Everest '97 climb in unprecedented fashion on the world wide web. The team uploaded daily audio, video and digital images so those at home and around the world could partake in the climb. It was a technologically unparalleled feat. In addition, we have most recently been awarded a permit to lead climbs on Mt. Rainier.

Our international accomplishments, teaching expertise and overall success can best be attributed to our guides. Their love for mountaineering is infectious and thrills us to no end as we watch climbers young and old embrace personal challenges. Our unique guiding team displays uncommonly rich talents and as one climber stated, "it is an honor just to be on the mountain with these guides."

Willi Prittie guiding in Ecuador

Program Philosophy
Our simple mission statement has not changed: by utilizing the best climbing talent in the US, we offer the opportunity for climbers at all levels to achieve personal goals through challenging, safe and enjoyable expeditions.

Our climbing and training techniques were originally put to the test in the most rigorous fashion possible, on the glaciers of Mt. Everest. It is on Mt. Everest that our success and reputation began. Today, Alpine Ascents leads expeditions to over twenty-five peaks around the world.

North Cascades Mountaineering School

Safety Record
Our safety record stands as the finest in the guiding industry. When making decisions or organizing climbs, avoiding injury and sickness is our primary focus. By establishing a prevention program for each expedition, and maintaining small teams we ensure your climb is a safe as possible.

About Our Climbs & Mountaineering School

Mount Vinson, Antarctica

Our international reputation began on the glaciers of Mt. Everest and our expertise quickly spread to great mountains around the world. Today, our guides are recognized as leaders in the international climbing world and act as a resource for climbers, publishers and media organizations. The North Cascades Mountaineering School is considered one of the premier climbing schools in America.

All Alpine Ascents expeditions are carefully selected. This not only means taking the time to investigate quality climbs, but includes selecting an optimum route, insuring top quality provisions and developing a safety program for each trip. Before departing on any expedition we provide climbers with a wealth of pre-trip information and guides are available to answer questions. Unlike many organizations, we lead and plan our own climbs. The majority of our climbers come from personal recommendations and are repeat clients.

Leading small groups is fundamental to our philosophy. Before any member joins our team, we require background information on their health and a climbing/hiking biography. This works to insure each climber can be a safe team member and best allows our guides to galvanize effective teams.

Mountaineering is all we do.

Small expeditions and classes insure individual attention to each climber. Before departing on any expedition we provide a wealth of pre-trip information and guides are available to answer your questions. The guides profiled in this brochure will be leading your expedition or course.

Who climbs with Alpine Ascents
Our climbers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. From those seeking skills development to those seeking assistance with the world's highest mountains, we provide courses and expeditions for every level of climber.

Environmental Concerns and Impact
Alpine Ascents is deeply committed to maintaining eco-systems at home and around the world. With each expedition, we not only attempt to leave the environment as we found it, but strive to assist the local population in protecting the people and land indigenous to that region. Each staff member is sincerely committed to environmentally sound alpine ascents.

In the spring of 1997 we continued our efforts to clean up Mt. Everest, again with assistance from our Sherpa teams. (In 1995 we removed over 260 oxygen bottles and 300k of debris from base camp and above. This was the largest recorded clean up to date on Everest.) We also turned our efforts to the home front and worked closely with closely with National Park Rangers to develop and begin long range clean up and minimal impact plans for the approaching seasons. We look forward to assisting in environmental efforts in these upcoming years.

Remote Destinations, Groups and Private Climbs

Khumbu Icefall on Everest

We encourage those with a particular goals to climb privately with guides throughout the North Cascades, United States and internationally. Private guiding is an excellent way to work closely with our expert staff and reach individual goals. Although most of our private guiding is in the Northwest, we have developed custom itineraries throughout the world for both climbers and travelers. Should you desire to climb in the Cascades or travel the back roads of Pakistan, our team of experienced staff is excited to assist you.

— Gordon Janow, Alpine Ascents Program Coordinator

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