Alpine Climbing:

Ascending to higher heights on cold hard ice, fissured rock and white snow is elemental and representative of our life’s process. There are many lessons to be learned from the mountains and centuries of metaphors are based around their presence. Alpine Climbing is the synthesis of all mediums of climbing along with the indomitable human spirit, the pure awesome beauty of the mountains and the freedom therein. Come experience the tinkling of the firnspiegal as it shatters and slides down the slope in crystal-like melodies while the alpine glow sheds its light onto new perspectives and stellar peaks.

photo credit: S.P. Parker

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir

France, Italy, and Switzerland: June – October Please come to the birthplace of alpinism and the heart of the international guiding community to see for yourself what all the buzz has been for the last couple centuries. I run trips based out of the Chamonix valley but will climb where conditions are best. Close proximity to Italy and Switzerland gives us outrageous options of the most classic and accessible routes in the world. This trip is for you if hearing names like the Eiger, the Matterhorn, Mt. Blanc make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Did I mention riding telepherics and trains to access all but the coolest terrain for us to climb then whisk us back into the valley for a lovely local meal? There are so many amazing alpine routes to choose from and we’ll be in position to jump on whatever feels right at the time. Pricing details will be worked out once we customize your itinerary to meet your goals and objectives. See rates page for more info.

Peru, Cordillera Blanca Expedition: June – August The cobalt blue skies and planetarium night sky keep my head clear and eyes fixed on the gems of the Blanca. Over 15 expeditions in the last 10 years have this trip running quite smoothly. We base our acclimatization and climbs out of the comfortable city of Hauraz and venture into the mountains for 3 – 10 day's at a time. I’ve climbed in every major Quebrada (canyon) in the range and will meet the objectives to match the conditions and groups ability. Options include all the popular peaks such as Hauscuran (shield route only), Chopicalci, Pisco, Artesonraju, Urus, Ishinca, Tocllaraju, and the less popular Yanapaqcha, Maparaju, Haupi, and Vajunaraju. Come meet my Hauraz family and know you are in good hands to help meet all your expeditions needs. This is one of my favorite venues with accessibility to a couple dozen 6,000-meter peaks, stable weather, wonderful community and culture. I often recommend folks start their expedition with a trip to Machupichu for acclimatization and cultural interest. Pricing details will be worked out once we customize your itinerary to meet your goals and objectives. See rates page for more info.

Bolivia, Cordillera Real and Condirri Group: June – July La Paz sets the stage for our acclimatization days to lake Titicaca and the island of the sun, Tiahuanaco ruins or downhill mountain biking, if that’s your fancy. We focus our alpine climbing and glacier travel training to take place while acclimatizing in the Condirri group of peaks. From the same base camp we can train and climb beautifully varied peaks including Pequeno Alpamayo, Piramide Blanca, Ilusioncita and Condirri. From these initial 5,000-meter climbs we can move onto 6,000-meter slopes of either Huayna Potasi or Illimani. Pricing details will be worked out once we customize your itinerary to meet your goals and objectives. See rates page for more info.

photo credit: Basil Tsimoyianis

North Cascades, Washington: July – September There are so many wonderful routes in the Cascades and we will choose the best options based on your abilities, desires and conditions. I can customize a trip to accommodate your learning objectives for glacial travel, crevasse rescue, alpine rock and ice climbing techniques and the associated rope techniques. Often these skills are taught in conjunction with a peak ascent. We stay flexible with our itinerary and pick regions to go into for 2-4 days at a time such as Boston Basin, Shuksan, and the Picketts Range. Peak objectives are some of the finest alpine climbs in North America. Come enjoy a bit of “living” on the North faces of Baker, Shuksan and Buckner or Forbiddens NW face to Torment Traverse, just to name some of the classics. Of course there are many others to choose from based on the conditions and group needs. Pricing details will be worked out once we customize your itinerary to meet your goals and objectives. See rates page for more info.

B.C./Alberta: July – September Ratchet up the intensity a bit more from the Cascades expedition or hone alpine skills you’ve developed in other areas. Staying flexible with the weather allows us to get the goods, be it in the Buggs, Icefields Parkway or the Front Range. Diverse terrain in the Rockies and Bugaboos allows an eclectic climbing experience. North faces on superb neive and blue ice one day, to climbing splitter cracks on grandiose spires with glacial approaches the next. This trip will be as objective-based as possible with exposure to glacier travel, crevasse rescue, alpine rock and ice climbing techniques, anchors and rope systems. Some routes to dream about would include: North face of Athabasca, North Bowl on Andromeda, East ridge of Temple, North face of Aberdeen, NE ridge on Bugaboo Spire, West ridge of Pigeon, North ridge of Howser Spire. See rates page for more info.

New England: November – April Come alpine climbing in the Green Mountains of Vermont or the White Mountains of New Hampshire! The wonderful areas of Smuggler's Notch, Crawford Notch, Mt. Willard and Mt. Washington are the perfect place to learn the skills needed to climb anywhere in the world. The conditions are often full on and world renowned for their intensity, this is defiantly not Colorado. We will focus on developing skills needed for efficient and safe travel in this cold world. This is a great venue to hone your skills in snow and ice climbing techniques, anchors, leading, route finding and track setting. Weather and conditions help us decide where and when to climb. Possible routes we can enjoy are Hidden Gulley, Cinema Gully, Willy’s Slide, Pinnacle, Damnation or Yale Gullies. See rates page for more info.

photo credit: Brad Nicholsan