15 Day Mountaineering Course- D'Alessio

AMS guide Nick called in today with a lot of enthusiasm for the beauty of the places they are traveling through, how well the team is doing, and awe at the fact that every time they get out of the tents to travel, the rain stops. They have moved out of rocky, moraine terrain into the tundra of Wildhorse Pass. The team is currently moving towards the Dutch Hills and eventually out Peters Hill Road for a pick up back to Talkeetna. What a trip, with one 18 hour travel day already, way to go everyone!

12 and 15 day Mountaineering Course: D'Alessio

Lead Instructor Nick D'Allessio phoned in today. Three students are still in the field completeing the 15 day course hike out portion with guides Nick and Jake, all feeling strong and motivated.

They moved again last night at 2 am, with rain while they were sleeping then clearing as they moved. Nick reported it is a beautiful day today near Granite Glacier. 

Four happy students flew out last night with guide Travis as planned for their portion of the 12-day mountaineering course. They had a great experience out there with AMS!

Photos to come of the course....

AMS previous students learning pulley systems.

AMS previous 12 day course. This course also did some rock climbing out on the Pika glacier.

12 and 15 day Moutnaineering Course: D'Allessio

Lead Instructor Nick D'Allessio phone in today.  The 12 and 15 Mountaineering combined Course is doing great.  They have a super strong and motivated team.

All is well, they climbed a peak early this morning, have done skills classes and are now ready to move camp.  They are thankful for some stable weather as they are having a mixed pattern of wet/ windy/ sunny/ rainy and snow thus far.

The plan to move camp at 2 AM in the morning to take advantage of the colder temperatures and clearer weather pattern for easier travel on the snow covered glacier that they are living and working on.

Combat Wounded Veterans Challenge Team Returns

The 2014 Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge Team led by Guides Dustin Eroh, Beth Cleary, Bace Poplawski have returned from their Denali National Park 10 day hike - climb - bushwack -packraft Traverse Expedtion. 

The team is happy with their accomplishments and feel they are ready for their next step the Aconcagua Challenge.  This is an awesome team and their teamwork and strong work ethic showed even back in Talkeetna at the AMS HQ.

We are looking forward to hearing all about their experience in the next few days. We are very proud to be working with such a great team of people.

Denali, West Buttress, 6/22: Hoeschen RETURNS!

The remainder of the June 24 Denali team led by Josh Hoeschen have returned from the field. 

Talkeetna Air Taxi was able to pick the team up this afternoon.  They got out of the van and got right to work sorting gear.  The team enjoyed the watermelon, orange juice and other snacks that we had ready and waiting for them.

We are so glad to see them back safely in Talkeetna! These climbers are AMS' final Denali climber's  to return.  Their arrival marks the final chapter of our 2014 Denali season.


CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 2014 CLIMBERS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

Denali, West Buttress: 5/24: Hoeschen: Still on their way to Talkeetna...

The June 24 Team led by Josh Hoeshen partly returned yesterday, three of their team flew out of the mountains yesterday morning and then the clouds came into basecamp, making it un-flyable.  Despite many efforts by Talkeetna Air Taxi and many satellite phone calls from them in the filed, the Air taxi was un-able to reach their location safely.

The Air Taxi is flying into the Mountains again this morning to try again to pick the remaining six of the team up. 

FINGERS CROSSED!!!

CWVC: Combat Wounded Veterans Challenge

 AMS working with CWVC  have just completed the mountaineering portion of their trip up Mt. Pendleton and are gearing up for the river portion of Cantwell creek to the Jack river. They are all exhausted, but so stoked to be out on this trip! They are preparing for an Aconcagua Challenge for this 2015 winter. 

Denali West Buttress Expedition Gowler 6/25 has RETURNED!

AMS lead guides Rob Gowler has returned with their crew after a valid effort on the Great One known as Denali. They are all happy to be back in the world of burgers and showers. There will be minor adjustments including not wearing heavy boots, not walking roped, and drinking water from the tap. Here are a few photos, with more to come. 

Good job everyone, Denali awaits for next year!

AMS Rob Gowler photo of the fixed lines on Denali.

Saying "see you later" to Denali for the season.

AMS Denali, West Buttress: 6/24: Hoeshen and 6/25: Gowler

We have heard from AMS lead guide Rob Gowler that his June 25th team and the June 24th AMS team led by Josh Hoeshen are currently descending from 14,200' camp with the goal of reaching 7,800' this evening. If weather and travel conditions permit, they will be in basecamp tomorrow (7/13/14) morning. We will be awaiting them with fresh fruit and other goodies you cannot get on the mountain. We are excited to hear their stories from their experience on the Great One!

AMS previous crew descending at approximately 11,000' with Mt. Hunter and Mt. Foraker in the background.

AMS climber Herbert whom was on Denali a couple weeks ago, showing how much snow Denali has seen this year.

A welcome sight to climbers in basecamp: a glacier plane to take them to the green of Talkeetna.

AMS Denali, West Buttress: 6/24: Hoeshen and 6/25: Gowler

AMS lead guide Rob Gowler just phoned in from the 14,200' camp.  His June 25th team and the June 24th AMS team led by Josh Hoeshen descended from high camp today in a evening window of clear skies  and decreased winds.  They have been campng out in a snow and wind storm up high and decided that a summit attempt is not in the cards this year.

They expect to travel through some deep snow tomorrow as they climb down the mountain, so that will take a while as they will have to "break" trail though the new snow.  They did do a fair bit of that travel on their way up the mountain too, so they know to move in such conditions.

We expect to see them on Sunday if weather and climbing conditions permit.

We are glad that they are back at 14,200' safe and sound and we look forward to hearing their stories!

17,200' high camp, I'll bet, looked similar to this photo today.

16,000' ridge that they climbed down this evening, it's my favorite part of the climb! Very beautiful.

Climber at the base of the fixed lines on the headwall, they descending the fixed lines today.

Past photograph of  the 14,200' camp, where they are now.