6 Day Course Returns

The 6-Day Mountaineering Course led by Simon Frez-Albrecht, Nick Bakken-French, and Kiana Potter has returned to Talkeetna. The team had a fabulous time in the Alaska Range. They made the wise decision to come out last night due to incoming weather. It is raining hard in Talkeetna this morning and probably snowing in the Range. It is "socked in," and planes are not flying today.

The group spent the night in Talkeetna and are holding class here this morning, reviewing skills and putting away gear.

Sounds like it was an amazing course with lots learned and new friends made. 

Some of the team this morning, enjoying real chairs, fresh coffee, and fruit.

A few photos from their time on the Pika Glacier...

A stunning setting for their camp.

Ice climbing!

Home sweet home and nice enough to have an open kitchen.

AMS Pika Glacier Update- July 6, 2026

AMS students practicing crevasse rescues.

6-Day Mountaineering Course led by Simon Frez-Albrecht, Nick Bakken, French, and Kiana Potter spent yesterday enjoying the new snow and practicing important glacier skills.  Every student had an opportunity to pull off a crevasse rescue!  

Today, with beautiful conditions on the Pika Glacier, the group made moves down glacier to climb some rock!

Sunny days and warm temps mean more rock to climb!

Happy Independence Day - and Update from the Pika Glacier!

 6-Day Mountaineering Course led by Simon Frez-Albrecht, Nick Bakken, French, and Kiana Potter is doing very well. They are all settled in on the Pika Glacier and awoke to snow falling and worked in camp, building snow anchors and haul systems. The sun came out in the afternoon, and they trekked to a pass between peaks called the Troll and Throne. They are outside "grilling", celebrating the 4th of July!

Camp views on the Pika Glacier

Kitchen confidential set up.

Off to the Airport

6-Day Mountaineering Course participants practiced fixed-line ascension and had the team photo shoot, and then headed to the airport for their flight to the Pika Glacier. They will spend this evening building camp and learning how to use Whisperlight backpacking stoves to cook dinner for themselves. They have a lot of learning and fun to accomplish in the next five days.

Instructor Simon, Students: Tom, Ethan, Kamal, Julia, Marie, Meredith, Kat, and Instructors Nick and horizontal Kiana

Jump Shot!

Our 6 Day Course Launches

 What a great group of people for our final course of the 2026 season! Led by instructors Simon Frez-Albrecht, Nick Bakken-French and Kiana Potter.

We also have one person who is a returning student. He last climbed with in 2003! After they are all finished prepping they will switch into their action suits and head to the airport. 

Here's a photo dump of all that happened today at Headquarters so far...

Instructor Kiana with Kamal goes over every piece of gear.

Instructor Nick with Julia start the gear check process.

Instructor Kiana and Tom with a mountain of gear.

Kat and Marie trying on the rental boots.

These boots were made for walking... and climbing. Marie tries them on for size.

Instructor Simon and student, Meredith

Returning student Tom gives it a thumbs up.

Team lunch on the deck. Lasagna for all.

Ethan and Kat packing lunches

Meredith tries to convince Instructor Simon that she needs to bring those pants.

The team getting instructed in the fine art of knot tying.

Instructors Packing for Our Next Course

Next up: 6-Day Mountaineering Course with Instructors Simon Frez-Albrecht, Nick Bakken-French, and Kiana Potter. Two days prior to the course start date, instructors are checking tents, stoves, sleds, rigging and other gear. Today they are packing food and getting ready for the students showing up on Friday morning.

Sled: the workhorses of the mountains... except you have to pull them.

Instructor Simon packing.

Instructors Nick and Kiana checking lists.

Two Teams Return!

 The June 16th Custom Denali Expedition, led by Ben Olwell and Will Plovanic have returned to Talkeetna after a successful summit above the clouds on June 28. They were welcomed by warmth, sunshine and watermelon.

Summit certificates and a beautiful watercolor print of the mountain for this hardworking crew.

Yes! Hot water without having to melt snow first.

Boots Off!

 

Watermelon. Peace Out.

Potato chips are more important than taking off gear.

The June 20th, 12-Day Mountaineering Course led by Claire Bicknell, Evan Clupper, and Intern Morgan Harris has returned. They climbed a lot and learned a lot, and we look forward to posting their images. They will spend the next couple of hours unpacking gear and doing the less glamorous part of mountaineering... drying gear, washing dishes. After that, I'm sure this crew will be found on Main Street eating a lot of food!!