Expedition Availability

McKinley/Denali Expedition price includes NPS climber fees ($465.00), 2 nights of Talkeetna lodging pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

McKinley / Denali, West Buttress

$12,700, 22 days  

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

There is space available on all of our expeditions.

May 7 - May 28

May 14 - June 4 

May 21 - June 11, one space left!

May 25 - June 15    

June 2 - June 23

June 4 - June 25, Women's Expedition, 3 spaces available

June 8 - June 29

June 11 - July 2

June 15 - July 6

Custom Denali Expeditions are also available.

Link to Application: Expedition Application

Heading Up!

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,700, 10 days

4 climbers, 2 guides - Two spaces available

April 11 - 20

Kahiltna Peaks are accessed from the Denali Kahiltna Basecamp.

In 2016, the National Park Service did a patrol on the Kahiltna Peaks. Read their story here: https://www.nps.gov/dena/blogs/kahiltna-peaks-patrol-report.htm

For this climb you will need the following prerequisites:

This expedition requires excellent mental and physical condition. You must be comfortable climbing and camping in exposed and steep locations, be able to carry a 50lb pack while pulling a 40lb sled and be comfortable camping in a remote wilderness mountain environment. You must arrive with a prior knowledge of climbing knots, roped belaying, and rappelling techniques. 

Link to Application: Expedition Application

Call or email us: 907-733-1016 | info@climbalaska.org

Mountain Guide Course

Denali /McKinley Mountain Guide Course

8 days - $4,400, 6 students, 2 instructors 

April 22 - April 29, 2026

Thinking about a career in mountaineering?  Take this course to understand and learn what it takes to be a guide on Denali (McKinley). 

This advanced course will cover technical, medical, and expedition management, as well as leadership, communication, teaching, and problem-solving. All necessary skills to successfully guide Denali (Mt. McKinley). This course is staffed with AMS’ most experienced instructors who have guided Denali over 40 times.

Topics Covered:

• Glacier travel and navigation
• Glaciology and glacier hazards discussion
• Gear and rigging for crevasse rescue
• Self-arresting a fall
• Snow anchors: mechanics and hands-on building
• Haul systems: Physics and hands-on building
• Selecting and building a stormproof campsite
• Tent set up, cooking: in all weather conditions 
• Snow camping: Staying warm, dry, and hydrated
• Group dynamics and expedition behavior
• Each evening there is a discussion topic such as teaching techniques and setting expedition behavior and boundaries.

Instructors:

AMS instructors are unique professionals who love the mountains of Alaska and have a gift for climbing, teaching, and mountain guiding. They have a wealth of experience in the Alaska Range, as well as teaching mountaineering progressions, are familiar with altitude-related problems, extreme weather, and know how to set the pace for a successful expedition. All our staff members have mountain rescue, avalanche safety, and wilderness medical training. Their knowledge of the natural and climbing history of the area and personal stories of climbing in Alaska will add immensely to any program.

Prerequisites:

This is an advanced course and requires each participant to have prior climbing experience. Three years of roped rock and ice climbing, familiar with building anchors, snow and ice climbing, and self-arrest. Participants must have Avalanche 1 training. Each person must read and understand the information in the Illustrated Guide to Crevasse Rescue. This book will be sent to you upon enrollment.

Expedition Availability

 McKinley/Denali Expedition price includes NPS climber fees, 2 nights of Talkeetna lodging pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

McKinley / Denali, West Buttress

$12,700, 22 days  

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 7 - 28 - 4 spaces available

May 14 - June 4 - 2 spaces available

May 21 - June 11 - 2 spaces available

May 25 - June 15 - 4 spaces available    

May 28 - June 18 - 4 spaces available

June 2 - 23

June 4 - June 25, Women's Expedition

June 8 - 29 - 4 spaces available

June 11 - July 2

June 15 - July 6

Custom Denali Expeditions are also available.

Women's Denali Expedition on the Summit, June 2025

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,700, 10 days

4 climbers, 2 guides

April 11 - 20

Two spaces available

Climbers on approach, Kahiltna Peaks, 2025

Link to Application: Expedition Application

Call or email us: 907-733-1016 | info@climbalaska.org

Expedition Availability - 2026

McKinley/Denali Expedition price includes NPS climber fees, 2 nights of Talkeetna lodging pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

McKinley / Denali, West Buttress

$12,700, 22 days  

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 7 - 28

May 14 - June 4 

May 21 - June 11

May 25 - June 15 

May 28 - June 18

June 2 - 23

June 4 - June 25, Women's Expedition

June 8 - 29

June 11 - July 2

June 15 - July 6

Custom Denali Expeditions available.

Successful AMS climbers on the summit. Note the summit marker in the foreground.

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,700, 10 days

2 climbers, 1 guide

April 11 - 20

Go on a technical expedition climb with AMS!

Link to Application: Expedition Application

Call or email us: 907-733-1016 | info@climbalaska.org

Plan Your 2026 Adventure Now

We are pleased to release our 2026 Climbing Schedule. It's time to plan your next adventure to learn mountaineering, improve what you already know and reach new summits. 

An AMS climber has a moment on the summit, 2025

Expeditions 
McKinley/Denali Expedition price includes NPS climber fees, 2 nights of Talkeetna lodging pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

McKinley / Denali, West Buttress

$12,700, 22 days  

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 7 - 28

May 14 - June 4 

May 21 - June 11

May 25 - June 15 

May 28 - June 18

June 2 - 23

June 4 - June 25, Women's Expedition

June 8 - 29

June 11 - July 2

June 15 - July 6

All Women's Team on the Summit, 2025

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,700, 10 days  

Maximum: 4 climbers, 2 guides  

April 11 - 20

Climbers on the Kahiltna Peaks Expedition, 2025

Mountaineering Courses  
Denali National Park & Preserve

Students on the Denali Prep Course at the 11,000 ft. camp on the West Buttress Route.

12-Day Mountaineering

$5,100

Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

April 18 - April 29

May 3 - 14

June 6 - 17 

June 20- July 1

June 30 - July 11 

6-Day Mountaineering

$3,800

Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

May 5 - 10

June 11 - 16, All Women

June 22 - 27

July 3 - 8

Ski Mountaineering 

$4,450, 7 days  

Maximum: 6 skiers, 2 instructors 

April 13  - 19

May 1 - 7,  All Women

Mountain Guide Course

$6,100, 12 Days

6 students, 2 instructors 

April  15 - 26

Denali Prep 

$5,400, 10 days

Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

May 20 - 29

Alpine Rock Climbing Course

$5,900, 8 Days

2 students, 1 instructor 

June 19 - 26

Skills Intensive Workshops

Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue 

Talkeetna, AMS HQ 

$675, 2 days 

Maximum: 8 students, 2 instructors

April 4-5

Backpackers in the Talkeetna Mountains.

Backpacking Courses

Talkeetna Mountains

4-Day Backpacking

Maximum: 6 hikers, 2 instructors

$3,100, July 5 - 8 

8-Day Backpacking 

Maximum: 6 hikers, 2 instructors

$4,600, July 12 - 19

14-Day Backpacking

Maximum: 6 hikers, 2 instructors

$5,600, July 10 - 23

To apply for a workshop, course or expedition:    APPLICATIONS HERE

Backcountry Wilderness Photos

 Here's a few images from the recent Backpacking course. As you scroll through our blog, you'll see that we take a lot of pictures of snow and ice! It's nice to see a little green and blue and big smiles.

Campsite with a view. Tundra is so lovely to sleep upon.

Despite it being July and below 5000 feet, there is still a lot of snow out there. Some of the alpine lakes are still frozen.

Instructor Madelyn Ferdock and caribou antlers.

Kate and antlers.

Genevieve and antlers.

Caribou are members of the deer family but live only in northern parts of the world. Each year they shed their antlers and grow new ones. These antlers are from bull caribou. Females also grow and shed their antlers, which are smaller. 

The caribou are called Barren Ground Caribou because they live above treeline. Although the land being barren is a misnomer. They eat vegetation such as sedges, small shrubs, willow, and lichen. In the winter, they use their large hooves to paw through the snow in search of food.

Backpackers Return!

 Out of the wild came Madelyn Ferdock, Kate and Genevieve from their 8-Day Wilderness Backpacking.

They are now in the land of tall trees, hamburgers, and flush toilets. Time for showers and sleeping on a real bed. They have stories to share and memories to last a lifetime. 

Genevieve and Kate have returned. Office dog, Venus, is looking for scraps.

That wraps up our season at Alaska Mountaineering School. We will be releasing our 2026 schedule soon. We are also available for custom courses and climbs through September.

Wilderness Backpacking Course Update - July 19

 The 8-Day Backpacking Course, with Kate and Genevieve, and led by Madelyn Ferdock, made it to their final camp this afternoon! They had great trail conditions for hiking, and they made great time.  They can now relax and enjoy a leisurely and long evening before heading off to meet the van at the trailhead in the morning!

The pin marks their final camp!

Wilderness Backpacking Course Update - July 18

The 8-Day Backpacking course, led by Madelyn Ferdock, with students Kate and Genevieve, enjoyed a very sunny hiking day in the Northern Talkeetna Mountains. 

After their semi-rest day yesterday, the ladies had a bigger mileage day today. They hiked 8.5 miles with full packs as they relocated their camp to move closer to their destination. Leader Madelyn reported this evening that the traveling conditions were faster today, and they all enjoyed the full day of sun.

They are doing well out there in the Alaska Wilds. It sure feels good to get some miles under your feet!

The red point indicates their camp for the night!

Backpacking Course Update - July 17

 The 8-Day Backpacking course, led by Madelyn Ferdock, with students Kate and Genevieve, enjoyed another lovely day in the Northern Talkeetna Mountain Tundra today. The ladies each had a solo day hike, navigating two different hills near camp, and then returned to the same camp to reconvene with Instructor Madelyn.  The solo is a critical way to gain confidence in decision-making and route-finding skills!

Yesterday, they hiked with all their gear to a new alpine lake. They had a fantastic view of the Alaska Range from their camp. The terrain proved to have more wilderness challenges, including side-hilling and some "bush-wacking" (hiking through thick brush and alders), and they found even more shed caribou antlers.

Spirits are high, and they are loving their time in the wilderness! 

AMS Backpacking in the northern Talkeetna Mountains. Cheers to trail-less Wilderness!
AMS Archive photo, by instructor John Sykes

Backpacking Course Update July 16

The 8-Day Backpacking course led by Madelyn Ferdock with students Kate and Genevieve had a spectacular day in the high alpine tundra yesterday! They reported some fun glissading over a mountain pass and some caribou sightings. What's more, they found four caribou antler sheds along their way! We'll see if they decided to pack out any of these beauties. 

Diane Okonek stands atop a rock in alpine tundra with Denali behind. Diane and Brian Okonek founded Alaska Denali Guiding in 1983 and led the company until it merged with Alaska Mountaineering School in 2001. (AMS Archives)

Glissading is the act of a controlled slide down a snowy mountainside as a means to speed up (and have more fun) on your descent. Male caribou shed their antlers in the late fall or early winter, while females may keep their antlers until after giving birth in the spring. 

Guide Simon teaches navigation skills to a student on a Backpacking Course.

Lead Guide Maddy says that everyone is in great spirits, having a great time, and enjoying the high alpine views!

An AMS student hikes in mountain fog!