West Buttress Expedition Availability for 2027

 

2027 Denali / McKinley, West Buttress Expeditions including an All Women's Team that is only offered on alternate years!

Denali / McKinley, West Buttress

Expedition price includes NPS special use and entrance fees, two nights of lodging in Talkeetna

pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

$13,200, 22 days 

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 10 - May 31 - Available

May 13 - June 3 - 4 spaces left

May 20 - June 10 - 4 spaces left

May 24 - June 14 - FULL

June 1 - June 22 - 3 spaces left

June 3 - June 24, All Women's - 4 spaces left

June 7 - June 28 - 4 spaces left

June 15 - July 6 - Available

June 17 - July 8 - Available

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,800, 10 days

Maximum 4 climbers, 2 guides

April 9 - 18

2 spaces available

Climbers on the Kahiltna Peaks expedition in 2025.

Expedition Availability for 2027

Now is the time to apply and start training for your expedition in the Alaska Range

16K Ridge with tiny 14K camp in the middle of the photo. Mount Foraker on the right.

Denali / McKinley, West Buttress

Expedition price includes NPS special use and entrance fees, two nights of lodging in Talkeetna

pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

$13,200, 22 days 

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 10 - May 31 - Available

May 13 - June 3 - 4 spaces left

May 20 - June 10 - 4 spaces left

May 24 - June 14 - FULL

June 1 - June 22 - 3 spaces left

June 3 - June 24, All Women, 4 spaces left

June 7 - June 28 - 4 spaces left

June 15 - July 6 - Available

June 17 - July 8 - Available

Efficiency with food and fuel does not mean you have to have substandard meals on our programs. We serve up some yummy food to keep you going. A well fed climber is a happy climber.

Kahiltna Peaks Expedition

$6,800, 10 days

Maximum 4 climbers, 2 guides

April 9 - 18 - 2 spaces available

Climbers on the Kahiltna Peaks expedition in 2025.

Denali / McKinley Expeditions are Filling

 It's time to apply to join one of our scheduled Denali Expeditions. 

1. Sign up Now

2. Train Hard all Winter

3. Show up in the Best Shape of your life

4. Have an Incredible Experience 

5. Return Home with Unforgettable Memories

Climbers descending the ridge below 17K, June 2026

Denali / McKinley, West Buttress

Expedition price includes NPS special use and entrance fees, two nights of lodging in Talkeetna

pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna.

$13,200, 22 days 

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides  

May 10 - May 31

May 13 - June 3 

May 20 - June 10 - 4 spaces left

May 24 - June 14 - 3 spaces left

June 1 - June 22 - 3 spaces left

June 3 - June 24, All Women

June 7 - June 28

June 15 - July 6

June 17 - July 8

Climbers in the kitchen tent at 14K camp awaiting a yummy breakfast, June 2026.

2027 SCHEDULE is ready for booking!

Our 2026 season is a wrap, and it's time for you to book your 2027 adventure. We have a full slate of courses and climbs and offer plenty of custom options as well. Reach out for more information: info@climbalaska.org.

                              

The Alaska Range from Talkeetna - July 29, 2026

Denali / McKinley, West Buttress 

$13,200*, 22 days 

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides 

May 10 - May 31 

May 13 - June 3 

May 20 - June 10 

May 24 - June 14 

June 1 - June 22 

June 7 - June 28 

June 15 - July 6 

June 17 - July 8 

Denali / McKinley, West Buttress 

Women’s Expedition 

$13,200*, 22 days 

Maximum: 6 climbers, 3 guides 

June 3 - June 24 

*The expedition price includes NPS special use and entrance fees, two nights of lodging in Talkeetna pre-climb, and ground transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna. 

 Mountaineering Courses 

12-Day Mountaineering 

$5,400 Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

April 17 - 28 

May 2 - 13 

June 5 - 16 

June 19 - 30 

July 2 - 13 

September 1 - 12 

7-Day Mountaineering 

$3950 Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

May 9 - 15 

June 13 - 19, All Women 

June 27 - July 3 

July 11 - 17 

 Ski Mountaineering 

$4,800, 7 days Maximum: 6 skiers, 2 guides 

April 6 - 12 

May 1-7 

Alpine Rock Climbing Course 

$5,900, 8 Days 

2 students, 1 instructor 

June 20 - 27 

Denali Prep 

$5,400, 10 days 

Maximum: 9 students, 3 instructors 

May 19 - 28 

June 6 - 15

 Skills Intensive Workshops 

Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue 

Talkeetna, AMS HQ - $675, 2 days 

Maximum: 8 students, 2 instructors 

April 3 - 4 

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!!

Alaska Range update: AMS Teams - June 30

The June 16th Custom Denali Expedition, led by Ben Olwell and Will Plovanic,  is climbing down to Kahiltna Base Camp tonight. Many find that it is a very special move of the expedition; the light overnight is especially beautiful in the mountains, and it's summer in Alaska- it never gets dark!

The descent from 14,200 camp is always done overnight to take advantage of cooler temperatures. A mountain version of an all-nighter! 

The June 16th Custom Peaks for Pia Denali Expedition, led by Nickel Wood and Luke Piatt, is staying at 14,200 tonight. They will revisit their next steps in the morning. Today they packed up camp and climbed to the base of the fixed lines, reaching approximately 15,200 feet, but the move was not in the cards today. 14,200 Camp is a great place to live and rest; the views are beyond spectacular. We wish this wonderful team and all climbers up there the best of luck! 

View from 14,200' Camp, roped climbers leaving camp. Mt. Foraker

The June 20th, 12-Day Mountaineering Course led by Claire Bicknell, Evan Clupper, and Intern Morgan Harris had a wonderful day climbing Munchkin Peak AND climbing Pirate Ship Pass! We expect to see them back in Talkeetna tomorrow. 

This image is from TODAY! Claire sent it from the route, and there happens to be cell tower service from there - what a treat!

Kaden climbing on the Munchkin!