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!

Update from AMS in the the Alaska Range - June 29

A beautiful day for a summit!

The June 16th Custom Denali Expedition, led by Ben Olwell and Will Plovanic, summited Denali yesterday!  Thanks to the lovely conditions up high, the team summited and made it safely and soundly back to high camp yesterday evening. They traveled to 14,200 camp today and will be resting there tonight and through the day tomorrow.  They plan to take advantage of cooler night temperatures and faster conditions tomorrow night to make their way to base camp. 

Teams on the fixed lines above 14,200 camp.

The June 16th Custom Peaks for Pia Denali Expedition, led by Nickel Wood and Luke Piatt. The team decided to take another day to rest and practice some skills at 14,200 camp while waiting for better weather to carry above the fixed lines.

AMS student cooking in the kitchen tent.

The June 20th, 12-Day Mountaineering Course led by Claire Bicknell, Evan Clupper, and Intern Morgan Harris  This group is busy learning new skills and putting them into practice on the glacier.  Students are all getting their turn at kitchen duty, and learning the fine arts of camp cooking!

Update from AMS in the the Alaska Range - June 28

An AMS team heading for the summit.

The June 16th Custom Denali Expedition, led by Ben Olwell and Will Plovanic, awoke to calm, clear skies early this morning and is making a summit attempt today! We have been in touch with teams in the Range and the folks at Talkeetna Air Taxi, and they let us know it has been a clear day at the higher altitudes today. Stay tuned for updates here, and on our Facebook and Instagram pages: @alaskamountaineeringschool

Looking down at 14,200 camp

The June 16th Custom Peaks for Pia Denali Expedition, led by Nickel Wood and Luke Piatt. Had another good day at 14,200 camp. They climbed to 15,100 feet and were exposed to that higher altitude, and the terrain to the base of the fixed lines. 

Taking a break from camp building on the Pika Glacier

The June 20th, 12-Day Mountaineering Course led by Claire Bicknell, Evan Clupper, and Intern Morgan Harris Had a sunny day on the Pika Glacier and moved their camp up the glacier to above the glacier landing area. More climbing and adventures are in store for this intrepid team.

AMS Alaska Range Update- June 27

 The June 16th Custom Denali Expedition, led by Ben Olwell and Will Plovanic, is doing well on their rest day at high camp, 17,200 feet. They are hydrating and eating as much as they can to prepare for their summit day attempt. The weather will dictate when they can give it a shot. Because of the high altitude, it is normal to move very slowly on summit day, and it can be difficult to stay warm in adverse weather, so the weather has to be pretty good to make a summit attempt. They have the time to wait, if they want. As one can imagine, high winds on the upper mountain are a common hazard, so the team will work together to build snow-block walls to protect their camp.

Wall building "party" at High Camp, 17,200' 

The June 16th Custom Peaks for Pia Denali Expedition, led by Nickel Wood and Luke Piatt. Had a good day at 14,200 camp. It was a very snowy day today, and even so, they descended to 13,500 to retrieve their previously cached items and returned to camp at 14,200 in good form. They are working hard up there and really are enjoying the gorgeous views for this new camp.  Next steps for them are to carry and cache up the fixed lines to 16,200' or higher. As always, climbing is weather-dependent. 

Snowy/ cloudy day at approx. 13,500, Windy Corner

14,200' Camp, Mt. Foraker, prominently in the background

The June 20th, 12-Day Mountaineering Course led by Claire Bicknell, Evan Clupper, and Intern Morgan Harris: Had a fun day ice climbing and rappelling in the rain in Little Switzerland (aka the Pika Glacier). This team of highly motivated folks is making the most of their time in the Alaska Range. We are so excited for them all!

Ice Climbing on Glacier ice!