Mount McKinley | Denali Guides

In 2013, Jacob completed a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and left his home state for the Pacific Northwest. He was introduced to climbing and scrambling through the Mountaineers, and quickly developed a love for rock climbing. Since then, Jacob has climbed in 10 states across the US and internationally in Namibia, Mexico and Canada. After summitting all of the volcanoes in Washington and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021, Jacob turned his focus to guiding. Jacob loves to climb with people of all skill levels- whether its their first time at the crag or swinging leads on a hard trad route. In his spare time, Jacob enjoys honing his pizza craft to find oddly delicious combinations of flavors and perfecting the ratios for his homemade dough.

Andrew considers himself lucky to have found the magical world of climbing and mountaineering while studying geology at the University of Washington. From early on Andrew realized he enjoyed climbing rocks far more than studying them. One thing led to another and he found himself climbing mountains further from home. After spending time on a particularly long climbing trip that took him to New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia he decided it was time to come back to apply the skills and knowledge he acquired as a guide in his home range. Andrew has worked as a guide for Alpine Ascents for 5 seasons. Andrew loves all types of climbing and enjoys sharing the mountains with people new to these wild environments. These days Andrew calls Leavenworth Washington home. When not in the mountains you can find him chasing sunshine with his girlfriend and dog, Sol. Take 5 with the Guide...

Noah grew up in Massachusetts and learned his love of the outdoors and all things wild on the icy mountains of New Hampshire. His first passion was ski racing, but that blossomed into rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. After he moved west Noah got his start rock guiding in Squamish B.C. and now travels the world looking for new and wild walls to climb. He also loves to share his knowledge and passion for all things climbing, empowering people to have new and life changing experiences.

Grant grew up in the backwoods of Arkansas surrounded by nature. This instilled a love and appreciation for the outdoors at a young age. His time was mostly spent climbing, fishing, hunting and paddling around the natural state. With a love for travel, and a desire to see more of the world, he enrolled in a NOLS course in the Winter of 2017. This experience inspired Grant to make a career out of the thing he loves most in life, enjoying the outdoors and spreading that joy to others. Grant went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Recreation & Sports Management. He currently resides in Teton Valley, Idaho, where he spends most of his time climbing, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors as he always has. Take 5 with the Guide If you could only take one album on an expedition… Bon Iver/ Bon Iver...

Dan Corn is an IFMGA/UIAGM certified guide with experience around the world. Dan’s began his career in New England, working for the Forest Service as a backcountry ranger and guiding for the International Mountain Climbing School. In 2007 he moved west to guide on Denali for the Alaska Mountaineering School(AMS) and to work for Exum Mountain Guides in the Tetons. Currently a lead guide at Alpine Ascents International, he also continues to lead trips for AMS as well as spending time heli-ski guiding for Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, Tordrillo North, Powder South, and the Eleven Experience.  During the winter he works as a ski guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and as an instructor for the American Avalanche Institute.  From 2015-2017 Dan was a climbing ranger on Denali for the National Park Service patrolling the highest peak in North America in addition to high altitude rescue work. Some of Dan’s proudest...

“Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there.” – GM. Originally from New England, Bobby moved to Utah in 2007 to immerse himself in the bigger mountains of the West. Since then, he has climbed and guided across South America, Europe, the Canadian Rockies, and the U.S., with more than 40 expeditions in the Central Alaska Range. From 2015 to 2017, he also served as a VIP Climbing Ranger on Denali with the National Park Service, adding a rare level of depth and perspective to his knowledge of the Alaska Range, and his guiding expertise on Denali. Today, Bobby follows the seasons, guiding and climbing in Utah and Ouray during the winter, and in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest through the summer. He is especially drawn to remote, exploratory alpine routes, and takes pride in sharing the lessons of the mountains with others. When he isn’t spearheading...

Maia was born in San Francisco and raised in Brooklyn, where skyscrapers far outnumbered trees and snowfall was a rare event. She later attended Dartmouth College, earning a degree in Glaciology with a concentration in remote sensing, alongside studies in Human-Centered Design. While at Dartmouth, Maia discovered her passion for guiding. She led mountain biking trips in Squamish and Sedona, and ski trips in the San Juans, the Swan Range, and Cooke City, and fell deeply in love with alpinism on Mount Washington’s compact terrain, where she spent much of her free time. Today, Maia splits her time between Washington and Bozeman, Montana, trading dense cityscapes for wide-open spaces and big mountains. When she’s not guiding, she’s usually skiing, ice climbing, or knitting something warm for the next adventure. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? I climbed Mt. Lassen for my 5th birthday with my family....

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dom grew up about as far away from the mountains as one could. He has been a lifelong endurance athlete, competing in both running and cycling. He studied biology and chemistry at Duke University with a focus on human physiology. After graduation, he moved to the West Coast to pursue a career as an exercise physiologist and coach. He soon found mountain sports as the perfect canvas for his endurance pursuits. Through guiding, Dom hopes to share his love for all things alpine, and use his experience as an endurance athlete/coach to help others achieve their goals both on the mountain, and off it.

Justin has a lifetime of experience climbing in the mountains, where in his teens he started climbing the volcanos of Oregon. He has spent the last nine years working professionally in the mountains as a mountain guide, ski patroller and as a climbing ranger. His climbing and skiing pursuits have brought him round the world from the Cascades of the West Coast, to the Himalayas, South America, Eastern Europe, Canada, and Alaska. Currently Justin lives in Index Washington where he enjoys time spent rock climbing, kayaking, and skiing with his friends, girlfriend, and his white husky named Glacier. Take 5 with the Guide If you could only take one album on an expedition? Harvest Moon – Neil Young Most beloved book? The Art of Happiness – Dalai Lama Dream rope team for your dream climb? K2 with Adam Frost and Caleb Merrill When you’re not guiding? Kayaking baby! In another...

A Native to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Ryan’s enthusiasm for climbing began in his teens after he first experienced the wonders of granite rock climbing in Custer State Park. He is now based in Salt Lake City, UT where he has been making the most of powder skiing in the Wasatch Mountains. When he isn’t skiing in Utah, he can be found working and playing across SD, WY, MT and WA. His favorite objectives tend to be long alpine rock-climbing routes in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. Aside from mountain craft, Ryan enjoys reading, running, cooking, coffee and quality time with friends & family. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? n my teenage years, I ascended Cloud Peak in the Bighorns with family & friends. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? Baking scones! What’s always in your snack bag? Apple Sauce...

Adam was raised in the farmlands of southwest Idaho, where his love for nature began. His appreciation for the outdoors and adventure has taken him across North and South America, Asia, the South Pacific and Europe, exploring the ranges and peaks in the Himalaya, Patagonia, Alaska and New Zealand. Adam and his love, Amy, now get to introduce the mountains to their 1.5 year old son, Liam the Heir of house Frost. Take 5 with the Guide What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? spending time with my family Amy, Liam, and Scout What’s always in your snack bag? Goldfish What was your first mountain? Mt. St. Helens, I was 13 with my pa. Being farmers from Idaho, we wore jeans, t shirts, and I got sunburnt and snow blindness because I didn’t know what sunblock or sunglasses were. If you could be stuck with anyone (past...

Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania Matt began a lifetime of mountain recreation by skiing in the Poconos as a child. He took interest in rock climbing while in college and started traveling throughout the American east in pursuit of adventures involving rock and snow. The chase for bigger objectives landed him in Salt Lake City, Utah after finishing school. Matt worked as a ski patroller in the Wasatch Range while using SLC as home base to explore the classic climbs and ski descents of the American west. After sampling several mountain states, the glaciated volcanoes of Washington felt like home. Matt is now loosely based out of Bellingham, Washington and balances mountain guiding with personal adventures year round. He spends the majority of the year working in Washington and Alaska, and has been a core member of our Denali guide teams since 2022. When not guiding with Alpine Ascents,...

Lauren was first drawn in by the community and adventure of climbing and expeditions when she moved to Colorado from her home state of Washington. Since then, she has passionately pursued spending time learning and teaching in wild spaces. Before coming to Alpine Ascents she worked with Outward Bound for seven years in many capacities, leading expeditions in Colorado, Alaska, Ecuador, Utah, and California. Personal climbing trips have taken her across the world to places such as Argentina, Thailand, Mexico, and Canada. Lauren values the authentic relationships that can be cultivated quickly in the backcountry, and the perspective that trying hard in the mountains brings. When not in the mountains Lauren can usually be found in the desert, drinking coffee, rock climbing, biking, drawing, or catching up with loved ones. Take 5 with the Guide If you could only take one album on an expedition… Rumours – Fleetwood Mac Guilty...

Danny is an avid climber and explorer. He has lived nomadically for the past 9 years guiding in unique areas like the Gunks in New York, Joshua Tree in California, and Denali, Alaska. He dreams of free-climbing big walls and challenging alpine routes in remote parts of the world. Climbing is only half of the picture for him. He found his passion for climbing through teaching and developing those experiences with others. If it weren’t for his community, family and friends in central Massachusetts, he may have never found guiding. Danny started working with Alpine Ascents in 2023, and has grown to love expedition style guiding. In the future he looks forward to guiding bigger peaks around the world and becoming internationally certified. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? Mount Shuksan. The Sulphide glacier route has such a nice blend of trail, glacier, scrambling and views....

Sydney grew up in Maine and at a young age found appreciation for the natural world via canoe on lakes and rivers. While in college at St. Lawrence University she turned to the mountains and hiked the Adirondack 46ers, and then all 115 highest mountains in the Northeast. She secured her first mountain job working for the Appalachian Mountain Club as part of a backcountry hut crew. Sydney has since found herself working in the outdoor industry in various capacities from outdoor education, environmental conservation work, ski patroller, and ski technician. Her fascination with glaciers ultimately drew her to mountain guiding in Washington. When she isn’t leading our rope teams on Alpine Ascents trips, she also instructs mountaineering and backpacking expeditions for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho, and teaches avalanche courses for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. When not in the field...

Originally from Minnesota, Jon’s guiding career began in a canoe. Quickly realizing his love for shouldering a heavy pack and wading through waist deep “shmoo” but not liking the pesky mosquitoes and leeches as much, he took newfound penchants to the much drier Front Range of Colorado. Jon got his first real taste of mountains and learned a thing or two about style and ease, eventually settling in Summit County to begin his patrol career, but after a couple COLD winters on the continental divide, he made the move out to his current winter grounds of Ogden, UT. Today, Jon continues a rewarding patrol career that he describes as: doos, dogs, and damn fine mitigation. With an incredible set of mentors across three winter operations, he continues to hone his snow skills each season and skis some of the most exclusive pow in the West. In the summer months Jon...

“Nick grew up just outside of Portland, Maine, where he developed a deep love for the outdoors skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain and spending summers hiking and camping in Baxter State Park and the White Mountains. He went on to pursue this passion academically, earning a degree in Adventure Leadership from Lyndon State College in Vermont.Nick has guided across a wide range of landscapes, including Denali National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Mount Shasta, the Trinity Alps Wilderness, Olympic National Park, and Exit Glacier in Seward, Alaska. He has also guided on the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers in Maine and led ice climbing trips in New Hampshire. Although he now lives on the West Coast full-time, Nick learned to climb and backcountry ski in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, giving him a lasting appreciation and connection to the Northeast. When he’s not guiding, you can find him...

Born and raised on a farm in Pennsylvania, Michelle fell in love with the mountains as a teenager has spent most of her adult life scheming ways to get outside. Realizing the weekend warrior life wouldn’t cut it, Michelle left a more mundane career to become a guide. Her current passion is helping others achieve climbing goals and challenge themselves. She also enjoys talking about physics and working as an EMT. Michelle splits her time between Moab, the Tetons, and the Cascades. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? First mountain I remember was a tiny overlook on the Appalachian trail that I hiked up as a 12-year old Girl Scout. It might have been 1500 feet in elevation. I was hooked! What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? Rock climbing and trail running What’s always in your snack bag? Chocolate covered almonds– yum!...

Chris grew up exploring the hills of rural Idaho, where he developed a love for the outdoors and a thirst for adventure. He moved to Wyoming to attend school and quickly fell in love with the surrounding mountains. A rock climber at heart, Chris eventually gave into ice climbing and skiing after suffering through two Wyoming winters digging boulders out of the snow. Since then, he has developed a passion for all three disciplines and seeks whatever conditions seem most fun. Now a year-round guide, Chris shares his knowledge and experience with others, helping them to embark on their own adventures. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? Elephants Perch What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? Planning my next adventure! What’s always in your snack bag? Candy! If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week,...

A jack of all the outdoor trades, Geoff is a year-round full-time guide based in Bend, Oregon. You’ll find him roaming the local hills of Central Oregon, crimping small handholds at Smith Rock, and slaying lap after lap on his skis. His adventures have taken him all over the United States, Canada, Alaska, and Europe. He’s lead expeditions to Denali and Mt Logan in the Yukon. Skied numerous traverses in Canada and the Alps and amassed over 400+ summits of Mt Hood. To say Geoff likes to be outside, is an understatement! He began his guiding career in 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. Finishing his certification with the American Mountain Guides Association several years ago, Geoff is a fully certified IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide. Only a handful of Americans hold this title. He’s a Wilderness First Responder and leads AIARE 1 and 2 Avalanche Courses during the Winter months. Geoff...

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Jack grew up exploring the backcountry throughout the region. He has spent a lot of his time since then getting to know the mountains and exploring the terrain across Alaska and the PNW. Whether on skis or on foot, Jack enjoys helping others find their own rhythm in the mountains and engage more closely with the backcountry environment. When he isn’t in the high country, he works as a salmon fisherman. Off the clock, you can find him looking for good swimming holes and always on the lookout for the best local tacos. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? Diamond Peak with friends from Oregon What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? Chasing the snow What’s always in your snack bag? Smoked salmon If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a...

Originally from California, Emma has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, traveling and guiding all over the world. Her passion for the outdoors has been a constant throughout her life. Emma’s academic pursuits led her to the University of Alaska, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Outdoor Studies. During her time there, she honed her skills in skiing, climbing, and wilderness adventure, immersing herself in the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska. During her time at university, she did an internship on Denali and fell in love with big mountain guiding. Since her graduation, Emma has dedicated her life to international travel and epic expeditions. She is a mountain guide on two of the seven summits: Denali in Alaska and Vinson in Antarctica. Additionally, she has been a glacier, kayak, and wilderness guide in Alaska, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Norway. Beyond her guiding endeavors, Emma is a certified Yoga...

Morgan grew up in Denver, Colorado and spent most of her childhood hiking, biking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. She continued her mountain pursuits in the hills of New Hampshire and Vermont when she completed her BE in Mechanical Engineering at Dartmouth College, where she also competed in Division I rugby. She moved to Washington in 2019 and since has fallen in love with the jagged North Cascade peaks and lush green PNW forests. In the winter, Morgan ski patrols at Crystal Mountain in Washington and teaches avalanche education courses. While Morgan loves peaking mountains and skiing technical lines, she is particularly passionate about the accessibility and inclusion of avalanche education and winter backcountry sports. When she isn’t trekking many miles to find the tiniest bit of snow in the cascades, Morgan spends her time singing in a band with fellow patrollers, taking photos of her friends, dancing, sewing...

Based out of Seattle, Hannah follows the seasons across a wide range of climbing and skiing terrain. Each year she spends spring guiding heli-skiing in Alaska’s Chugach, early summer spearheading our mountaineering schools and Denali expeditions in the Alaska Range, and the remainder of the summer season in the Washington Cascades pursuing everything from technical alpine rock objectives to foundational courses in the North Cascades. In the fall, she can often be found on the sandstone walls of the desert Southwest, blending professional guiding with personal climbing adventures before heading to Mexico for our Alpine Ascents Volcanoes of Mexico expeditions. Hannah has a gift for building strong and competent mountaineers, and fostering a sense of community on her expeditions whether three days or three weeks long. Her mix of technical ability, calm leadership, and enthusiasm for the mountains make her a steady presence in challenging environments. In 2025, Hannah joined...

Jorge,he/him, is an adventurous soul with a passion for guiding and outdoor exploration. His journey with AAI began when he joined their guide team after participating in the inaugural cohort of AAI’s BIPOC Guide Development program. A key moment in Jorge’s journey was his first summit of Koma Kulshan (Mt. Baker), where he experienced a profound sense of fulfillment and purpose. Prior to this, he had honed his skills and accumulated valuable experience in the Sierra Nevadas. He spends time finding fresh powder lines to ski, new and interesting places to climb, and finding the best alpine lakes with his dog. Through all of this, he holds a deep-rooted commitment to increasing access and representation for underrepresented communities in outdoor spaces and is driven to inspire others to pursue their outdoor passions and aspirations. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? The first mountain I wore crampons...

Mingma Tenzi Sherpa was born in the mountains, and raised among some of the highest peaks on Earth. His home village of Yaphu, population 2,500, lies in the Sankhuwasabha District in the Eastern part of Nepal, not far from Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest mountain. He made his first trips in 2003, at the tender age of 19, and by 2005 was working as an assistant guide on the trekking peaks of the Himalayas. He climbed Mera Peak , Lobuche and many 6000m peaks By the time the spring climbing season rolled round in 2007, Mingma Tenzi was ready to step up to the next level. That year, he made his first summit of Mount Everest, Lhotse, the neighbouring peak that is the world’s fourth-highest mountain, just seven days later – an incredible feat of endurance. The following season found him guiding close to home, working on an expedition to conquer...

Rachel grew up in Oregon and attended college in her home state, earning a degree in International Relations before beginning a series of explorations of many regions of the world, living in several different countries from Asia to Europe. Since 2013 she has made La Paz, Bolivia her home base after discovering a love of exploring the region’s remote glaciated peaks and granite walls. She has been guiding full time since 2014 across various regions of the world including Bolivia, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, and the Pacific Northwest of the US. Rachel has extensive experience in high altitude and international expeditions and has guided climbers to 6000 meter plus summits on over 200 occasions. She has completed numerous female first ascents of technical routes on the highest peaks of the Bolivian Andes, along with a few first ascent routes on lesser explored peaks. Her fluent Spanish language skills are an asset...

Born in Oklahoma City’s Little Saigon to parents who were refugees of the Vietnam War, Don grew up far from mountains but with a curiosity for the outdoors. That pull eventually led him west to the Colorado Rockies to study mountain guiding, and then to the Pacific Northwest, where he began guiding on Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta. Since then, Don has built a career leading climbs on some of the world’s most iconic peaks, including Denali and Aconcagua since 2019. Guiding, for Don, is more than a profession. He sees it a a way to share the universal human journey of exploration, and pilgrimage into wild places. Known for his deep care for the climbers he works with, he brings patience, humor, and perspective to every expedition from first timer’s trips to Mount Baker to the seasoned mountaineer on Denali. When he isn’t leading our Alpine Ascents trips, Don...

Samuel grew up surrounded by the San Juan mountains of Southwest Colorado. He enjoys all types of skiing, climbing and spending time in the mountains. Samuel calls Pagosa Springs, CO home and has been making the migration north to guide in the Cascades since 2019. When not guiding for Alpine Ascents, Samuel works as the Avalanche Forecaster at Wolf Creek Ski Area and running an Arborist Tree Climbing company. If Samuel isn’t up in a tree or in the mountains he can usually be found in the desert, rock climbing, biking, drinking coffee and spending time with his wife and dog.

Dakota has worked in the guiding industry for nearly a decade. Growing up in New Jersey as a ski movie obsessed suburb kid, he began to pursue competitive freeride and freeski pursuits after his family relocated to Utah. While completing a BA in psychology from the University of British Columbia a passion for backcountry skiing was formed in the Coastal Range of BC. Following his undergrad and a summer stint as a glacier guide in Juneau, AK he began working as a heli-ski tail guide in Alaska. After many summers spent as a whitewater raft guide, ski trips in the Chugach and Alaska Ranges, and a summer trip to Bolivia he decided to pursue mountain guiding on Mt. Shasta. He is excited to begin his professional career in the Cascades and beyond. During the winters he calls Telluride, Colorado home where he works as a ski patroller, part time cat...

Aaron is an AMGA Certified Ski Guide based in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spends winters skiing and climbing in the Wasatch. Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Aaron graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. His passion for guiding began while working at the university’s Outdoor Recreation Program, where he led trips for fellow students. Throughout the year, Aaron guides skiing and climbing trips to places including the North Cascades, Alaska Range, and Mount Rainier National Park. Whether he’s climbing the West Buttress of Denali or showing skiers some of Utah’s best powder stashes, Aaron loves sharing his passion for the mountains with others. When he is not in the mountains, Aaron enjoys biking, live music, and spending time with friends. Take 5 with the Guide Dream rope team / climbing partner for your dream climb? Bear Grylls, Flyboys What’s your favorite thing to do when...

With over two decades of experience guiding in the planet’s most demanding environments, Jangbu Sherpa is an internationally respected IFMGA-certified mountain guide whose career has taken him from the Himalayas to the Andes, Alaska to Antarctica, and deep into the rugged peaks of the Pacific Northwest. His expedition resume is as deep as it is diverse. Jangbu Sherpa has guided clients to the summit of Mount Everest seven times and also the summit of K2, Makalu, Lhotse, and Dhaulagiri, alongside AMA Dablam, Cholatse, Kyajo Ri Lobuche East, Island Peak, and numerous other 6,000-meter summits throughout Nepal. In the Americas, he has led successful expeditions on the Seven Summits, including Denali, Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Kilimanjaro and Carstensz Pyramid. Closer to home, he guides year-round on Mount Rainier, Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker, and other technical objectives throughout the North Cascades. In addition to climbing and guiding, Jangbu Sherpa is deeply respected for...

John has been climbing since he was first taken to a climbing gym in 2008. Since then he has traveled around the US and Canada climbing and exploring. He enjoys rock and ice climbing, alpine climbing, remote expeditions, and backcountry skiing. In 2021 John took a NOLS instructor course and has been working as a NOLS instructor and pursuing becoming an AMGA guide since then. John currently splits his time between guiding in the PNW and living in Lander WY, where he resides with his partner and 2 dogs. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? The Cables Route on Longs Peak. I went with my parents and older sister when I was probably 8 or 9 What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding? You’ll find me taking photos and rock climbing What’s always in your snack bag? I am notorious for not bringing...

Dylan lives with his partner Marine and their cat  “Jonesy” in the boulder-strewn forests immediately below the Bossons Glacier on Mont Blanc’s north side. The Chamonix Valley has been Dylan’s home since 2009, and before that, he spent a decade in Western Washington after growing up in the Front Range of Colorado. Dylan has been climbing and skiing for over 3 decades, and has been guiding since 2000. Since finishing a Masters in Geology (and eschewing a potentially lively career as a researcher or perpetual PhD student), Dylan has used mountain guiding to combine a love for all things alpine with the satisfaction of sharing it with others. Working as a guide has provided many fun travel opportunities as well as fueling the wanderlust to seek adventure in even more exotic destinations during the off-season. In 2007, Dylan completed his training with the American Mountain Guide Association to become America’s...

Arielle grew up in California, where regular family trips to Yosemite sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership, with summers spent working in Yosemite, the Rockies, and southern Alaska, along with a semester in New Zealand’s backcountry with NOLS, she turned her passion for adventure into a guiding career. Ari has been guiding since 2010, and joined Alpine Ascents in 2017. Ari spends her time outdoors year round, guiding different peaks across the globe each season. She spends her springs and summers on Washington’s glaciers, leading our mountaineering school in the Pacific Northwest and has lead Alpine Ascents Denali expeditions since 2019. In the fall season she travels to the Himalayas for ascents of Mera Peak, and spends the winter spearheading trips to the Volcanoes of Mexico. Known for her steady leadership, she thrives on helping climbers push beyond their...

Don began climbing on the East Coast more than two decades ago and has been guiding professionally for over 15 years. Since joining Alpine Ascents in 2017, he has led expeditions on Denali, Everest, Manaslu, and in Antarctica, bringing deep experience on snow, rock, and ice to every climb. His career highlights include first ascents on Newfoundland rock and the rare achievement of climbing a floating iceberg, alongside extensive guiding seasons across over 12 countries. Don is also known for his unique story of climbing Baruntse with an unlikely companion, making his 2018 expedition the first recorded dog ascent of a 7,000 m Himalayan peak. Holding a master’s degree in education, Don is as passionate about teaching the finer details as he is about expedition life. Whether instructing our winter avalanche courses in Washington State, or leading high-altitude expeditions across the globe, he is known for his steady leadership, thoughtful...

Where is Stephen from? Frankly, he’s not quite sure, but if you ask him, you’ll likely hear anything ranging from New Mexico to Virginia. Plotting his life trajectory on a graph is a challenge that far exceeds his own mathematical prowess – that is to say, it’s non-linear at best – and upon recollection, the details seem to perplex even him. What he can say for certain, is that he got his first taste for adventure after heading abroad for the first time with a high school program. This catapulted him into a multiyear world tour that included a number of fine Balkan pastries, tejo (Colombian corn-hole but with gunpowder), and some clown related endeavors. He returned to Virginia for college where he stumbled his way into the steep sandstone cliffs of West Virginia and quickly developed an affinity for climbing and guiding shortly after. His climbing career has taken...

Lucy began U.S. state high pointing (climbing the highest mountain in every state) at age 7, and at 17, she became the youngest woman to complete all 50. The following year, at age 18, she became the youngest American woman to summit Mount Everest. Her passion for mountaineering has led her to mountains in Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Switzerland, Russia, Tanzania, Nepal and Pakistan. She began mountain guiding for Alpine Ascents in 2024, but her first trip with us a Rainier climb when Lucy was only 13. Lucy is a recent college grad from USC with a passion for glacier preservation. In addition to guiding, she’s spent the past two summers completing research on the largest contributing factors to glacier melt in Washington state. She also is an avid Ironman athlete – which keeps her in shape in the mountaineering off season. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first...

Matt has been climbing since he was a teenager. A true all around practitioner, he enjoys technical rock and ice climbing, bouldering, alpine climbing, and expeditions. Matt lives full time in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York, and regularly guides climbers on the brilliant rock and ice routes in the park. Over the years Matt has coached competitive climbing teams and traveled to guide climbers in other venues including the Cascade Range, Alaska, and Argentina. When not guiding and mentoring others Matt is happiest studying history, cooking seasonal meals, seeing live music, and of course climbing and skiing with friends and family. Take 5 with the Guide What was your first mountain? When did you climb it? Who were you with? “Mount” Kelso, Ontario Canada 1995 with my high school friend Peter. More of a limestone escarpment than a real mountain, but first real taste of the high and...

Stephen grew up in the Southeast, first honing his skills on the sandstone cliffs of West Virginia and Kentucky. While studying ecology and mathematics at Oberlin College, he began leading outdoor trips and spent summers teaching climbing, backpacking, and whitewater canoeing across the western U.S. and Canada. After graduation, the alpine summits of the Pacific Northwest drew him to Washington, which has been home ever since. Since joining Alpine Ascents in 2015, Stephen has guided extensively in Alaska, Washington, California, the Pamir Range, and Argentina. His personal climbing has taken him from technical alpine routes in the North Cascades and Alaska, to long desert rock climbs, to steep ice in the Canadian Rockies. A certified IFMGA guide, Stephen is a true all-around climber who brings both skill and patience to the teams he leads.

Valerie grew up in Virginia making mud soup and building tree forts with her older brother. Now she gets to enjoy all the things that being a year round resident of the Evergreen State has to offer. She has not yet developed immunity to mosquito or black fly bites, but is hopeful that she will have a breakthrough this summer. Valerie is most fulfilled when she is surrounded by good people and partaking in new challenges and experiences, preferably outdoors and ideally in the mountains. This makes guiding for AAI a true dream come true in many ways. On a trip with Valerie, you will get patient, encouraging instruction, a hint of dry humor, and detailed instruction on the optimal way to get the most out of your Wag Bag Experience. Recently, she has been really excited about learning to make beaded jewelry, skiing, and listening to history podcasts while...