Upcoming Trips
Climb Denali in Alaska with our professional team and take on one of the toughest mountains on Earth. At 6,190m (20,310ft), Denali is the highest peak in North America and a true mountaineering challenge. Our Denali expedition is designed only for climbers with extensive high-altitude and technical mountaineering experience.
Climbing Denali requires more than ambition—it demands a solid foundation of mountaineering, altitude, and fixed line climbing experience. For everyone’s safety, we only accept climbers we have personally seen in action on previous expeditions, ensuring the skills, judgment, and resilience needed for this extreme environment.
We also encourage you to bring a trusted climbing partner, as you will be roped together throughout the climb. This approach not only builds safety into the team but also strengthens the shared experience of tackling one of the world’s most challenging peaks.
Minimum Skills and Experience Required for Denali
To be considered for our Denali expedition, climbers must demonstrate:
- High-altitude experience: Successful climbs above 6,000m / 20,000 feet.
- Technical mountaineering skills: Proficiency with crampons, ice axe, and self-arrest techniques.
- Fixed line competence: Experience ascending and descending fixed ropes using jumars, belay devices, and safety systems.
- Team rope travel: Comfort moving as part of a roped team in glaciated terrain for long periods of time.
- Heavy load carrying: Ability to carry and pull 25–35kg (55–77 lbs) over multiple days in extreme conditions.
- Cold weather survival: Knowledge of camp craft, layering systems, and living in sub-zero temperatures.
- Previous expeditions with our team: We must have seen you in action on one of our climbs before approving you for Denali.
This ensures that every climber is fully prepared for the unique physical and technical demands of North America’s highest peak.
We work with guides approved for Denali National Park guiding making sure your safety is number one. Ian has climbed Denali 3 times so learn from his experience.
Climbing Denali required good level of mountaineering experience and excellent physical conditioning for load carrying at High Altitude.
Denali is Not Easy
Climbing Denali in Alaska is a challenging and rewarding endeavor, attracting experienced mountaineers from around the world. Standing at 20,310 feet (6,194 meters), Denali is the highest peak in North America, and its unpredictable weather and severe conditions make the climb demanding.
The climb typically involves a 3 week expedition, requiring climbers to navigate through glaciers, crevasses, and steep ice and rock sections.
The West Buttress route is the most popular, offering a gradual ascent, but climbers must be prepared for extreme cold, high altitudes, and potential hazards.
Show up Physically Prepared
Proper preparation is essential, including physical conditioning, technical skills in ice and snow, and acclimatization to altitude. Climbers often spend several weeks on the mountain, acclimating to the thin air and adjusting to the challenging conditions.
It’s crucial to be well-equipped with appropriate gear, such as insulated clothing, mountaineering boots, and specialized equipment for glacier travel. Many climbers hire experienced guides or join guided expeditions to enhance safety and increase the chances of a successful summit.
In summary, while Denali’s climb is undoubtedly difficult, it offers a unique and awe-inspiring adventure for those with the necessary skills, experience, and determination.
Joining Us on Denali
Climbing Denali is on every 7 summiteers mind and one of the hardest mountains to climb for a range of reasons. Cold temperature, carrying heavy loads, being self sufficient all make for a challenges and rewarding mountaineering experience.
Climbing Denali on the West Buttress route has become the main route of choice for most Denali ascents, due to its relative ease of access and flights into the national park. We only allow people to join our teams that we have seen in action on a range of peaks.
Training for Denali
Climbing Denali is a serious undertaking! Your training program to climb Denali must also be a serious undertaking. The rigors of a 3-week expedition to high altitude require a lot of effort from its team members.
The more physically prepared you are for this workload; the better becomes your chance of success on the mountain.
Not only does being mountain fit make the experience a lot more enjoyable, it is practically a prerequisite for expedition mountaineering and can make or break the climb.
We do require that people signing up to climb Denali with us have climbed with us before and we need to see a good resume of mountaineering and high altitude experience. Contact us for training advice and more information about signing up.
Denali Climbs
Besides spending long hours travelling the glacier and gaining altitude while carrying a heavy pack and pulling a sled. It is hard work setting up camp, shoveling tent platforms, and building snow walls.
Remember, climbing Denali requires careful planning, preparation, and respect for the mountain’s unpredictable nature. Always prioritize safety and be ready to turn back if conditions become too challenging.
