Alaska Range Mountaineering

Skyward Mountaineering has a special relationship with the Alaska Range, being the first guide service to successfully guide multiple routes there, including Ham and Eggs on the Moose’s Tooth, the Southwest Ridge of Peak 11,300 and the Harvard Route on Mt. Huntington. We customize each expedition to maximize team success, from the awe-inspiring flight into the Range to the Type I fun climbing and actualizing your goal on the summit of a massive mountain above a sea of ice.

The mountains in the Alaska Range are defined by exposed corniced ridgelines, runnels of ice and towering golden granite walls high above the glacier valley. Many routes require a large range of climbing techniques such as scratching up a rock buttress in crampons and ice tools, kicking steps on a sustained steep snow couloir and swinging ice tools into bulletproof alpine ice.

Having guided expeditions extensively in Denali National Park, we have several popular trips that we specifically recommend, highlighted below. If you are looking for a more unique and custom guided alpine climbing experience in the Alaska Range (such as a linkup during a longer expedition, first ascents or more complex routes) we also can fully customize an expedition to a remote area of the Alaska Range. We specialize in curating incredible and customized mountaineering expeditions into the Alaska Range.

Ice axe icon, depicting the trip is ice and winter alpine climbing.

Advanced alpine climbing in technical snow/ice/rock terrain

Calendar and clock icon, depicting the time and season that is best for the trip.
A mountain icon, depicting the prerequisites required for the guided trip.

All climbing in Denali National Park requires climbers be in excellent fitness and have previous climbing experience

Expedition length depends on the objective, though most are 6 - 10 days

An alpine climber in a red jacket is swinging into a steep snowy couloir, being belayed from above.
An alpine climber traverses a corniced ridgeline on Peak 11,300 in Alaska. Alpenglow in the background lights up the West Fork of the Ruth Gorge.
Two alpine climbers ascend a moderate ice slope in a narrow couloir.
A leader climber is belaying the follower on a steep ice pitch with the ropes draped over his leg.
A climber wearing an orange jacket and a red backpack, and a helmet, is mixed climbing up a steep rock face with crampons and ice tools in a snowy mountain environment.

Custom Alpine Climbing Expeditions in Denali National Park

Skyward Mountaineering offers guided mountaineering and alpine climbing throughout Denali National Park and the Alaska Range. Our access to these classic mountaineering and alpine climbing peaks in a remote setting combined with our decades of experience recreating and guiding in these mountains provide the backbone for all of our expeditions. Skyward Mountaineering has a proven track record of guiding some of the most challenging and classic alpine routes, such as the first guided ascents of Ham and Eggs on the Moose’s Tooth, Harvard Route on Mount Huntington, and the Bibler-Klewin route on Mount Hunter.

  • Skyward Mountaineering is an AMGA Accredited Business, that means we’ve gone through rigorous third party auditing to ensure the highest quality risk management, customer service, ethical business practices, and professionally trained guides.

  • Our guides are expert climbers and skiers with extensive training and personal experience on challenging ascents and descents around the world. All of our expeditions in the Alaska Range are staffed by certified AMGA Alpine Guides with extensive experience guiding and climbing in the Alaska Range. Our customized itineraries, proven track record and commitment to prepare you for the demands of expedition alpine climbing makes Skyward Mountaineering stand out as a leading guide service in this remote and challenging environment.

  • We are a small guide service offering customized programs based on decades of guiding and instructional experience.

  • Unparalleled logistics support from start to finish. Our office staff are climbers, skiers and mountain guides so when you call or email us we’ll give you honest and helpful information to increase the success and enjoyment of your trip.