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| Guide Nick D'Alessio makes sure the tents are in good order. |
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| Interns Jeremiah and Josh along with Guide Melis are packing their lunch food; tomorrow it is the students turn. |
Senin, 31 Agustus 2015
Packing and Prepping for Courses
Guides are busy today getting ready for the final two courses of the 2012 season. Our 12 Day Mountaineering Course is full with 9 students showing up tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Guide Melis Coady along with interns, Josh Murphey and Jeremiah Phleps have been going over the gear, packing food and route planning. On Sunday we have a custom Mountaineering Course guided by Nick D'Alessio.
CWVC July Packraft/Mountaineering Video
We posted a few photos from these guys coming through this summer, but video says it all. Here is something they put together. "Aconcagua challenge"/winter season is fast approaching as Talkeetna had its first frost this weekend!
combatwoundedveteranchallenge
combatwoundedveteranchallenge
Colby to the Brooks Range
Colby is guiding a backpacking adventure in the Brooks Range for Arctic Wild. Here are some photos from Arrigetch Peaks in Gates of the Arctic National Park. Here is their website - amazing places they go to!
That powdered sugar dusting signals the termination of summer, "termination dust", better be ready for winter!
Enjoy
~Julia
That powdered sugar dusting signals the termination of summer, "termination dust", better be ready for winter!
Enjoy
~Julia
Minggu, 30 Agustus 2015
2013 EXPEDITION AVAILABILITY
Aconcagua
January 13 - 31, 4 spaces available19 days, $5500, 6 climbers: 2 guides
Denali West Buttress
May 10 - May 30May 13 - June 2, 5 spaces available
May 20 - June 9
May 25 - June 14
May 25 - June 14
June 10 - June 30, 2 spaces available, Guide Mike Hamill
June 14 - July 4
June 17 - July 7
June 23 - July 13
June 14 - July 4
June 17 - July 7
June 23 - July 13
June 27 - July 17 - Guide Rob Gowler
21 days, $6800, 6 climbers: 2-3 guides Denali Upper West Rib
June 7 - June 27, 3 spaces available21 days, $7900, 4 climbers: 2 guides
Custom Denali Expeditions
Start dates: April 16 - July 2A very limited number of dates are available for Private West Buttress Denali Expeditions, contact AMS for details.
Mt. Foraker
May 17 - June 2, 2 spaces available17 days, $6800, 4 climbers: 2 guides
Sykes Glacier Trek
It is a beautiful day in Talkeetna! It has been a very busy morning. Guide John Sykes has been busy with his team to fly to the Pika Glacier for a Glacier Trek. The team was looking forward to the flight and the adventure on the glacier. They were happy to be able to see Denali as they drove to Talkeetna today.
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| Tonya, Michael, Amanda, Guide John Sykes and Jack |
Jumat, 28 Agustus 2015
Another Successful Photo Workshop
The Denali Photography Workshop ended on Sunday, spending the day at the Matanuska Glacier––they were incredibly lucky with the weather and by all accounts it was a fantastic time with lots of learning and lots of fun. Students were up until midnight every night taking pictures and reviewing their images.
Here's some photos that Colby took of the students. We'll post some of the students' work soon.
Here's some photos that Colby took of the students. We'll post some of the students' work soon.
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| Hard to take a bad picture with this scenery-- Peters Hills field trip. |
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| AMS intern, Jeremiah shows off his cooking magic. |
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| Student Stacey captures some river beauty. |
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| Matanuska Valley flower display makes for some macro photography lessons. |
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| Instructor Tom Bol on the ice with students. |
Kamis, 27 Agustus 2015
Survival of the fittest
Zach Shlosar radioed in from the base of Granite Glacier earlier. He & Joe Butler are leading a small group of air force gentlemen on a survival course. They landed on the Pika Glacier and are negotiating all sorts of terrain to hike out. They crossed Exit Pass this morning, right on schedule. The weather is actually better than in this photo! The sun is shining!!!
New Staff & Fabulous Interns
Welcome Sam Newbury from Eagle River Alaska to AMS' list of new instructors. Sam lead a Wilderness Hike for us a couple of weeks ago.Interns
AMS gets its interns from Alaska Pacific University. They must like us, because they send us great people! This summer we had Nick D'Alessio & Brian Skean. Nick has been getting rave reviews on his calm manner and great teaching techniques. He'll be assisting on the September 6-day Mountaineering Course. Brian had some great adventures this summer and has also been appreciated for a gentle manner and great teaching ability. They're both back to Anchorage & I'll miss them terribly this winter! They were a huge help to AMS!
Thank you Nick & Brian!!
~ Julia
Spiffing things up
Thanks to uber-carpenter Chip Farote and his team (and Rob, who just wanted to play in the dirt with the backhoe), we were able to upgrade our tarp-covered carport (er, fixed line ascention practice area and packing zone) to a permanent structure that will handle snow loads and let in some natural light. We've been putting it to the test. I see some potential for mid-winter ping pong tourneys.Hmm, this photo must have been taken on one of those rare sunny days.
~Julia
Summer Fun Update
Well, the Denali season may be over, but there is still fun to be had!
Since our last blog entry we've had all sorts of activity here at AMS! The weather in Talkeetna has been cooler and wetter than usual. They say that we normally have 12 days of summer, but so far I've only counted a few when the temps went above 65 F. We were lucky enough to have a couple of "bluebird" days.
July
~ 6 day & 12 day Mountaineering Courses - flew out to the Alaska Range, some crazy weather.
~ Youth Groups went ice climbing, hiking and such, some went to the Matanuska Glacier, some went to the Talkeetna Mountains.
~ A group of 8 teenagers came up from Seattle to go on a 7-day Wilderness Hike! They got to fly out to the Talkeetna Mountains by float plane for their hike through the tundra. They endured rain, rain, and more rain with smiles! They had a great time & managed to dry out before heading back to sunny Seattle.
August
~ More Youth Groups went to play on the Matanuska Glacier.
~ 12-day Mountaineering Course went to the Pika Glacier, in "Little Switzerland" (Alaska Range).
~ Several custom groups have been hiking in Denali National Park, glacier trekking in the Alaska Range, climbing, you name it!
Watch for more updates, I still have some photos to post.
~Julia
Since our last blog entry we've had all sorts of activity here at AMS! The weather in Talkeetna has been cooler and wetter than usual. They say that we normally have 12 days of summer, but so far I've only counted a few when the temps went above 65 F. We were lucky enough to have a couple of "bluebird" days.
July~ 6 day & 12 day Mountaineering Courses - flew out to the Alaska Range, some crazy weather.
~ Youth Groups went ice climbing, hiking and such, some went to the Matanuska Glacier, some went to the Talkeetna Mountains.
~ A group of 8 teenagers came up from Seattle to go on a 7-day Wilderness Hike! They got to fly out to the Talkeetna Mountains by float plane for their hike through the tundra. They endured rain, rain, and more rain with smiles! They had a great time & managed to dry out before heading back to sunny Seattle.
August
~ More Youth Groups went to play on the Matanuska Glacier.
~ 12-day Mountaineering Course went to the Pika Glacier, in "Little Switzerland" (Alaska Range).
~ Several custom groups have been hiking in Denali National Park, glacier trekking in the Alaska Range, climbing, you name it!
Watch for more updates, I still have some photos to post.
~Julia
Rain is clearing for Roland
Deb, Liz & Roland must be enjoying a beautiful morning up on Kesugi Ridge! The clouds are lifting and they should be getting fantastic views of the Alaska Range. It's probably chilly, a good morning for a hot breakfast and a great hike along the ridgeline. They planned on visiting Curry Ridge as well as Kesugi, using Ermine Lake as their base camp. I bet the blueberries are outrageous! They are close to Broad Pass, the low point in the Alaska Range where the highway and railroad traverse the range with ease. Broad Pass is famous as a fantastic blueberry-picking spot!
The above photo is from the North Side Web Cam, it's part of the NPS Air Quality Monitoring program. This is a long way from where Roland, Deb & Liz are, but it gives us an idea of what kind of weather they are having. The view is from the Wonder Lake Ranger Station, looking at the North Face of Denali (Wickersham Wall), with the McKinley Bar (River) in the distant foreground. There is a bit of the Park Road visible, winding by the ranger station. Here is the link to the webcam:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/denacam/denacam.cfm
Here is the view from the TAT webcam here in Talkeetna.
Enjoy,
~Julia
Senin, 24 Agustus 2015
Annual Backpacking Adventure
Deb, Liz and Roland have packed up and hit the road for Roland's annual Alaska visit. He loves backpacking here so much, he's become a fixture in Talkeetna. They are heading to Denali State Park where they will get up on Kesugi Ridge and enjoy the amazing flora and fauna of that area. They'll be in alpine tundra and get to pick blueberries! It's possible to see wildlife there, such as caribou, wolves, marmot, fox and bear. They plan to be back on Friday, I don't know if we'll have any reports from them during the week.
The weather has been alternating between really nice and really rainy; presently it's mostly cloudy with isolated showers. The sun has been peeking through, so we're hoping they'll get some good views on their hikes.
Have fun Roland!
Cheers,
~Julia
(P.S. You can click on the photo for a larger version.)
The weather has been alternating between really nice and really rainy; presently it's mostly cloudy with isolated showers. The sun has been peeking through, so we're hoping they'll get some good views on their hikes.
Have fun Roland!
Cheers,
~Julia
(P.S. You can click on the photo for a larger version.)
Good weather held on...
Friday was another beautiful day in Talkeetna and across the region. The 12-day Mountaineering Course flew out of the Alaska Range on schedule. They had quite a fantastic experience, with two feet of snow during the course, and Glacier Olympics for their last day! I hope to have some photos to post here for you.
Cheers!
~Julia
Cheers!
~Julia
Sabtu, 22 Agustus 2015
2014 Schedule is ready!
We thank everyone for their patience.
WORKSHOPS:
WORKSHOPS:
Hawaii Photography Workshop, 5 days, $1800, 8 students: 2 instructors,
January 6 - 10
Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue, 2 days, $425, 9 students: 3instructors
April 5 - 6, July 19 - 20, August 16 - 17
Mountaineering Courses
| Twelve Day Mountaineering, $3200, up to 9 students: 3 instructors April 22 - May 3 May 6 - 17 June 3 - 14 July 8 - 19 August 4 - 15 September 1 - 12 Fifteen Day Mountaineering, $3300.00, up to 9 students: 3 instructors July 8 - 22 Denali Prep, 10 days, $3200, up to 9 students: 3 instructors June 2 - 11 Six Day Mountaineering, $2150, up to 9 students: 3 instructors
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The Photo Workshop was pretty cool.
We covered a lot in 6 days and I can't wait to see what the participants send as their top picks. We were a fun group and became quiet a team. Thanks to Tom Bol's endless enthusiasm I have a whole new appreciation for taking pictures. I can't wait till next year to do it again.
standing by, Colby
Jumat, 21 Agustus 2015
Hoeschen Custom Climb
Guides Josh Hoeschen, Chelsea Bomba along team Mike and Stacey just headed to the airport. the team is flying to the Pika Glacier for a week of climbing. They had a busy morning of gear checking and lunch packing. Chelsea and Josh made them a great lunch.
They were looking forward to rock climbing and skiing. We are sure the team will have a good time and will of lots to tell us about their adventure.
They were looking forward to rock climbing and skiing. We are sure the team will have a good time and will of lots to tell us about their adventure.
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| Enjoying lunch |
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| Mike, Guides Chelsea Bomba, Josh Hoeschen and Stacy |
Kamis, 20 Agustus 2015
Quiet Day at HQ
It is a rainy day here at AMS HQ at the end of Main Street. Our Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue students had a great time on the Matanuska Glacier this past weekend. We have one more 12 Day Mountaineering Course starting on September 1st...room for three more people!
Quote of the Week:
I left my six-day course at AMS with both memories and mountaineering skills that will last forever. Our guide, Nick D'Alessio, was excellent, the customer service was outstanding, and the program they put together for us was equally entertaining and informative for both me as a novice, and my friend, a former instructor. I would highly recommend AMS to any of my friends looking for an adventure and for learning.
Dan Brown ~ Custom 6 Day Mountaineering Course
Quote of the Week:
I left my six-day course at AMS with both memories and mountaineering skills that will last forever. Our guide, Nick D'Alessio, was excellent, the customer service was outstanding, and the program they put together for us was equally entertaining and informative for both me as a novice, and my friend, a former instructor. I would highly recommend AMS to any of my friends looking for an adventure and for learning.
Dan Brown ~ Custom 6 Day Mountaineering Course
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| Trixie is a little lonesome with not company on the couch. |
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| 54 F and raining lightly. |
Awesome Day in AK!
This is an OUTSTANDING day in the Alaska Range! "Bluebird", "Splitter", whatever you wish to call it - the sky is so incredibly blue and the mountains are striking! If it manages to stay like this, or even half-decent, then Larry, Dusty, Quinton, Mi, Rick & Marty on the 12-day Mountianeering Course will be flying out of the mountains tomorrow morning.
I'm not making any promises, but it is looking good for an on-schedule return.
Here's the link to the webcam: http://www.talkeetnaair.com/webcam
Enjoy!
~Julia
I'm not making any promises, but it is looking good for an on-schedule return.
Here's the link to the webcam: http://www.talkeetnaair.com/webcam
Enjoy!
~Julia
Selasa, 18 Agustus 2015
Photography Workshop Students Dine at AMS
Dinner for our first Denali Photography Workshop. The first two days of the workshop they got experience shooting in the rain. Now, the weather is warm and sunny and they're camping out the next two nights. Tom Bol (blue jacket) and Colby Coombs (orange jacket) are the instructors. (Butterball is in back begging for meat scraps)
Photography Workshop in Full Swing
Butterball and I had to be models for the photography class on remote lighting. Really, they just wanted Butters, but she wouldn't cooperate without me by her side.
Tom Bol instructs students in AMS' first photography workshop...we'll be offering it in 2011 as well. The students are off to the Peters Hills for a two-night outing and some tundra shooting. It is not raining, there are patches of blue sky and the fall colors are just starting. It should be fantastic!I'm hoping they send some of their results for me to post on this page, stay tuned,
Blogger Laura
Senin, 17 Agustus 2015
Good times!
Larry checked in with a report from the 12-day Mountaineering Course that has been enjoying the Eldridge Glacier as their home the last week. Hello to all, from Quinton, Mi, Rick & Marty, and of course from Larry & Dusty!
Today they hiked/climbed and did some rock climbing up to Exit Pass and got some great views, looking over to the Buckskin Glacier and beyond. They have moved camp once and plan to move again in a day or two. They've had lots of snow and rain. Today they it cleared off and they enjoyed the sun!
The weather forecast is non-committal, we'll see what happens when it is time for them to fly out. Tonight they'll enjoy some cold temps and stars!
Cheers,
~Julia
Today they hiked/climbed and did some rock climbing up to Exit Pass and got some great views, looking over to the Buckskin Glacier and beyond. They have moved camp once and plan to move again in a day or two. They've had lots of snow and rain. Today they it cleared off and they enjoyed the sun!
The weather forecast is non-committal, we'll see what happens when it is time for them to fly out. Tonight they'll enjoy some cold temps and stars!
Cheers,
~Julia
Minggu, 16 Agustus 2015
McAlpine MTC 12 Returns!
The Mountaineering Course returned to Talkeetan after a 1 day delay. The team is in great spirits. Instructors Travis McAlpine, Jake Kayes and Karina Amortegui taught the students new skills and they had time to practice. They moved camp 4 times, ice and rock climbed, did crevasse rescue.
They were very efficient team on their return. They quickly unloaded the van, separated gear and enjoyed their welcome back snack!
Please enjoy a few photos from their trip:
They were very efficient team on their return. They quickly unloaded the van, separated gear and enjoyed their welcome back snack!
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| Taking a short break |
Please enjoy a few photos from their trip:
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| AMS McAlpine teaching skills on the Ruth glacier |
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| AMS crevasse rescue skills session |
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| AMS climber Chantelle building an anchor |
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| AMS Glacier skill overview |
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| AMS camp II in the Ruth |
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| AMS participant Sachin ice climbing |
We're Still Going....
Here at AMS headquarters, we're enjoying proper cups of tea, courtesy of 2010 Denali expedition team member and Londoner Geoff Loughborough.Meanwhile:
Joey McBrayer's 12 Day Mountaineering Course made it onto the Pika Glacier Friday. Although it is raining here now they had good weather over the weekend. On Thursday, day 3 of waiting, they drove down to the Matanuska Glacier and did some climbing there. They got back at 11:00 PM and had a 7:00 AM wake up call for an 8:30 AM flight.
Tom Bol and Colby Coombs have the enthusiastic Denali Photography workshop students here. They are spending a couple days in Talkeetna photographing this "quaint little drinking village with a climbing problem." I hope to post some of their photos in the next couple of days. I know a few of them saw a black bear down at the river...
Blogger Laura
Guides Getting Ready
We are running a Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Workshop this weekend on the Matanuska Glacier. Instructor, Nick D'Alessio and Intern, Bace Poplawski will be introducing six students to the world of ice for the next two days.
We have one more 12-Day Mountaineering Course beginning September 1st. There is room for three more people on the course.
Next week we will be releasing the 2014 schedule...look for the e-newsletter!
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| Intern Bace gets the medical kit together. |
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| Nick does a sewing repair to his pack...not only is he handsome, he's handy too! |
Next week we will be releasing the 2014 schedule...look for the e-newsletter!
Sabtu, 15 Agustus 2015
Wilderness Hike 8/9, Lisa Jaeger
The Wilderness Hike team returned today. They were happy to be back. They had a great time and saw lots of caribou, dall sheep and a bear. They are busy cleaning up their gear from the trip. We're sure that will have lots of stories to share.
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| Enjoying a meal in camp |
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| Adam, Orlando, Guide Lisa Jaeger, Victoria & Pawel |
Jumat, 14 Agustus 2015
Hoeschen 12 Day Mountaineering Course Returns
Instructors Josh Hoeschen, Travis McAlpine, Jake Kayes and students returned from the Pika today. The group is all smiles as they talk about their great learning experience. They are currently outside sorting and cleaning gear, hanging tents and enjoying fresh fruit and orange juice.
