What is the best time for my course or expedition?
AMS operates year round, but winter ascents in the Alaska Range are not everyone’s cup of tea. Our courses typically run from mid-March to mid-September. Expeditions run during the same time frame, but timing depends on the mountain and route. Denali and Foraker are thousands of feet higher than any other peak in the range and starting in April or earlier makes it too cold for most climbers. That said, global warming has shrunken the spring season and we are launching expeditions earlier each year. Plane access is another concern that dictates when to go. Courses have many options and can choose locations with higher landing zones with firmer snow conditions. Some routes, such as Denali’s West Buttress have only one landing option. We schedule our last Denali expedition to return to the landing strip by mid-July over concern that the pilots may tell us we have to walk out. Ice oriented routes like Ham and Eggs on Mt. Hunter are best in April; rock oriented routes in Little Switzerland
AMS operates year round, but winter ascents in the Alaska Range are not everyone’s cup of tea. Our courses typically run from mid-March to mid-September. Expeditions run during the same time frame, but timing depends on the mountain and route. Denali and Foraker are thousands of feet higher than any other peak in the range and starting in April or earlier makes it too cold for most climbers. That said, global warming has shrunken the spring season and we are launching expeditions earlier each year. Plane access is another concern that dictates when to go. Courses have many options and can choose locations with higher landing zones with firmer snow conditions. Some routes, such as Denali’s West Buttress have only one landing option. We schedule our last Denali expedition to return to the landing strip by mid-July over concern that the pilots may tell us we have to walk out. Ice oriented routes like Ham and Eggs on Mt. Hunter are best in April; rock oriented routes in Little Switzerland
