Is previous mountaineering experience required?

No prior experience is necessary; this course is designed for beginners looking to learn mountaineering skills.

What is included in the course?

The course includes expert instruction, all teaching materials, safety equipment, and guided instruction on glacier travel and route planning.

What should I bring for the trip?

Participants should bring layered clothing, waterproof gear, sturdy hiking boots, personal items, and any personal safety equipment recommended by guides.

Meals are typically not included; participants should plan to bring snacks and choose accommodation options accordingly.

How physically demanding is the course?

It requires moderate physical effort, including lengthy hikes and technical skill practice, but is designed to accommodate beginners with guidance.

What safety measures are in place?

Guides prioritize safety with thorough training, proper equipment, and ongoing risk management tailored to current conditions.

Intro to Alaska Mountaineering Course | Hiking in McCarthy, Alaska

Discover the thrill of mountaineering with the Intro to Alaska Mountaineering Course in McCarthy, Alaska. This beginner-friendly adventure offers a unique chance to learn essential mountaineering skills amidst stunning wilderness. Guided by the expert team at St. Elias Alpine Guides, participants will gain hands-on experience with rope techniques, glacier travel, and route planning, all while immersed in breathtaking scenery. The course is designed for those eager to expand their outdoor skills and gain confidence in mountain environments, whether you're a first-timer or looking to build on existing experience. Throughout the trip, you'll encounter stunning alpine vistas, towering glaciers, and diverse wildlife, making each moment unforgettable. The program emphasizes safety, environmental awareness, and practical skills, ensuring you leave not only more confident but also better prepared for future adventures. Come ready to learn, explore, and push your limits in one of Alaska's most rugged and awe-inspiring landscapes.

About St. Elias Alpine Guides

St. Elias Alpine Guides is a guiding company based in McCarthy, Alaska, offering guided adventures throughout Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and surrounding wilderness. The company leads a range of trips including packrafting, multi-day rafting, glacier hiking, ice climbing, fly-in hiking, and private basecamp expeditions. Popular itineraries include Doubtful–Nizina Packrafting, Tebay Lakes Basecamp Packrafting, Chitina River trips, Western Copper River rafting, Raft and Flightsee, Full-Day Glacier Hike on Root Glacier, Skolai Pass fly-in hiking, Bremner Mine basecamp hiking, and multi-day Ice Climbing and Ice Climbing Camp programs.

Trips are available as scheduled group departures or fully private, customizable experiences with options for day trips and multi-day expeditions. Many itineraries accommodate families and groups; for example, Chitina River trips welcome guests ages eight and up and Western Copper River trips can include children as young as three. Several trips conclude with scenic bush plane flights or operate from remote fly-in access points.

St. Elias Alpine Guides emphasizes small-group guiding, route planning, and trip customization to match client skill levels and objectives. Guides provide logistics, gear guidance, and route choices appropriate to each itinerary. Booking information lists fixed departures for some trips and private-date options for others, with clear descriptions of duration and difficulty. The company’s offerings focus on authentic wilderness experiences in McCarthy, Root Glacier, Tebay Lakes, the Copper River corridor, and surrounding Alaskan river systems.

Clients can select multi-day basecamps, day hikes, guided ice-climbing instruction, or combined raft-and-flightsee itineraries to tailor pace, challenges, and family needs. Booking details and gear lists.