Annual Pre-Season Guide Training

The 2010 Alaska season is well underway...and it's only the beginning of May?? Of the climbers currently on Denali, the Mountain Trip family makes up the majority by a long shot. We have groups all over the lower mountain biding their time so they will be prepared for the upper mountain when the time comes.

The previous two days have been busy around the MT house in Anchorage. We just finished our annual pre-season 2 day guide training. The group reviewed topics such as professionalism in mountain guiding, menu planning and design, risk management, rescue systems, systems for assisting struggling climbers, general physics in ropework, snow anchors, and of course a review of our medical protocols. We were fortunate to have Dr.'s Paul Anderson and Joe McLaughlin present on some current research in the areas of high altitude physiology and disease transmission in the expedition setting. It was an action packed two days topped off with an amazing BBQ.

The May 2nd team will gather on Sun and begin their journey here in Anchorage. Then off to Talkeetna on Monday morning. The Mountain Trip family is most excited as this looks to be one of our biggest seasons ever. Remember to check out the great blog posts and pod casts from each individual expedition as they make their way up the mountain. Until next time...happy trails!