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!

Our first Denali team is on the glacier!

Our first team of the season flew into the Kahiltna Glacier this morning. Six climbers and four Mountain Trip guides are headed up as some of the very first climbers of the 2010 climbing season. This expedition is a benefit climb, with all net proceeds going to support a program and school in southwest Colorado that helps special needs kids in the area.

Best of luck to all the climbers! You can follow their progress on their dispatch blog at: http://april182010denali.blogspot.com/

Mountain Trip's 2010 Everest Expedition

The team has gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal for Mountain Trip's 2010 Everest Expedition. This is the 3rd year that Mountain Trip has been leading expeditions to this giant of a mountain. This year Scott Woolums has joined the Mountain Trip program as our Expedition Leader, and director of our Himalayan Programs. We are excited to have Scott's depth of knowledge and years of experience.

You can follow this expedition dispatches at www.MTEverest2010.blogspot.com

A Very Successful Event!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our February 18th slide show in Durango, CO. By all accounts it was a success!

Dave Nettle entertained us all with amazing images and fascinating tales of his trip to climb the Eternal Flame route on Trango (Nameless) tower in the Baltoro region of Pakistan. He did a great job of showing how an expedition is about much more than just standing on the summit of a peak. while they did make the top of Trango tower, it seemed as if the time spent traveling up and down the Karakorum Highway and making friends in iconic places like Skardu and Islamabad.

We raised a good amount of money for the Skills for Living And Learning program in Bayfield, CO, but the highlight for me was when two fathers approached us about their young sons having "something going on." We listened, shared stories and then put them in touch with the director of the program, Susan Livingston, an Occupational Therapist who has made helping kids with Sensory Processing Disorder her life's work. It's not often that you can literally help change someone's life, and it give me shivers just thinking about it.

Special thanks to:

Pine Needle Mountaineering in Durango, CO for providing the venue. They carry a great selection of clothing and equipment for big mountain endeavors. You can find out more at: http://www.pineneedle.com

Osprey Packs for generously donating two very nice backpacks which we had a drawing for. We use their packs on Denali, so please check them out at: http://www.ospreypacks.com/

Carver Restaurant and Brewing Company for providing refreshments. If you're looking for good food and tasty brews in Durango, look no further: http://www.carverbrewing.com/

Dave Nettle and his sweetie Danika Gilbert (an accomplished guide and climber in her own right!) for all their help and support.

Cheers,

Todd

Check out our new Everest e-Magazine

This is a "beta version," but we're pretty excited about it. Please let us know if you think this works:

Denali Benefit Climb!

Every now and then you have the opportunity to do good work.

We are thrilled to announce that we are donating all proceeds from our April 18th, 2010 Denali climb to a small, non-profit school for kids with special needs.

The Piedra Learning Community is very special to us at Mountain Trip, as MT co-owner, Todd Rutledge's son attends their program, which provides an alternative education for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder and on the Autism Spectrum.

This expedition could be the first team to summit Denali during the 2010 season as we are currently the first team registered to attempt the highest peak in North America. We are offering special pricing for this opportunity, in the hopes that we can fill the team and raise enough money to help the Piedra Learning Community with a down payment on a new facility.

This team will head up glacier before the Park Service, and will experience a West Buttress climb in as close to a wilderness setting as you can get (outside of a winter ascent- brrr!!!). Late April conditions are a bit cooler than early May, but we have seen the same success rates on our past April ascents as during the rest of the season.

If you or someone you know is looking for an adventure with the added bonus of helping do something special for some really deserving kids, please contact us. Spaces are limited.

Please click HERE for more information on this climb, the school and on Sensory Processing Disorder, a challenge faced by perhaps 1 in 20 kids in the US today.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We had a great year at Mountain Trip and are enjoying Christmas at home! More trips head out soon, but all of our trips are home for the holidays this year.

Wishing you and your family a great Holiday Season and Happy New Year from our family at Mountain Trip!