About Us

Makalu Expedition Climbing Makalu Peak Makalu Summit Ascent Skiing Makalu Peak Makalu Ski Expedition Guided Makalu Climb Makalu Climbing Challenges Makalu Technical Climbing Ski Mountaineering Makalu Expert Guides for Makalu Alpine Climbing Makalu Makalu Climbing Gear Makalu Expedition Cost Makalu Altitude Makalu Climbing Itinerary Makalu Base Camp Climbing and Skiing Makalu Makalu Summit Experience Makalu Climbing Routes Makalu Alpine Techniques

international guides, tahoe guides, tahoe guide service, international expedition services, international expeditions, everest expedition, guide service, best guide service, top himalayan guide service, adrian ballinger, tahoe via ferrata

Alpenglow Expeditions is a Tahoe-based guide service with an International reputation.

We are an international guide service, a leading provider of mountain education, and a global community of adventure seekers.

We know first-hand that the mountains instill a feeling you can’t get anywhere else. Your pulse quickens, time slows, and life expands. When you reach new heights in the mountains, you reach new heights at home. We can never guarantee a summit, but we can guarantee that you’ll leave us changed for the better.

Alpenglow isn’t just a guide service. We are meticulous planners and masters of logistics. From our carefully curated expedition teams to our intricately designed trip itineraries, we take pride in tweaking every last detail to give our clients the best experience and mountain education possible. Whether you’re seeking an Everest summit or just a fun day out with the family, you can trust us to take care of everything. That’s our promise—and that’s the Alpenglow difference.

AMGA Accreditation

In addition to our fantastic staff, we are proud to be an AMGA accredited business. Accreditation provides a consistent standard for judging the reliability and professionalism of a guide service by ensuring it:

Conforms to industry standards
Guarantees rigorous and uniform guide training
Is compliant with state and federal law
Promotes ethical business practices

While it may seem like a given that a guide has had professional training before they take guests into the field, or that a guide company has some sort of professional oversight, it’s not. Many guide services have few guides that are trained by an outside entity, and even fewer that have passed a certification exam. As an AMGA accredited business, we have voluntarily demonstrated that we have industry-leading technical standards, strong programs and a quality staff of engaged instructors and guides. This high standard has a direct impact on your safety, comfort and enjoyment.

Certified Guides

All of our international expeditions are led by AMGA and/or IFMGA certified guides. While this certification has long been essential for guides working in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, Alpenglow is the first major guide service in the USA to require this certification from our lead guides. To earn AMGA certification in one or more disciplines, guides must spend years training and studying, after which they must pass a rigorous examination process. Guides that have passed exams in all three disciplines: rock, alpine, and ski mountaineering obtain the title of American Mountain Guide and IFMGA mountain guide. This achievement is the highest level of credential attainable by a mountain guide and takes many years of full-time guiding and climbing to attain. There are currently only approximately 170 IFMGA certified guides in the USA and they represent the pinnacle of American mountain guiding. We also have lead guides from Ecuador, and they too have passed rigorous exams to earn the title of IFMGA mountain guide. To learn more about the AMGA or IFMGA, click on their logos at the bottom of the page.

Our History

Alpenglow Expeditions was founded in 2004 by IFMGA-certified guide Adrian Ballinger. Today, we lead expeditions in some of the world’s greatest mountain ranges—from California’s High Sierra to the rugged Himalaya. Our offerings span all disciplines, including mountaineering, skiing, and rock climbing. We run more than 40 international expeditions per year, as well as offer a full menu of guided ski and climbing courses in the Lake Tahoe area.

With Alpenglow, you can expect to receive the highest standard of education for mountain travel. We were the first major guide service in the U.S. to require all our lead guides to be AMGA- or IFMGA-certified, and one of the few American guide services accredited by the AMGA. It’s all part of our mission to provide you with the greatest quality of instruction, safety, and comfort possible—whether you’re top-roping in Tahoe or acclimatizing at Everest Base Camp.

Our Approach

The alpenglow experience is different.

At Alpenglow, we view our guests not just as clients but as climbing partners. We’re committed to keeping team sizes small and providing the highest quality instruction to help you build the confidence and mountain sense to achieve your mountain goals. Throughout, we’re committed to doing what’s right—for our guides and staff, for local mountain communities, and for our planet.

Our Approach

Our Team

Meet the Alpenglow Team

Meet the office staff who work behind the scenes to make your mountain dreams come true.

Alpenglow Expeditions Leadership

Office Staff

Our Guides

Our Mountain Guides

Learn more about our certified and professional mountain guides.

Our Guides

Founder
Chief Guide
Expedition Leader

Partners

Alpenglow is fortunate to work with a multitude of great organizations that allow us to achieve our mission. From guide training and certification organizations to high quality equipment manufacturers, they provide us with products and services that help us travel through the mountains as safely and comfortably as possible, and for that, we say thanks!