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Join our Growing Team

Alpenglow Expeditions is expanding our office team for the 2023 summer season. We are looking for a hardworking and passionate team member to join us who loves outdoor adventure in Lake Tahoe. As the newest member of our home team you’ll be joining the only accredited Mountain Guide Service in Lake Tahoe and will be surrounded by like-minded people who want to share their passion with others. At the core of who we are is a mission to create unparalleled adventures that will have positive ripple effects in our clients’ lives. Whether we’re chatting about our…

Are you eager to dive headfirst into the world of high-altitude mountaineering, but don’t know where to start? If you’re researching what tools and skills you’ll need to become a self-sufficient climber, look no further than Ecuador and Peru. These countries provide accessible peaks, engaging terrain, and rich mountain cultures to take the local climber with limited experience to the next level of becoming a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary climber equipped with the skills to take on the peaks of your dreams.

Read below to learn more about Climbing Schools in Ecuador and Peru, where you can go from…

Here in Lake Tahoe, we’re incredibly fortunate to enjoy 6+ months out of the year skiing world-class terrain. Our maritime snowpack and regular winter storm cycles produce stable snow that heals quickly, with a wealth of accessible backcountry powder stashes. While it’s easy to see how Tahoe is one of the premiere ski locations in the world with a lifetime’s worth of terrain here in Northern California, it is also the perfect training ground to build the skills needed to join a ski expedition in the big mountains around the world.

Getting ready for an international ski expedition requires…

Are you looking to add skills to your mountain quiver and train for bigger goals? Look no further than Alpenglow Expeditions’ wide array of trips to climb Mt. Shasta. 

Mt. Shasta is considered a potentially-active volcano sitting at 14,179’ above sea level, making it the fifth-tallest point in California. Boasting just shy of 10,000’ of prominence, it is a serious but manageable climb given the right skillset and motivation. At Alpenglow Expeditions, our guides have countless ascents of this beautiful mountain and are intimately familiar with its many routes to the summit. 

Whether you’re…

Last year during Alpenglow’s annual International Guides Meeting, we asked the guides what their favorite expedition of the year was. Topo’s answer? Gasherbrum II. We asked him to share a few reasons why he was excited to return to Pakistan this year to climb Gasherbrum II and Gasherbrum I. 

“I think there are many positive things that have come with the popularization of high altitude climbing; getting to help facilitate powerful mountain experiences is one of my favorite parts of guiding. But, with climbing’s rise in popularity has undeniably come…

At Alpenglow Expeditions, we firmly believe that the continued expansion of the outdoor community will inevitably lead to positive social, economic, and environmental change. In an ongoing effort to contribute to inclusive and accessible backcountry ski opportunities in Lake Tahoe, Alpenglow Expeditions is excited to announce that we will be hosting a heavily discounted Locals’ Days in the Palisades Tahoe backcountry on March 8th, 2023. This is a chance for Lake Tahoe locals to ski and ride with professional Alpenglow Expeditions backcountry ski guides in some of the area’s most coveted terrain: Tram…

On January 23rd, 2023, Alpenglow Guide Roberto ‘Tico’ Morales summited Aconcagua (22,837′/6,961m) with clients Nate and Ryan. Despite challenging conditions thus far in the season, Tico and the team were able to acclimatize properly and wait for the perfect weather window. When their opportunity presented itself, they rose to the challenge and reached the summit of South America’s tallest peak.

Thanks to Tico, we’ve got a detailed day-to-day recap of our most recent success on Aconcagua.

The clients landed in Mendoza and were picked up…

After heavy snows followed by scouring East winds, check out our state of the snowpack from Alpenglow Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger.

Right now, the snowpack is ranging from 1 to 3.5 meters deep. About 100 cm down, we have a substantial rain crust from recent storm cycles. On North-facing slopes, the skiing is still very good. Recently, we had gale force upslope winds coming from the N, NE, and E facing slopes. The avalanche danger has moved away from these general areas, however, and the wind slabs are variable and wide-ranging.

With cold nights, clear skies, and low winds,…

The 2023 climbing season on Aconcagua has been nothing short of challenging. High winds, heavy snows, and bitter cold have hindered many summit attempts on the mountain throughout the season, a reminder that it is ultimately the mountain that decides whether or not we reach the top. Nonetheless, Alpenglow owner and founder Adrian Ballinger has often reflected on his most challenging expeditions, and even his failures, as his most enriching experiences in the mountains. While a journey into the mountains offers no guarantee of success, it remains an opportunity for growth and mindful reflection. This was the case for…

Alpenglow Expeditions Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger answer the question: What’s In My Ski Pack?

With so much outdoor gear on the scene, it can be hard to know what you need to carry for a day of ski touring and what you don’t. While learning through trial and error can be beneficial in finding out what works, below are the basics of what I carry for a day of skiing as a ski guide, as well as a few things I might bring for a multi-day outing. I like to think about what I carry into the backcountry as…

Alpenglow Expeditions Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger shares what he carries in his backcountry repair kit. 

A repair kit is an often overlooked piece of equipment that we should always carry on backcountry skiing and riding adventures. Imagine you are several miles out into the backcountry and your splitboard binding rattles a screw loose, or a toe piece rips off on your tech binding. A simple and specific ski touring repair kit can help you get back to the car before nightfall and, if you’re lucky, continue having fun on the way.

The Basics

Multi-Tool
Having a multi-tool with a…

Is your teen interested in getting into the backcountry? As a parent, it can be worrisome to think about sending your child out beyond the boundaries of the resort. As many of us are parents ourselves, at Alpenglow Expeditions we understand completely. Therefore, we strive to create winter learning environments that not only equip our clients with the knowledge and skills necessary to be safe and efficient in the backcountry, but do so in a way that they can reflect on these learning experiences positively and are thus encouraged to continue to grow their skillset. 

Our…