Amy Olson's Posts

“If I were not already flying to Anchorage to guide… I would be buying…

Written by Robert Kyte

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alpenglow has been forced to cease operations on the North Side of Everest due to China’s strict zero-covid border policy. Alpenglow is one of a small number of companies operating exclusively on Everest’s North Side. This means we have not climbed the world’s tallest mountain since our last North Side expedition in 2019. We miss it! And while we remain unable to say with certainty whether or not we will return to Tibet next year, we are receiving a number of positive indicators from our partners that the…

Written by Robert Kyte

Through November 1st, 2022, Alpenglow is excited to offer 15% off all AIARE courses with the code Spooky22. We recognize the potential for adventure to be had beyond the boundaries of Lake Tahoe’s many ski resorts, and we are here to ensure that skiers and splitboarders are getting the avalanche education they need to stay safe in the backcountry. This promotion is valid for all our AIARE programs in North and South Lake Tahoe. See below for a list of our available AIARE courses and determine which one is right…

Written by Robert Kyte

On October 7th, in celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Tahoe Via Ferrata, Alpenglow hosted a Locals’ Day on the Via, offering free climbing excursions all the way to Tower 1 atop Tram Face here in Palisades Tahoe. With over 100 climbers ascending the route, we were thrilled at this opportunity to give back to our local community and allow everyone to experience the joy of the Tahoe Via. 

Seven years ago, we had a question: how can we provide accessible climbing experiences to the local community, as well as…

Written by Mike Pond

This summer, an Alpenglow team of four led by guides Gaspar Navarrete, Mike Pond, and Isaac Laredo climbed Pequeño Alpamayo, Huayna Potosi and Illimani in Bolivia. These are Mike Pond’s 7 reasons you should climb in Bolivia.

Bolivia is a terrific intermediate expedition. A good first expedition would be something like
Ecuador Climbing School, where you stay in hotels instead of tents, and the climbing

stints in the mountains are brief. And an advanced expedition would be something in the Himalaya,

Written by Robert Kyte

Upon approaching the Alpenglow Expeditions office in the Village at Palisades Tahoe, visitors will see emblazoned on the window the logo of the American Mountain Guides Association, or the AMGA, signifying Alpenglow’s status as an AMGA-accredited business.

We are proud to be the only AMGA-accredited business in Northern California and the unique experiences we can offer as a result. Since 1986, the AMGA Accreditation Program has endorsed guide services, climbing programs, and/or school or university programs that offer climbing instruction and guided climbing or skiing services that adhere to…

Written by Robert Kyte

In just five seasons, the Tahoe Via Ferrata has become a staple on the list of must-do summer activities in the Lake Tahoe area. We’re proud to share that we’ve had another momentous season of climbing on the beloved Tram Face here at Palisades Tahoe! (And it’s not over yet — the Via season will extend into the fall). Nonetheless, we’re here to revel in the stoke and share some of our favorite moments from the Summer ‘22 season on the Tahoe Via Ferrata:

This year, we had the pleasure…

Written by Robert Kyte

We are so excited to announce our return to the famed 360° Route for the 2022 climbing season!

There exists a multitude of reasons why Aconcagua should sit high on any mountaineer’s to-do list. At 6962 meters (22,837 ft.), Aconcagua is the tallest summit in South America and thus one of the storied Seven Summits, making it the perfect jumping-off point for anyone with Himalayan aspirations. Additionally, the 360° Route offers non-technical climbing all the way to the summit: consisting almost entirely of dirt and the occasional seasonal snowfield,…

Written by Mike Pond, Alpenglow Guide 

Every now and then, everything lines up. For all the trips where you get bad weather, illness strikes, you encounter difficult mountain conditions, or face any number of other challenges — sometimes it all lines up and the trip goes without much of a hitch. Denali 2022 was one of those times.

Typical Denali trips (including my previous six) run about 20 days, though only about 14 are assigned a task. The remaining days are allotted to waiting out brutal weather and resting from the altitude and workload. On this trip, we were…

Written by Tiffany Pearson

At Alpenglow Expeditions, we firmly believe that the outdoors are for everybody. As such, we are proud to offer our very own Via Ferrata as a way for those of virtually any skill level to get outside and be part of a unique, engaging, and unforgettable adventure. 

Over the span of written history, it is evident that humankind’s fascination with high mountain ranges is universal and has only strengthened with time. The last three centuries, however, have seen exponential growth in terms of the safety equipment and technology that allows us…