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Stories: Everest

Our Stories

Mountain adventures create the best stories, and we want to share some of ours with you. Dive into Alpenglow Stories to stay up to date on expeditions in the field, read blogs, and get tips and tricks from guides.

Tents at Camp 1 on Everest's North Side during an expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.

Everest North Side: A Climbers’ Guide

After four years of COVID closures, the north side of Everest is finally open this season to foreign expeditions. Among the limited number of teams granted a climbing permit is Alpenglow Expeditions, led by American climber and skier Adrian Ballinger, who couldn’t be happier to be back on what he considers the safest side of Everest by far.
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China reopens Mount Everest access to foreigners

China reopens Mount Everest access to foreigners

For the first time since the pandemic, China is allowing foreign climbers to access Mount Everest via Tibet. Adrian Ballinger, who has summited Everest eight times, is one of the Western guides who prefers the Tibet route to the top of the world’s tallest mountain (from the north), as opposed to the more well-known Nepal route (from the south). This year, he will lead a group of climbers through his company, Alpenglow Expeditions.
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How to Climb Mt. Everest Sustainably and Ethically

KQED talks to Adrian Ballinger about what draws hundreds of climbers to attempt to summit Mt. Everest every year, how to climb ethically and sustainably as ever more visitors descend on the mountain and what it feels like to be on top of the tallest peak in the world.
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The North Side of Mount Everest

A Guide’s Perspective: Roberto ‘Tico’ Morales Looks Ahead to Everest’s North Col

For Tico, this opportunity is more than just another expedition; it’s a rendezvous with the world’s highest peak. Mincing no words, he muses: “Everest is Everest.” It hardly needs further explanation. Despite not aiming for the summit, he recognizes the significance of the North Col.
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Five Expeditions Before Climbing Everest with Topo Mena

Now that Everest season is in full swing, this week we connected with IFMGA-certified Alpenglow guide Esteban ‘Topo’ Mena to talk about five expeditions that are perfect for building the experience necessary to climb the tallest mountain in the world.
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Adrian Ballinger climbing up Makalu during his ski descent of Makalu

Why Hire an IFMGA-Certified Guide for Climbing 8000-Meter Peaks?

In high altitude environments, having a skilled and experienced guide is not just beneficial: it’s crucial for ensuring safety and success. This is where the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) certification comes into play, providing assurance and expertise to stack every card in your favor while climbing at 8,000 meters.
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Everest 2024: The Exciting Return to the North Side!

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What Sets Alpenglow’s Everest Program Apart?

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Leadership Sets Us Apart On Everest

Our Mount Everest expedition leader, Adrian Ballinger, has 8 summits of Everest, and has been guiding on the mountain for over a decade.
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Have you failed on the South Side of Mount Everest?

There are many small factors that can lead to a successful or failed attempt on Everest. The south side of Everest, however, has many more factors that lend themselves to failure than the North Side.
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