Stories: International
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.
American Becomes First to Ski Down Everest’s Most Challenging Route
On October 15, 2025, Jim Morrison made history by becoming the first to ski down Mt. Everest’s hardest line.
Read the story
Episode 41: Aconcagua, The Roof of the Americas
The Duffel Shuffle podcast is kicking off a 7-Episode series, covering all things seven summits. Adrian and Sam start with Aconcagua, the tallest mountain outside of the Himalaya, and the tallest peak in South America. Aconcagua, which was first climbed in 1897, sees approximately, 3,000-4,000 attempts annually, with a success rate of roughly 30-40%.
Read the story
The Key to Successful First Descents with Christina Lustenberger and Guillaume Pierrel
Together, Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger and Guillaume “Gee” Pierrel have teamed up for some of the most notable and impressive first descents in recent years. Lusti and Gee join Sam and Adrian to talk about the partnership they’ve developed and the keys to their success in the mountains.
Read the story
What Movement Really Looks Like at Altitude
On mountains like Aconcagua, Denali, or the big Himalayan peaks, guides often talk about “mountain pace.” It’s not the kind of rhythm you’d use on a morning run or even a long hike at lower elevation. It’s a rhythm that looks slow to the outside eye, sometimes comically so — one deliberate step, a pause, a breath, then another step.
Read the story
When Everything Feels Crazy, Go Climb a Volcano
It feels like the volume of life keeps turning up. News headlines, work demands, social media, and the constant ping of notifications all compete for attention. The result? A mind that feels full but rarely fulfilled.
Read the story
Skiing the World: A Look at Our International Ski Expeditions
At Alpenglow, we’ve built our international ski trips around more than just skiing. Each destination offers its own rhythm — from bottomless powder to high-alpine volcanoes, from European valleys to the sharp spires of Patagonia. Here’s how they stack up.
Read the story
Climbing Everest with Us: What Sets Our Expeditions Apart
Our Everest approach is built on decades of experience guiding in the Himalaya and on a commitment to making every step safer, healthier, and more rewarding. Here’s how we do it differently.
Read the story
Why It Matters to Have an IFMGA-Certified Guide on Aconcagua
Climbing Aconcagua—at 6,962 meters (22,841 feet)—isn’t just about physical strength. It’s about making the right calls in a high-consequence environment where weather, terrain, and altitude can change the game in a matter of hours. The guide you choose directly impacts your safety, your efficiency, and your experience.
That’s where an IFMGA-certified guide makes all the difference.
Read the story
Everest North Side 2025: A Season of Patience, Precision, and Perfect Timing
This spring, our Alpenglow Expeditions team returned to the North Side of Mount Everest with a small crew and a big plan. After months of preparation, pre-acclimatization, and weather watching, our Everest expedition 2025 culminated in an incredibly rare summit day—blue skies, no wind, and a quiet mountain.
Read the story
Climb Cho Oyu Before Climbing Everest
When it comes to climbing Everest, experience matters. Not just general mountain experience, but specific, targeted exposure to what it actually feels like to live and perform above 7,000 meters. That’s why Adrian Ballinger—founder of Alpenglow Expeditions and veteran of 14 Everest seasons—encourages nearly every aspiring Everest climber to summit an 8,000-meter peak first.
Read the story