Stories: Press

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.

Episode 48: Duffel Shuffle 2025 Wrap and 2026 Preview
Episode 48: Duffel Shuffle 2025 Wrap and 2026 Preview
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Mt. Everest – The Tallest Mountain on the Planet
Sam and Adrian wrap up the Seven Summits Series with none other than Mt. Everest. At 29,032′ above sea level, Mt Everest is much taller than any of the other seven summits, and its history, notoriety and reputation speaks for itself.
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Carstensz Pyramid: The Rock Climber’s Peak
The sixth in our series on the Seven Summits, Carstensz Pyramid, is the tallest peak within Oceania. While some Seven Summits lists include Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, most modern lists acknowledge Carstensz Pyramid due to its higher altitude and increased technical challenge. Locally known as Puncak Jaya, the peak sits at 4,884m or 16,024 feet above sea level, on the island of New Guinea.
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Episode 44: Kilimanjaro – The Roof of Africa
Our next episode in the Seven Summits series takes us to Africa, and we’re talking about Mount Kilimanjaro. What is arguably the most culturally enriching experience of all of the Seven Summits, Kili is the most accessible of the tallest peaks on each continent.
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Episode 43: Mt. Elbrus – Vodka and Altitude
Episode 3 of the Seven Summits Series takes us to the tallest point in Europe, Mount Elbrus. With first ascents on each of the two summits both occurring in the 1800’s, Elbrus’ history is both lengthy and, at times, entertaining.
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Episode 42: Denali – The High One
Our second episode in the Seven Summits Series centers on Denali. An Athabaskan word meaning “the high one,” Denali is the tallest peak in North America, sitting at 20,310′. Measured from its base to its summit, Denali has a larger vertical rise than Everest, making it the tallest land-based mountain on Earth by that measurement.
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An Evening with Adrian Ballinger at Movement San Francisco
Join us at Movement San Francisco for an exciting evening of stories from Everest with Adrian Ballinger, founder of Alpenglow Expeditions.
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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.
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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%.
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