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Stories: U.S.

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.

Aerial view of Mt. Shasta, taken by Alpenglow Expeditions owner and Founder Adrian Ballinger

Big Mountain Dreams? Start on Shasta!

Alpenglow Expeditions’ owner and founder, Adrian Ballinger, recently went on a flight around Northern California on a scoping mission. He was met with sweeping panoramic (and snowy!) views of one of the more impressive volcanoes in the Cascade Range: Mt. Shasta. With over 7,000 feet of vertical relief from trailhead to summit, this peak is a phenomenal location for climbers of all experience levels. Whether this is your first glaciated peak or a party lap you take with your friends on skis every year, the mountain’s beauty–and challenge–is undeniable.
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Breaking Trail: Interviewing Alpenglow Expeditions’ Outdoor Representation Scholarship Recipients

In 2024, Alpenglow Expeditions proudly awarded the Outdoor Representation Scholarship to two recipients, Gabriel and Jennah. Both took AIARE 1 Avalanche Courses and share their thoughts on the scholarship, backcountry skiing, and accessibility and representation in the outdoors in an interview below:
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A climber practices self arrest on a slope during an intro to mountaineering course in Tahoe.

Spring Mountaineering Courses in Tahoe

Alpenglow Expeditions offers two essential courses for aspiring mountaineers that complement each other perfectly: the Intro to Mountaineering course and the Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue course. These courses, both located in the stunning surroundings of Lake Tahoe, provide vital skills and knowledge for anyone looking to take on more challenging high-altitude expeditions.
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Ski guide Isaac Laredo stands in front of a tent on Mount Shasta

The Shasta Effect with Isaac Laredo

This week I connected with Alpenglow guide Isaac Laredo to talk about Mt. Shasta. With experience guiding in Northern California, the Eastern Sierra, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Japan, Mt. Shasta represents the place where his guiding career began in earnest.
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Skier wearing orange skis through the powder in the Palisades Tahoe backcountry.

Winter Local’s Day

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 backcountry Local’s Day on March 6th. Apply now!
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aiare course in lake tahoe taught by professional mountain guides

How To Start Backcountry Touring In Lake Tahoe

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A closeup of a climbing guide from Alpenglow Expeditions holding an orange colored rope in their hands as they explain glacier travel to a nearby student in Lake Tahoe

How Our Guides Take Advantage Of The Underwhelming Snowpack

While Tahoe’s snowpack may be underwhelming, these are the perfect conditions for technical skills courses like Ice Climbing, Intro to Mountaineering, Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue, and Backcountry 3.0: Intro to Ski Mountaineering!
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Come ski with our professional ski guides on this epic 4-day, 3-night backcountry winter hut trip based at Frog Lake in Lake Tahoe.

Winter Front Desk Position Available

Join our team of outdoor enthusiasts, powder hounds, dawn patrollers, and backcountry fanatics!
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Labor Day Winter Sale

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A guide for Alpenglow expeditions leans on his ice ax over the edge of a crevasse on Mt. Shasta.

Mt. Shasta: The Perfect Stepping Stone to an International Expedition

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