Help Support Small Business
To my Alpenglow Expeditions family near and far,
As I sit here during this crisis, doing my tiny part (sheltering in place), I continue to dream of the future mountain adventures that await us. You can probably guess that our entire guide and support staff, both in the U.S. and abroad, are also at home, taking care of family and loved ones while waiting for the “all clear” so they can get back to the work they love.
Our office staff continues to work from home – answering your phone calls and emails, and trying to take this shutdown as an opportunity to develop long-awaited projects like online streaming avalanche courses and new international expeditions.
When I started Alpenglow Expeditions 16 years ago, I didn’t anticipate the family it would foster and the community it would create. I started it hoping that I could go skiing and climbing more (don’t judge me; I was in my 20’s)! Today, I find myself dealing with the harsh reality of livelihoods at risk for an office team of eight, dozens of certified mountain guides, and local staff (cooks, sherpa, porters, drivers, logistics agents) who are my family spread across 6 continents.
I strongly believe that during these times of uncertainty and even fear, it’s important to hold on to our ideals – we challenge ourselves in the mountains and in our home and work lives, and we thrive on that challenge. Dreaming of faraway peaks and pushing past personal boundaries is what keeps me motivated and inspired. It also educates my approach to what feel like impossible challenges.
It’s with this vision of an adventure-filled future, combined with a massive challenge today, that I am asking for your help to support our small business during this time. I recognize this is a big ask in a time when so many need help, and so many deserve your support, and your world has also been turned upside down. But if you are able, please consider purchasing your next adventure with Alpenglow Expeditions now in the form of a gift card to be used at any point in the future. To help you go a little bit further, at this time we are offering a 5% bonus on all gift card purchases. Every bit helps – buy a gift card for a t-shirt, a trip up the Tahoe Via Ferrata, an avalanche course, or an Everest expedition. Every dollar will help us keep our team intact, and enable us to continue offering unparalleled mountain adventures.
If you are in the position to support a business that brings so much enthusiasm to the mountains, my team and I will be eternally grateful. I hope it will also give you something to look forward to while at home doing your part to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is not the time to stop dreaming big, and we are here to help with that!
I look forward to the adventures we are going to have together. See you in the mountains.
Sincerely,
Adrian Ballinger
Founder
Alpenglow Expeditions