Mount Foraker – Sultana Ridge

Mount Foraker: 17,400 ft.

Mountain Trip led the first successful guided expedition up Mount Foraker in 1980 and we have led numerous teams up the mountain in the decades that followed. The Southeast Ridge is one of the finest alpine routes in the Alaska Range. The route involves steep snow climbing, interspersed with ice pitches and exposed, cornice ridges. All this makes for very spectacular and scenic climbing. Unfortunately, changing conditions on the route have kept us from attempting it in recent years, although things might be trending toward the better.

In the spring of 1996 we began leading climbers up the most popular line on Mount Foraker, the Sultana or Northeast Ridge. It is a longer route than the Southeast Ridge but harbors less objective hazards. This is a challenging route with a big summit day that demands respect.

We fly into the Southeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier and set forth across the Kahiltna proper to make our base camp at the base of 12,800ft Mount Crossen. A steep entrance gulley leads to a snowy ridge that climbs to a dramatic camp perched high above the Kahiltna Glacier. Above this camp, steeper steps of snow and ice are encountered as we climb up and over Mount Crossen to make Camp 2. The long ridge line that connects Crossen with Mount Foraker presents climbers with a mix of steep steps, wild cornices and knife-edged ridges. Summit day is a physically challenging ascent of the sublime Northeast Ridge, negotiating crevasses and continuously steep cramponing. This route should only be considered by very fit climbers with solid crampon and ice axe technique.

DAY 1: MEET IN ANCHORAGE. We will conduct a Team Meeting at 10am for an expedition orientation and equipment check. This is a very important meeting, which you must attend. Be sure to arrive in Anchorage early enough to make the meeting; which may require arriving a day early. Our trip fee includes two nights accommodation at the Millennium Alaska Hotel, which is conveniently located and offers free airport transfers.

DAY 2: TRAVEL TO TALKEETNA AND FLY TO THE GLACIER. Team members will travel by shuttle for several hours to Talkeetna. Everyone will need to register with the National Park Service prior to flying to the glacier. Weather permitting; we will fly into the Kahiltna Glacier at 7,200 ft that afternoon. Once on the glacier, everyone will need to pitch in to get Base Camp established so we can proceed with our on-glacier expedition orientation that will cover the following topics: glacier travel, crevasse rescue, sled rigging, rope management and camp site procedures.

DAY 3: MOVE TO ADVANCED BASE CAMP. Departing base camp, we’ll drop down the infamous Heartbreak Hill and onto the broad Kahiltna glacier. Our goal will be to move all of our equipment and supplies across the glacier. We’ll set up an ABC near the base of Mount Crosson, just north and east of Foraker, at an elevation of about 6,700 ft.

DAY 4: CARRY LOADS UP TO CAMP 1 ON MT CROSSON. Moderately steep climbing leads to a spectacular camp above a prominent gendarme at about 10,000 ft.

DAY 5: MOVE CAMP TO “CROSSON CAMP.” It is possible to single carry up to this camp, if a team is acclimatized and strong, but generally, we break this move into two days.

DAY 6: MOVE CAMP OVER MT CROSSON. Our second camp is often between Mt Crosson and Peak 12,472. We have a lot of options as to where we will put this camp, but they are all somewhere above 11,000 ft.

DAY 7: CARRY ACROSS THE INTERCONNECTING RIDGE TO THE BASE OF THE SULTANA RIDGE. The distance of travel is not too great, but the terrain can be challenging, so this is a fairly long, challenging day.

DAY 8: MOVE TO HIGH CAMP AT THE BASE OF THE SULTANA. We have options for how and where to place our high camp. Most parties opt to climb the entire Sultana Ridge as their summit day, but it is possible to place a camp on the ridge proper, at about 14,000 ft. This decision will be made based on a variety of factors, including weather, conditions, team strength and health, etc.

DAY 9: REST DAY. Most mortals will appreciate a rest and acclimatization day before the huge push up 5,000 ft to the summit

DAY 10: SUMMIT DAY. Summit day is a monster. We’ll climb almost a vertical mile of 40 degree terrain. We need to have a really good day in order to make it up and down, so we will be highly selective about our decision making. Summit climbers must have demonstrated a high degree of fitness and technical proficiency, as this day will demand a lot of everyone.

DAY 11: DESCENT – PART 1. The descent from high camp on the Sultana is challenging and takes some time. In general, we will try to reach Mt Crosson on the first day of our descent.

DAY 12: DESCENT – DAY 2. From our camp near the top of Crosson, we’ll drop down to the Kahiltna, clean our cache from our ABC, and trek across the glacier to the airstrip.

DAY 13: FLY OFF THE GLACIER. Weather permitting, we’ll be in Talkeetna for breakfast!

DAY 14 – 21: CONTINGENCY DAYS.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Included in the Trip Fee:

• Unlimited pre-trip access to our office resources

• Guidance of our experienced Mountain Trip guides

• Scheduled group transportation between Anchorage and Talkeetna

• Scheduled flights between Talkeetna and Base Camp

• All food while on the mountain

• All group equipment (tents, kitchen, ropes, sleds, snow pickets, shovels, group med kit, satellite phone, GPS tracker, etc)

• Custom expedition dispatch blog for your climb, complete with audio posts from team members calling from the mountain

• Assistance arranging for post-climb activities in Alaska

Not Included in the Trip Fee:

• Flights to and from Alaska

• Lodging in Alaska, although we can help you secure rooms in Anchorage at a negotiated rate – please inquire about this option.

• Personal clothing and equipment per our equipment list

• Meals while not on the mountain

• Additional nights’ accommodation in Alaska

• Mountaineering Cost Recovery Fee ($260 for climbers 24 years old and younger, $360 for older climbers) paid to the National Park Service at the time you register for your individual climbing permit.

• Travel and/or rescue insurance

• Costs incurred due to evacuation or unplanned departure from the mountain due to illness or other problems

• Costs incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of Mountain Trip

• Costs as a result of force majeure

Refunds and Cancellations

Mountain Trip recognizes how difficult and disappointing it can be for climbers who must cancel expeditions which they have planned for a long time. Team members must also recognize that, due to the nature of planning expeditions and dealing with governmental permits and regulations, Mountain Trip also accrues significant expenses in the months prior to expedition departure dates. We must therefore adhere to a strict refund policy for all climbers. Trip cancellation and travel insurance is generally available for all expeditions. U.S. and Canadian residents should contact us for more information regarding travel insurance. Our refund and cancellation policy is outlined below.

• All expeditions require a deposit to secure a spot on the team. Your submission of a deposit constitutes your acceptance of this Fee Schedule, Refund and Cancellation Policy.

• All deposits for Mount Foraker expeditions include a non-refundable $1500 administration fee (we highly recommend that you consider Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect the administration fee, if not the entire cost of your climb).

• Final payments for expeditions must be received 120 days prior to the Team Meeting Day.

• Failure to pay expedition fees by the date they are due constitutes cancellation of your spot on the team and forfeiture of your deposit.

• Any cancellation 120+ days before your Meeting Day will be refunded in full, less the administration fee.

• If you cancel 120-90 days before your Meeting Day, you are eligible for a refund of 50% of any monies paid, less the deposit.

• No refunds will be provided for cancellations occurring within the last 89 days prior to an expedition.

• All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received in our Colorado office.

• If you register for a climb within 90 days of the Team Meeting Date, expedition fees will be due in full to secure your spot on the team.

• No refunds will be given for unused hotel bookings due to schedule changes, late arrivals, etc.

• Mountain Trip reserves the right to cancel an expedition prior to the departure date for any reason. In the event that the expedition is cancelled based solely on an internal administrative decision by Mountain Trip (Internal Cancellation), all monies, except for nonrefundable administrative fees, collected by Mountain Trip from team members for the canceled expedition shall be refunded within 30 days. That is the extent of our financial liability for such cancellations. This Internal Cancellation provision shall not apply when external factors that force Mountain Trip to cancel an expedition against its will, including, but not limited to, international political upheaval, terrorism, drought/famine, epidemics/pandemics, and/or cancellations imposed by foreign or domestic governments or permitting agencies (External Cancellation). All External Cancellations shall not be subject to a refund unless such cancellation occurs prior to the deadlines set forth in the Refund and Cancellation policies, above.

The following applies only if all expedition fees are paid by the date they are due:

If Mountain Trip cancels your expedition due to External Cancellation factors resulting from coronavirus more than 90 days prior to the Team Meeting date, Mountain Trip will credit 100% of your paid expedition fees toward a future program with Mountain Trip or refund all monies paid except for the non-refundable administrative fee.

If Mountain Trip cancels your expedition due to External Cancellation factors resulting from coronavirus 90 days or less prior to the Team Meeting date, Mountain Trip will credit 75% of your paid expedition fees toward a future program with Mountain Trip or refund 50% of your expedition fee.

General Agreement Concerning Services to be Provided And Responsibilities of Team Members

When registering for an expedition with Mountain Trip we want to help make sure you understand the services we are providing and the services you are responsible for.

Transportation is incidental

The main purpose of becoming a team member is to join us on an expedition in the mountains. As such any transportation we provide or that you may contract for on your own is incidental to the trip. We suggest that you make sure you have time built into your itinerary for delays.

Transportation to and from your destination

We will designate a specific Team Meeting Day for your expedition. Transportation to the meeting point on your Team Meeting Day is to be provided by you. You must arrive in time to be ready to participate in a team meeting at the appointed time on the Team Meeting Day for your expedition. This probably means you will need to arrive the day before, as our Team Meetings for Alaska trips are held in the morning. Expedition climbing is very dynamic and we will provide you with a recommendation as to when you should book your flights to and from your destination. We suggest you book a ticket that allows you to change your flight with little effort or cost.

Lodging off the mountain

Mountain Trip will provide lodging per the Inclusions and Exclusions section above. Any additional lodging is your responsibility. Don’t worry about booking a room after your expedition. We generally don’t know how long we’ll be in the mountains, and we can help arrange lodging when we return to “civilization.”

Responsibilities of Team Members

You are ultimately responsible for your own well-being, including making all necessary preparations to ensure good health and physical conditioning. You are responsible for understanding the conditions that may exist on the climb and choosing a climb that is appropriate for your abilities and interests. You are responsible for having knowledge of all pre-departure information and for assembling the appropriate clothing and equipment for your climb.

While on the expedition, team members are responsible to maintain basic levels of hygiene and to conduct themselves respectfully with other team members and members of the local population. If a guide feels that a team member is putting other members’ health or safety at risk, the guide has the discretion to remove a team member from an expedition.

Use our office staff and your lead guide as pre-trip resources to ensure that all your questions are answered. Travel insurance may help recoup expenses if you need to leave an expedition due to an illness.

Airline Responsibility Passenger/Airline contracts are in effect while team members are on board any aircraft contracted for use in the expedition.

No Guaranteed Outcomes

While it is one of our goals to help every climber on every Mountain Trip expedition reach the summit, Mountain Trip cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit. Any number of factors, including weather, the conditions encountered on the route, your personal level of fitness or ability, the abilities of your team mate(s) or any number of other circumstances might result in you and/or your team turning around before reaching the summit. Failure to reach the summit due to any reason associated with mountaineering, such as weather, team dynamics, route conditions, avalanche hazard, rockfall hazard, etc, or due to your lack of fitness or preparation are not the responsibility of Mountain Trip and will not result in a refund or a rescheduling of your expedition.

The following is a general list of required gear for climbing Mount Foraker with Mountain Trip. Climbers joining us on an expedition will receive an updated, comprehensive equipment list that may supersede this list.

Many of the items on the list need to fit you well in order for you to fully enjoy your experience on the mountain. Please plan ahead with equipment purchased for your trip so you can be certain that your gear fits you well. Cresting the summit of Mt Crosson, en route to the Sultana, is not the place to discover that your pack is too small for your torso, or that your boots give you blisters. Recommended items reflect the opinions of our guides. We have used and have faith in all of our recommendations, but they may not necessarily fit or work for you.

Call or email us with any gear questions. We want you to be as prepared as possible for your expedition.

Please follow this list closely and do not hesitate to call us for clarifications or to solicit an opinion about anything you are considering. There is a good selection of gear available in Anchorage, but please plan ahead for things that you might need in a particular size, as local shops do not always have every item in stock. Lastly, only bring quality gear that is in very good condition on your expedition.

Print Equipment

Footwear

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Mountaineering Socks	3 - 5 pairs of good wool socks. Try a couple of different weights as that will affect the fit of your boot.	Bridgedale Merino Wool Mountaineering Socks
Mountaineering Boots	Modern Mountaineering Boots fall into two categories, traditional double boots and the newer triple boot systems with integrated gaiters. Either variety works well, however triple boots are lighter and arguably simpler. Whichever you decide to use, the goal is to have warm, comfortable feet! Try on a variety of boots as they all fit differently and get the one that fits well. Consider your future mountaineering objectives when purchasing boots as well. Remember double boots require overboots! With triple boots it is all built in. Recommended Triple Boots: La Sportiva Olympus Mons, Scarpa Phantom 8000 Recommended Double Boots: La Sportiva Spantik or G2 Evo.	La Sportiva G2 Evo La Sportiva Spantik La Sportiva Olympus Mons Cube S Scarpa Phantom 8000
Gaiters	If your pants fit tightly around your boot you do not need gaiters. Many modern boots have built in gaiters. They do help keep out water, and can prevent crampons from catching your pant legs.	Outdoor Research Low Gaiters Outdoor Research Crocodiles Gaiters

Torso Layers

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Expedition Down Parka	This is an important layer so don't skimp! You do not need the heaviest 8000meter parka for peaks like Denali and Aconcagua, but you should have a warm, baffled parka with a hood.	Arcteryx Alpha Parka - Mens Arcteryx Alpha Parka - Womens
Base Layer Top	(1 or 2 sets) of Wool or Capilene light weight base layers. Long sleeve or short sleeve base layers work well.	Base Layer Top - Men's Base Layer Top - Women's
Light Fleece Hoody	Light/mid weight fleece (or wool) top with a hood. You will wear this over your light weight base layer.	BD Coefficient Hybrid Hoody - Mens BD Coefficient Hybrid Hoody - Womens
Puffy Light Insulated Jacket	Size this layer to fit over your light fleece hoody and wind shell, and it is often layered underneath your expedition parka. Synthetic is easier to deal with and not worry about getting compared to a down filled layer. A hood on this layer in mandatory! *** Guides Tip! Use TWO lightweight puffy layers in the early season or if you are worried about being cold. A Micro or Nano Puff jacket with a Ultra Light Down Jacket or Vest allows versatile layering options.	Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody - Men's Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody - Women's Arcteryx Cerium Hoody - Men's Arcteryx Cerium Hoody - Women's
Hard Shell Jacket	This jacket should be large enough to go over your light puffy jacket layer. You do not need the burliest/heaviest Gore-Tex jacket you can find, and we prefer the lightest weight versions.	Arcteryx Beta SL Jacket - Men's Arcteryx Beta SL Jacket - Women's
Soft Shell Wind Jacket	Many high alpine peaks are cold and dry. We are huge fans of very lightweight softshell wind jackets for high, dry, cold peaks. Weighing just a few ounces, these can be carried in your pocket or in the lid of your pack for rapid deployment. This layer is used in addition to your more waterproof hard shell jacket.	BD Alpine Start Hoody - Men's BD Alpine Start Hoody - Women's
Vest (optional)	A lightweight down or synthetic filled vest can be a nice addition and add some warmth with little weight. This is an optional layer	Arcteryx Atom Vest - Mens Arcteryx Atom Vest - Women's

Leg Layers

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Base Layer Bottoms	(1 or 2 sets) of Wool or Capilene light weight base layers.	Arcteryx Rho Bottoms - Women's Arcteryx Rho Bottoms - Men's
Light Fleece Bottoms	As the air thins and the wind picks up, you'll want a bit more insulation on your legs. This should be a slightly warmer layer that can go over your base layer bottoms when it gets cold.	Arcteryx Kyanite Bottoms - Women's Arcteryx Rho Insulated 3/4 Length - Men's
Soft Shell Pants	Soft Shell pants are the workhorse in the mountains and you'll be wearing these day in and day out on most expeditions. On peaks like Denali and Aconcagua, you can wear them in lieu of your hard shell pants for much of the expedition.	Arcteryx Gamma MX Pant - Women's Arcteryx Gamma AR Pant - Men's
Hard Shell, Waterproof Pants	When it's raining a soft shell pant just isn't enough and you'll need a waterproof "hard shell" pant, meaning Gore-Tex or equivalent. These should be as light weight as possible. Fully separating side zippers will help you get them on without taking off your boots. On some peaks, you might carry hard shell pants for the lower mountain, but switch to soft shell pants for the colder and drier upper mountain.	Arcteryx Alpha Pant - Women's Arcteryx Beta Pant - Men's
Puffy Insulated Expedition Pants	On summit day or on a cold morning, you will need a warm layer that can go over your baselayers and softshell pants. This layer should be down or synthetic (ie. Primaloft) filled and must have fully separating side zippers. Practice putting these puffy pants on and taking them off while wearing your boots before you leave for your expedition.	Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pants
Underwear	Consider synthetic or Merino wool for your underwear. Most longer trips, such as Aconcagua or Denali, typically require 3-4 pair, but choose your quantity based on your personal level of comfort.

Head and Hands

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Heavyweight Gloves	Warm, insulated gloves are the day-to-day workhorses on cold peaks or for cold days of ice climbing. We prefer gloves with removable liners for ease of drying.	BD Guide Glove - Men's BD Guide Glove - Women's
Medium Weight Gloves	A mid-weight glove will generally be a softshell type glove with some light synthetic insulation.	BD Cirque Hybrid Gloves
Light Weight Gloves	When the sun comes out on a glacier, the temperature can soar. Light weight, soft shell gloves are great for keeping the sun off your hands, while still giving you a bit of protection from the wind and cold.	BD Trekker Glove
Buff Neck Gaiter	Buff is a brand of light weight neck gaiters that have grown to become a staple of every guide's kit. These are amazingly versatile, and can be worn as a hat, a neck gaiter or pulled over your face for protection from the wind or sun. They come in many thicknesses nowadays, but we prefer the original weight for its versatility.	Buff
Summit Mittens	Thick, warm mittens made from down, synthetic fill, or a combination of insulation are crucial for summit morning on many big, cold mountains. Most come with some form of retention straps, which can help reduce the chance of losing them to a gust of wind or in the event of a fall. Good mittens are expensive, but how much is one finger worth?	Outdoor Research Alti Mitts - Men's Outdoor Research Alti Mitts - Women's
Warm Hat	Bring one warm hat or two hats of different weights. Wool or fleece are fine, but your hat must provide ear protection from the cold.
Face Covering	Cheeks and the tip of your nose are always exposed and easily freeze in a biting wind. Neoprene face masks do a great job of protecting those exposed surfaces. The Outer U FaceGlove can also be used for sun protection!	Seirus Neofleece Mask Outer U FaceGlove
Sun Hat	Baseball type or wide brimmed sun hats are required for protection against the intense sunshine found on many peaks. You can combine a baseball hat with a BUFF for good sun protection or go for a wide brimmed version to protect your face, ears and neck.
Hand Warmers	Bring 4 -6+ sets of these disposable insurance policies, depending on where you are climbing. Make certain that your hand warmers are relatively new, as they do go bad over time.
Glacier Glasses	Good, dark (Category 4) glacier glasses are a must for high altitude climbs. They must have side protection and filter 100% UVA and UVB rays.	Julbo Explorer 2.0 Sunglasses
Expedition Ski Goggles	These are necessary for use while traveling during storms or during really cold and windy weather. These must have double lenses and provide full UV protection. Fogging is a real challenge, so goggles that actively vent are worth the investment. Julbo's Aerospace or Airflux have a slick venting system or Smith makes battery-powered "Turbo Fan" models. Select a general purpose lens that will provide some protection in bright light, but not be so dark as to make them useless on a cloudy or flat-light day.	Julbo AEROSPACE with "Reactiv All Around" or "High Mountain" lens
Nose Guard	Beko makes nice nose protectors that keep the wind and sun from wreaking havoc on your skin.

Sleeping Gear

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Inflatable Sleeping Pad	Inflatable pads have improved tremendously in recent years, they are the foundation of a warm and comfortable night!	Exped Ultra 7R - Warmer Option Therm-a-Rest Uberlite - Lightest Option
Foam Sleeping Pad	Bringing two sleeping pads, one closed cell foam and the other an inflatable pad, will provide additional comfort and insulation, as well as a bit of insurance in case you have a catastrophic failure of your inflatable pad.	Z Lite SOL (Reg)
Compression Stuff Sack	Granite Gear, Outdoor Research and others are all making nice, lightweight compression sacks. These are essential for sleeping bags and recommended for your summit clothes, such as your parka, mitts and warmest pants, so you might consider bringing two.	Granite Gear Air Compressor Sack

Climbing Gear

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Ski / Trekking Poles	Adjustable poles work great and are easier to travel with as they fit better in your duffel bag. The small “trekking” baskets on some poles are not large enough for use on soft snow, so make certain your poles have bigger “snowflake” style baskets for any climb with glacier or snow travel.	Black Diamond Trekking Poles
Ice Axe	A general use, mountaineering axe is sufficient for this climb. Some axes are much lighter than others, so select for weight as well as a size for your height. Most climbers do well with a 60 - 75 cm axe. On less technical routes, a longer axe can act like a walking stick on flatter terrain.	Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe
Alpine Climbing Harness	Your harness should be adjustable enough to accommodate several layers of clothing. As with most items on this list, choose a light weight harness.	Black Diamond Couloir Harness Petzl Altitude Harness
Carabiners	Bring eight regular (non-locking) carabiners. Please do not bring “bent-gate” carabiners, as these have certain limitations that do not make them appropriate for how we will use them. Mark your 'biners with colored tape for identification.	Black Diamond OZ Carabiners
Locking Carabiners	Bring three locking carabiners. Screwgate or auto-locking 'biners work equally well, although the new magnetic gate versions seem like they might be less prone to freezing closed. Select light weight carabiners.	Black Diamond VaporLock Carabiners
Accessory/Prussik Cord	25-30 feet of 6mm-7mm accessory cord will be used to create a prussik, rig your ascender, and extra for setting up your sled for glacier travel. We will go over this in our pre-trip training.	6mm accessory cord
Climbing Helmet	Make certain it fits over your warmest hat and under the hood of your shell. The super-lightweight foam helmets are great, but can get crushed in your duffel bags during travel, so protect your lid!	BD Half Dome Helmet
Crampons	Select a pair 12-point Mountaineering Crampons that fit your boots well. Step-in or strap versions work equally well; just make sure they fit your mountain boots and overboots. You may need to lengthen your crampons to accommodate your overboots, please make sure you can make this adjustment in the field. Aluminum crampons are not acceptable for expeditions.	BD Sabretooth Crampon
Primary Attachment Locking Carabiner	For your primary attachment to the rope, we will us a "triple action" locking carabiner. Triple Action (TriAct) carabiners will not come unlocked while you are traveling on the glacier. You only need one of these carabiners.	Petzl OK Triact Auto Lock Carabiner
Double Length Runner (48″)	Double Length (48") runner. Nylon runners are pretty versatile and utilitarian. For glacier trips they can be used as a chest harness. For technical climbs (Carstensz Pyramid, rock climbing trips in Colorado) please bring 2.	Double Length (48") Runner

Other

Gear	Description	Guide's Pick
Stuff Sacks	We are fans of the very light stiff sacks made from Sil Nylon fabric. Bring enough for your clothes and personal items. Light, zippered stuff bags are really nice for toiletries.	Granite Gear Zip Sack
Two (2) One-Liter Water Bottles	You will need two, 1-liter plastic water bottles. Please bring wide-mouth bottles, such as those from Nalgene, as these are much easier to fill than bottles with small openings.	Nalgene Wide Mouth 1-Liter Bottle
Insulated Bottle Cover(s)	Water bottles freeze when it gets cold. Crazy, but true! Extra clothing can help insulate bottles, but dedicated water bottle insulators do a much better job. Bring at least one.	Forty Below Bottle Boot
Large Plastic Bowl	Bowls are much easier to use and are much more versatile than are plates. Bring a 2-4 cup camping bowl or a plastic "Rubbermaid" style container for your mountain dining.	Collapsible Fair Share
Insulated Cup or Mug	A 12 - 16 ounce (350-500 Ml) mug with an attached lid will help keep you hydrated. The Kleen Kanteen Insulated Bottle with the "Cafe Cap" is pretty nifty, as it is a mug and a thermos all in one!	Kleen Kanteen Insulated Bottle
Lexan Spoon	A soup spoon made from Lexan will survive most trips and is more useful and versatile than a fork or even a "spork." Mark your spoon with your initials to keep spoon rustlers at bay.	REI Lexan Soup Spoon
Lip Balm (2 tubes)	Protect your lips! Bring two tubes of high quality lip balm with SPF.
Sunscreen	Smaller tubes work well, as they are easier to keep from freezing than is one big tube. You'll want to bring 3-4 ounces (85 - 110g) for the trip.
P-Bottle	Wide-mouth, collapsible Nalgene Cantenes work great- they make a 96 ounce version, which will come in handy during long storms or if you take Diamox. Ladies- look for an appropriate adapter available at your local outdoors store. These items can both be tough to find in Anchorage so plan ahead!	Nalgene Wide-Mouth Collapsible Cantene
Toiletry Kit	Tooth brush & paste, dental floss, Handi-wipes (1 per day on average), a small bottle of hand sanitizer, perhaps some foot powder… keep it small!!!
Toilet Paper	Depending on your technique, you'll want 1-2 rolls, each packed in a quality zip-lock bag.
Personal Medical Kit	Mountain Trip's guides will have fairly comprehensive medical kits developed by our Medical Director, but we encourage each climber to bring a small, personal kit. Items to consider bringing include: blister treatment and prevention, pain relievers, and antacids. Presctiption medications should be based on consultation with your personal physician. Suggested drugs for altitude expeditions include: Diamox (acetazolomide) 125 mg, Decadron (dexamthazone) 4 mg, Nifedipine XR 30 mg, and a couple of antibiotics for respiratory and gastrointestinal issues.
Journal (and pencil)	Expeditions can be a great time for reflection and a journal can be a nice way to wax poetic or just keep track of what you did each day. Keep it small and leave the leather bound version at home.
Book(s) or E-Reader	There is a lot of "down time" on an expedition, even when you have good weather. An expedition can be a good time to catch up on reading!
Camera	Most climbers these days use their phone as a camera, but if you plan to bring a dedicated camera, consider a small, light weight point and shoot camera. If you are a photography buff and really want to bring a DSLR, plan for that extra weight with your training!
Altimeter Watch	An altimeter watch can be fun to have on an expedition to keep track of your ascent and to watch for changes in barometric pressure.	Suunto Core
Maps	Our guides will have maps and/or GPS devices, but a good map can be fun to have along.
Lighter	Your guides will have plenty of lighters, but it is nice to have one lighter per tent, as cord always needs to be cut and melted.
Small Knife	A small knife or small multi-tool is also handy to have. One per tent is sufficient. There is emphasis on the word small when it comes to multi-tools!
Satellite Tracking/Texting Device	Satellite linked devices such as the Garmin inReach have been increasingly popular, as you can send and receive text messages with it. Again- consider how you will keep it powered over the course of your expedition. These new devices will allow you to send and receive text messages nearly anywhere in the world! It is a fun way to keep in touch with the family and let them follow along on your journey. They are not required, and Mountain Trip guides carry several forms of communication devices including satellite based communications that we can use in case of an emergency situation.	Garmin inReach
Several Good Jokes!	"A Moose walks into a bar..."

					What an incredible experience!  JP and the entire crew were fantastic.  They calmed our nerves about the trip, were great on communication, and made the adventure one to remember for a lifetime.  Would recommend them to anyone.
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Robert R.
Nov 2024
					I come from Europe and I took "Best 4 Days in Moab". They assigned me a guide Carly who I can only highly recommend if your heart has passion for climbing and nature too. I really enjoyed her company and we had lots of fun climbing together. 

She selected perfect climbing tours for all 4 days and I enjoyed every single pitch climbing with her.

First day we touched the cracks which was the reason for me getting to Moab in the first place. It's tough as expected when doing it for the first time and even more for me used to climbing limestone only. 

The other three days we were climbing mostly multi-pitch routes at my climbing level. 

When it comes to safety and handling climbing equipment Carly has very high standards.

It was unforgettable experience for me and I'm happy I picked up Mountain Trip agency. Thank you Carly for the unforgettable memories and views!
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Janez J.
Oct 2024
					Went climbing in the black canyon with Jesse! He was great, super helpful, informative, and safety conscious!! Would absolutely recommend mountain trip/Jesse to anyone looking to level up their climbing!
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Reilly B.
Oct 2024
					We completed the Triple Crown - three via Ferratas in three days, and loved it. This was through Mountain Trip partnered with Basecamp. Alex was our guide and he was awesome! Highly Recommend!
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J T.
Oct 2024
					One of the most thrilling and fun adventures I have ever done!  I did Telluride Via Ferrata yesterday, October 9th, when all the yellow Fall leaves were covering all angles 🍁💛 Everywhere I turned, I found myself in between breathtaking views!  This was a last minute booking for me, and when I walked into the office of Mountain Trip, I was really hoping to book it same day, understanding it could easily not happen! But they did make it happen!  My guide was Carly and I could not have pictured a better experience! She made this event incredible for me, someone who has never done anything of this kind on the outdoors! Not only she was patient, great at leading, guiding, teaching, she is such a cool human!! Extremely knowledgeable and someone you will 💯 with no doubt feel safe and comfortable with!  I now get to take home a whole new experience, some cool shots Carly took, and great memories from this trip! If you are looking for a fun day in the outdoors, I highly recommend checking them out. I’m hoping to be back in the summer and explore another adventure with them!
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Sue P.
Oct 2024
					This was my third trip with Mountain Trip and my second on the Telluride Via Ferrata.  As always, a fantastic day! Chris  led the way and provided great conversation, fun insight on the trail and area, took amazing pictures,  and kept us very safe. I am hooked on trying different via ferratas and Telluride is still number one in my book!
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E W.
Oct 2024
					I booked a guided via ferrata climb with Mountain Trip with a buddy and we had such a great time. Chad was a professional and fun guide with a safety first mindset. Even though he was an accomplished Everest climber, he still treated our little via ferrata and our party as if we were his expedition mates in the alpine. I will definitely be booking with Mountain Trip again!
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Sam G.
Oct 2024
					This was my third trip with Mountain Trip and my second on the Telluride Via Ferrata.  As always, a fantastic day! Mountain Trip gets out early to beat the heat and the crowd. Chris  led the way and provided great conversation, fun insight on the trail and area, took amazing pictures,  and kept us very safe. I am hooked on trying different via ferratas and Telluride is still number one in my book!
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divadenver
Oct 2024
					We had a wonderful hike with Chris. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and the terrain. The hike was spectacular!
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rym201
Sep 2024
					Absolutely incredible trip. Our guide Tom was very thorough and provided great techniques and instruction along the way which made us very comfortable. Highly recommend Mountain Trip!
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Scott C.
Sep 2024
					Unforgettable Via Ferrata Adventure with Jesse!  We recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Via Ferrata trip with Mountain trip and it was an absolute highlight of our time in Telluride! The views were breathtaking, offering a stunning panorama that made every step worthwhile. It was truly a thrilling and exhilarating adventure.  Our guide, Jesse, was exceptional. His professionalism and skill were evident throughout the entire experience. He prioritized safety at every turn, which made us feel secure and confident as we navigated the cliffs. Additionally, Jesse was incredibly communicative, sharing valuable insights about the area and keeping us engaged throughout the journey.  If you find yourself in Telluride, this is a must-do activity! We can't recommend Mountaintrip and Jesse highly enough. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
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Chris H.
Sep 2024
					Hiking via ferrata in Ouray was an adventure of a lifetime. Chad as an experienced guide was wonderful leading our group through all obsticles of the hike. This trip was the highlight of my vacation.😀
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Pamela F.
Sep 2024
					Absolutely incredible experience on the Via Ferrata in Telluride! The views were nothing short of breathtaking, with stunning panoramas of the surrounding mountains that made every step feel magical. Our guide, Ashley, was fantastic—her coaching and encouragement made us feel safe and confident throughout the climb. She expertly navigated us through the route, sharing her knowledge and passion for the area, which added so much to the adventure.  This trip is truly worth it for anyone seeking a thrilling outdoor experience paired with spectacular scenery. If you're in Telluride, don’t miss out on this! Thank you, Ashley, for an unforgettable day!
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Rust O.
Sep 2024
					Absolutely incredible experience on the Via Ferrata in Telluride! The views were nothing short of breathtaking, with stunning panoramas of the surrounding mountains that made every step feel magical. Our guide, Ashley, was fantastic—her coaching and encouragement made us feel safe and confident throughout the climb. She expertly navigated us through the route, sharing her knowledge and passion for the area, which added so much to the adventure.



This trip is truly worth it for anyone seeking a thrilling outdoor experience paired with spectacular scenery. If you're in Telluride, don’t miss out on this! Thank you, Ashley, for an unforgettable day!
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Rust O.
Sep 2024
					100% recommend Mountain Trip. This company has spectacular guides and went above and beyond logistically with planning, preparation and the experience they provided. We ended up first doing their “Triple Crown” feature which was three days. First day doing the Telluride Via Ferrata, second day doing the Ouray VF and then the third day was at gold mountain VF. Our guide Spencer was phenomenal. Highly recommend! We also ended up doing the mountaineering route (southwest ridge) on Mount Sneffels our 4th day there, with our Guide Jesse. This was quite a spectacular experience and I’d recommend Jesse, Spencer and mountain Trip for any climbing/VF or hiking stuff.  Don’t hesitate, worth every penny!
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Arpun B.
Sep 2024
					Did the Via Ferrata “Triple Crown” guided tour last week (Telluride, Ouray and Gold Mountain) followed by a guided hike of Mt Sneffels. An amazing experience and would highly recommend. Can be tailored to levels/experience but accessible to most. Mountain trip was a great company to work with (responsive and accommodating). Our guides were fantastic (Spencer and Jesse) and really took the time/effort to give us the best experience possible and support us doing so. 5 stars, would do again!
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Caroline T.
Sep 2024
					We had such a great experience with Mountain Trip at Telluride's Via! Marcus was our guide and everyone in the group felt safe, comfortable, and confident throughout every step. Marcus was easy to communicate with and clearly cared about our experience, filtered in interesting tips and history of the area and the San Juan range. The exposure was thrilling, the hike was very approachable, and the equipment, bolts, cables, and hand holds all felt solid. 10/10 would recommend to anyone, of any skill level!
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Jessica H.
Sep 2024
					had the best experience and the best guide (Spencer) Thanks!
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Hillary B.
Sep 2024
					Had an incredible trip guided by Marcus for our party of 3. He was super knowledgable on the via route, the San Juans, history of Telluride and local geology.  Marcus was very engaging and made sure we were having an awesome time through out the entire route. Communication before the trip was excellent by Mountain Trip and by Marcus. Highly recommend Mountain Trip for a great experience.  Photos by Marcus 🤙🏼
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Cole S.
Sep 2024
					Prior to coming to Telluride, we had done much research on Via Ferrata and watched many videos, however these pictures and videos don’t even begin to do it justice. It was by far the coolest thing we’ve ever done in our entire lives! Chad was the BEST guide. He did a great job of explaining everything clearly to us, provided encouraging words and has some great stories to tell. He is so knowledgeable of the mountains and was a joy to be with. We couldn’t recommend Mountain Trip enough! We would rate this trip 15/10. It’s a MUST DO!!
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Sarah B.
Sep 2024
					Great via ferrata, challenging and mentally intense. My wife and I really enjoyed the professional guides. Great views
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Aniello V.
Aug 2024
					The views were amazing and our guide Jesse was skilled and took great care of us. We felt very safe with the equipment and instructions.
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Diana E.
Aug 2024
					Such a great trek on the Via Ferrata! From the early communication with Dan, to the expert trail guidance from Marcus, Mountain Trip made this an easy, fun and safe trip! Would highly recommend them and the Via to anyone!
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Nadine H.
Aug 2024
					Fantastic tour of Telluride Via Ferrata. Marcus was great and super helpful for other activities around town.
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Timothy F.
Aug 2024
					We didn’t downstream Ouray Via Ferrata with Chad and had the best experience! It was our first time doing something like this but Chad was so helpful and made our trip so fun! We had a great time!
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Tristin B.
Aug 2024
					Beautiful scenery, and exciting climbing. Our guide Boaz was flexible with start time, friendly and professional. This is the second via ferrata we have done with mountain trip and highly recommend them.
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Fionahstaff
Aug 2024
					Our guide Jessi was awesome , super nice , helpful and picked the perfect climbing routes for us. We did enjoy it so much that we extend from half day to full day. Jessi was also recommended some hikes and it just felt like we are climbing with friend we know. We will come definatelly back ! Thank you !!!
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912lenkae
Aug 2024
					Jesse did a great job, particularly with my four year old granddaughter.  She had a great time and is ready to go climbing again!
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Kim K.
Aug 2024
					We (three generations) completed this hike with no real issues other than coping with our fear.  Some groups must hike up a 1.5 mile switchback to the start point, but we were lucky enough to get a ride.  Once on the via ferrata, it's a narrow trail with a steep and long drop off.  I'm surprised more sections aren't cabled.  If you're accustomed to hiking in the mountains, you won't have any problems with this section.  For beginners, it's a good section to ease into the experience.  Once you start clipping in, it gets scary.  There's often very little to put your feet on while the drop is always sheer and long.  When you get to the 'Main Event', you traverse a sheer rock face using metal rungs for your hands and feet.  These are not optimally placed.  Sometimes, the feet rungs are far apart and the hand rungs are too low.  There's only one section that requires moderate upper body strength.  Our guide (Ashley) was awesome.  She demonstrated the best foot/hand holds and techniques calmly and expertly.  You might want to wear thin grippy gloves and long pants on this hike.  You'll spend a lot of time hanging on to rungs, cables, and rocks and there are a few places where you have to get on your knees or scoot on your rear.  Compared to the Estes Park via ferrata, this one is considerably longer with much less vertical.  We all had a blast.  Ashley took some amazing pictures for us too.  I highly recommend this via ferrata trip if you can deal with the exposure.
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Bryan3902
Aug 2024
					We did a private trip for a large 14-person group and this Telluride Via Ferrata was an awesome experience all around!  The team at Mountain Trip was helpful and responsive through the whole process from the initial scheduling through coordinating the day-of schedule.  We had 4 spectacular guides that created a safe, fun and memorable climb.  Special thanks to Chris, Ashley, JP and Cat!
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Aaron A.
Aug 2024
					Just came back from summiting Mt. Sneffels with Elías. I’ve been on several trips with Elías and he never fails to deliver the absolutely best experience. Not only is he personable, knowledgeable and thorough, but he is also a true backcountry “educator.” For Elías, it’s not enough just to get his client up and down safely. He’s passionate about educating his clients and I always come back much better, efficient and safer in the backcountry. I cannot recommend him enough.
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William R.
Jul 2024
					Chris was phenomenal and took many photos! We were so nervous and anxious but he reassured us, and provided great tips and tricks. It is worth all the views! Highly recommend doing the Telluride Via Ferrata. Especially with Chris! 😁
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Rose E.
Jul 2024
					This was an amazing trip! Kat was our guide and was just terrific! Kat was so encouraging to the child in our group and was focused on making sure we all had a wonderful time. This was an unbelievable experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in seeing Telluride from a new perspective!
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Scott A.
Jul 2024
					I wouldn't necessarily say this was a "beginner" hike... Probably for those who are not beginner hikers.. but I'm glad I did it (with a lot of cussing and a couple panic attacks). My guide Coop was great. Very reassuring, calm, and didn't make me feel dumb even though there were definitely parts where I know with 100% certainty I did not look graceful.
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Leah H.
Jul 2024
					Great time with Chris D on Via Ferrata, excellent guide and super knowledgeable.
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wwelliott4
Jul 2024
					Incredible group of guides. Everyone was super personable and interesting in their own ways and put us all at ease going through some of the coolest hiking I’ve ever done. Can’t recommend enough
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Michael B.
Jul 2024
					I can't praise this crew enough! From Dan in the office answering all of my gear questions so patiently, to Chris our amazing guide, everyone we interacted with was knowledgable and professional. Such an amazing experience - we would book another adventure with them in a heartbeat!
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Lisa B.
Jul 2024
					My son had a FANTASTIC time. Kaylee was knowledgeable and supportive and he learned a ton. He was glowing at the end and couldn’t wait to tell us all about it. Also, the main office was totally helpful when I made an initial mistake with the booking.  We would definitely use them again.
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Rebecca D.
Jul 2024
					Had a great time doing the Telluride via ferrata with Jesse from Mountain Trip as our guide.  Equipment was good, instruction was good, and Jesse was very knowledgable about the course.  He was also great at getting photos for everyone and sending them out after the course.  I definitely recommend Mountain Trip if you're looking to do the Telluride via ferrata or any other activities they offer.
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Andy A.
Jul 2024
					My sister booked a guided tour of the Ouray Via Ferrata with this company, and it was excellent! Our guide, Marcus, went above and beyond to ensure our tour and our time in Ouray was awesome. He checked in with us the day before, gave us recommendations on campsites in the area, and was friendly and easy to talk to. I am not a climber, and I struggled on some parts of the Via Ferrata downstream route, but Marcus was a very encouraging and patient coach, and I never felt unsafe on the course. He also took great pictures along the route and shared them with us immediately afterwards.  Their office in Ouray is centrally located, easy to find, and close to some great restaurants! It has such a great vibe and their communications (via email and phone) were prompt and professional. I would 100% book with this company again. The experience was awesome!!!
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Barbara O.
Jul 2024
					Climbed Mt. Sneffles with Chad Peele.  Greatest guide of all time.  Set a perfect pace and made the tricky spots safe and easy.  Of course, he is a global pro, ask him about Everest.  I highly recommend Chad and Mountain Trip.  Thanks for a great experience
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B H.
Jul 2024
					Absolutely incredible experience at the Ouray Via Ferrata! Our guide, Chad, was outstanding—knowledgeable, fun, and made the adventure safe and exciting. The views were breathtaking, and the  Upstream route was a blast to complete. Highly recommend this 5/5 experience!
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Evan T.
Jul 2024
					Awesome experience doing the Via Ferrata in Telluride! Jesse and Marcus were AWESOME guides that were super helpful and patient!
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Shivani P.
Jul 2024
					We took the Ouray downstream via ferrata trip today and it was fantastic! Cat was our guide and she.was.amazing!! She was personable, knowledgeable, humble, kind, and all around a great guide. It was a pleasure to have her with us for the four hour adventure.  I would like to return in the winter for an ice climbing adventure and request Cat as my guide then as well. Booking with Mountain Trip was easy and the staff was very responsive to questions and requests. Thanks, Cat!
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Angela C.
Jul 2024
					Breathtaking via ferrata overlooking stunningly beautiful Telluride! The hike is not physically difficult but the exposure high up on the cliff face makes this hike mentally challenging (in a good way!).  Our guides Carly and Marcus were superb at making us all comfortable and offering tips and suggestions along the way to ensure a fun and safe adventure.
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kevinwX8422RA
Jul 2024
					This was soooo fun! I had planned this for my birthday. Just the right mix of adventure! Mostly safe, little scary, a really fun crowd!! I was really glad to have gone my first time with a guide. Wiley was great!
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Joan E.
Jul 2024
					We took the Ouray downstream via ferrata trip today and it was fantastic! Cat was our guide and she.was.amazing!! She was personable, knowledgeable, humble, kind, and all around a great guide. It was a pleasure to have her with us for the four hour adventure.  I would like to return in the winter for an ice climbing adventure and request Cat as my guide then as well. 

Booking with Mountain Trip was easy and the staff was very responsive to questions and requests. 

Thanks, Cat!
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Angela C.
Jul 2024
					We would like to report that our trip was made excellent by our guide JP.   Three of us are 70+ years with one that is 68.  He chose a pace that was excellent.  One  of us deals with elevation challenges.  He was patient with the  need for short stops on the climb.  He was very kind and patient in helping us put on the harnesses and understanding how to hook to the cable with emphasis on the importance of one hand holding on while the other hand hooked one and then the other.  He was kind but not condescending and he was helpful but allowed us a chance to do it on our own.  He was aware of us at all times and talked us through every new technical area. He took excellent pictures and willingly stopped while we took pictures.  For us, a challenge of a lifetime and a memory of a lifetime.  Please let JP know that we felt lucky to have had him as our guide.  We thoroughly enjoyed our adventure.
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Loretta K.
Jul 2024
					We did Telluride via ferrata, and our guide was Taka, who was so friendly and patient!  He was very knowledgeable about the route, and made us feel comfortable along the way!  He also took some great photos of us!  I'm happy we got a guide, as we don't have climbing experience, and some of the areas are a bit tricky.  I would recommend this tour.
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Lynn A.
Jul 2024
					We had the absolute best time on the Telluride Via Ferrata! The guides were extremely knowledgeable, took lot of great photos, provided great conversation, and taught to each level of the group! I will definitely be using them again for any future mountaineering endeavors
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Madison C.
Jul 2024
					Great Via Ferrata tour! Our guide, Alex, was very professional and fun to hang out with. He called a day ahead to make sure we had everything we needed and were ready for the trip. On the trip his knowledge and experience were extremely evident and made my wife and I feel super comfortable hanging 500’ from the ground off a cliff. It goes without saying but the views were also completely fantastic.
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Jared D.
Jul 2024
					The excursion was a once in a lifetime experience! We had an incredible time! Suzanna and John were awesome guides and so helpful with our entire family. Highly recommend if visiting Telluride.
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John A.
Jul 2024
					Our guide was amazing. I went with my Dad and our guide did an excellent job helping my Dad with the more difficult parts of the via ferrata. The guide was also so friendly, easy to talk to, knowledgeable, and very good at reassuring us when we got nervous!
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Katherine S.
Jun 2024
					Can’t say enough good things about this company, our guide Chris and the experience overall on the Via Ferrata in Telluride!  My partner and I were there celebrating her birthday and we always like to do fun and adventurous things so this was up our alley. With that said we both also have a little fear of heights so the nerves and anticipation were real! This is why we decided to go with a guide and Mountain Trip guides had wonderful reviews and we know why now. From the pre arrival prep right down to getting us safely to the parking lot they were 5 star! We did decide to do a private trip because we didn’t want to hold anyone up because we were a little nervous, this was a great experience but we also passed a couple other Mountain Trip guides/groups on our way and think a group tour would be great as well. Chris was our guide and he put at ease from the moment we met him. He was very knowledgeable, personable and extremely professional and fun! Oh and also a great photographer! We knew what we were getting into at every step of the way and he even added some extra precautions for us when we were nervous!  The actual experience can be summed up in a couple of words…amazingly, terrifyingly, awesome!! I think I was most nervous but honestly the cable systems and guide took most of that away and allowed us to totally enjoy the view and the intense adrenaline rush! The path was way more defined and easy to walk on than expected. Clearly there are still moments that are scary and seem stupid but I felt safe the entire time!  Thank you Mountain Trip and Chris for an unforgettable experience! We highly recommend this trip!
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Shelley M.
Jun 2024
					Great experience. My wife and I went with Spence to summit Sneffels, and we could not have had a better experience. Spence was awesome - very knowledgeable but also personable. This was our first 14er, and he took good care of us - all the way up to the top.  The company was good to work with too. Good communication along the way, and a great value for what we got - an unforgettable memory.
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Todd A.
Jun 2024
					Did our first  via ferrata at telluride . Chris and Carly were excellent guides who knew what they were doing and kept us safe.  As a 52 year old doing this for the 1st time with my kids, I would say use mountain trip for what they offer. They know what they are doing. What an experience. I now feel I need to do this wherever it is offered. MountainTrip was very accommodating. Even though I inquired less than 24 hours Dan was very courteous and responsive in getting us booked.
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Sumit K.
Jun 2024
					We had a fantastic hike/mountain climbing experience with 2 amazing guides (Colton & Chris)! It was thrilling with incredible scenery and we felt safe the entire time! Highly recommend 🤩
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Denise W.
Jun 2024
					This was one of the best experiences I have had. Chris and Dave did an awesome job guiding us through one of the most beautiful exhilarating  and adventurous hikes we have ever done!!!! Mountain Trip was a great company. They were very accommodating and I could tell they really wanted us to have the best experience possible!! I highly recommend them!!
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Melissa B.
Jun 2024
					Dave was awesome and made us feel so comfortable. I’m pretty afraid of heights and doing the Via Ferrata in telluride on my birthday was epic. I would do this one again!
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Melissa M.
Jun 2024
					My Telluride Via Ferrata experience with Mountain Trip was incredible! My guide Carly was wonderful. Her gentle demeanor helped calm my nerves and she clearly had a huge tool belt of skills to pull from to help ease any uncomfortable situation up on the mountain. I felt incredibly safe and cared for. After the first 10 minutes on the route my nerves were completely gone and I was having the time of my life. Highly recommend this experience for any mildly adventurous individual coming to Telluride
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Krista S.
Jun 2024
					excellent trip with an excellent company and guide. Tyler was amazing. had a blast. highly recommend!
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Monica B.
Jun 2024
					It was a truely awesome experience for us. We did both the Via Ferratas in Telluride and Ouray. The guides were great, super friendly and experienced. They gave us heads up on next sections, local recommendations too.  Big fan of the office dog Ginger
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Jasmine B.
Jun 2024
					We booked the downstream via ferrata route and had the best day with Tyler! He was a fantastic guide and made sure we felt comfortable the whole time. He gave us awesome tips on the route, shared a lot of great history about the area and truly made this one of our favorite Colorado bucket list items! Book with Mountain Trip - you will have a wonderful adventure!
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Megan M.
Jun 2024
					We booked Mountain Trip for the Downstream Via Feratta in Ouray. It was an excellent experience! My friends and I had so much fun. We were extremely lucky to have Spence as our guide. He did a great job giving us tips as we went through the course. He helped build the route and we loved getting to hear about the construction of the course.
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Taylor W.
Jun 2024
					For how perilous it looks the course was overall not that scary, even for someone with a fear of heights. Our guide, Chad, walked us through step by step on how to do the more challenging parts of the climb, but overall lets you do your own thing and works at the pace of the slowest in the group, never feeling rushed.
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Nick P.
Jun 2024
					We did the half day Ouray Via Ferrata trip and it was AMAZING! Spencer, our guide, was great. I would 100% recommend this trip and I am looking forward to other excursions with Mountain Trip.
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Rey T.
Jun 2024
					What a nice experience I've had! It all started with a phone call with Todd (after a big party from Mountaintrip 😉 ) who said that—despite a lack of experience—I could go to Denali. That was 9 months ago... From that day, I started training. Cardio training, strength training, high altitude training in a sleeping tent and on the bike, I even did 2 expeditions earlier this year to get used to winter camping. And it was more than worth it!

 

I was part of the May 22nd expedition team with 3 top guides Karl, Maddie and Dylan. Nice trio, I loved them! If you see them, give them all a high five and a big hug from me! They really made my trip. Incredible what a dedication and logistics are involved in such an expedition. It was fun, we had nice weather, they cooked very well, they took care of us... Safety was their top priority, which I deeply appreciated. After a fatal accident, I was somewhat panicked, but they were able to put me at ease. And I learned a lot from these toppers. In many ways.

 

I come back with more confidence, even more respect and love for the mountains, more appreciation for the little things in life and I place even greater value on certain friendships/relationships... On a mountain like that, you have to learn to let go and trust. You can't control everything. (Nice lesson.) It is often balancing between pushing boundaries and looking for safety and satisfaction. Finding a balance between the gas pedal and the brake. I have grown during this expedition. Physically, mentally and emotionally. That can only happen on a long winter expedition without contact with the home front and in uncomfortable conditions. Summit or no summit, that makes little difference to me. It's the route, the growth, the learning, the discovery, the satisfaction that counts. I loved it! Thank you for this amazing adventure! And be sure to pop in sometime when I'm in Telluride!
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Annelies V.
May 2024
					Spent a day out in the Black with Nico on a Climb that was a stretch for me but felt very comfortable with such a knowledgeable guide! It was very smooth sailing and after doing several multipitch all day adventures this one was one of the best! Great tempo, attitude, area knowledge, and of course emotional support as well! Also Nico shared his snacks too. Grateful.
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Keith E.
May 2024
					We had an absolute blast for our 4 days trip in Moab. Carly was great at teaching us the basics of crack climbing. She was kind, patient and above all super safe. Despite our close to zero experience in crack climbing, she confidently led us in two of the most iconic desert tower climbs helping us achieving two climbing goals that we wouldn’t have thought we’d be capable of before coming to Moab. Mountain Trip was also very flexible in arranging the 4th day of climbing with Dave. We enjoyed so much spending the day with Dave who is fun and a very knowledgeable teacher. We found Dave and Carly were perfectly complementary as we could reinforce the practical skills and experience we built with Carly with insightful theory explained by Dave. All in all, we had the best time ever and we’d like to thank both Carly and Dave for making it such an unforgettable trip !!
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Jimmy T.
May 2024
					Alex, was the best guide ever! There was some rough weather on the day of our trip, but he made it happen during the short gap we had! My friend and I had never done anything like this before, and he made it a breeze! We had the absolute best time!
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Carlie W.
May 2024
					I would like to say THANK YOU for accepting me as a team member on this challenging Denali expedition and also for assigning Kyle and Lee as my guides. They have been professional, friendly, respectful, attentive, helpful, supportive and amazing chefs (among other things). They are not just great but absolute keepers and I felt SAFE at all times with them. For me, the entire journey was filled with joy, excitement and everyday I was happy, grateful and the mountain and weather gave us the perfect window. This is one of the most important climbs of my life and I will never forget those who have been part of it, you and Laura included even though I have never met you in person.

 

So THANK YOU for everything, the goal to return home safe and sound has been achieved, and the cherry of reaching summit makes it even more special.

 

I’m one happy human right now 🙂 what a journey!
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Margarita
May 2024
					Marcus was INCREDIBLE! We dug a 7ft deep snow cave and spent the night in it. Learned so much, had a ton of fun...and it turns out he's a baller chef. 5/5 stars. Would recommend.
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Zealous
Apr 2024
					Great outdoor guiding service! I used Mountain Trip for a day of backcountry guided skiing in Ophir and Tom H. was a superlative guide. These guys have a great location on Colorado Avenue and you can rent gear directly from them as opposed to having to go to another vendor. Altogether a great experience, would heartily recommend!
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Alex C.
Apr 2024
					We had an absolutely amazing experience with mountain trip guides. We did a half day ice climbing lesson. I was with my two boys ages 15 and 11. Our guide was Carly who was incredible. In just a short period of time she had us climbing with ease. It was extremely safe and comfortable. Her knowledge is outstanding as is Todd and the rest of the crew. If you are looking for an activity to do one afternoon if you are not skiing, I would absolutely recommend this. It is such a unique adventure, and one that we will be back to do again.
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811chadp
Mar 2024
					I happened to have a free day in the Telluride-Ouray area and had a great time doing some multipitch ice with Mountain Trip. The office was great and the guide helped us find exactly the right objective for the vibe I wanted. I would use them again without hesitation.
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Sarah G.
Mar 2024