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Alpine Ascents Gets Denali Guiding Permit
AAI Approved by US Park Service
Wednesday, January 6, 1999
Alpine Ascents International (AAI), one of the world’s largest
mountain climbing guide services, has been approved by the Denali
National Park and the United States Park Service to take over one of the
coveted mountain-guiding concessions on North America’s highest
peak--Denali (Mt. McKinley). A Denali National Park employee confirmed
to The Mountain Zone today that Alpine Ascents has acquired the
concession from Fantasy Ridge Alpinism, operated by Michael Covington.
Alpine Ascents and Fantasy Ridge have been working together booking
successful Denali expeditions for the past three years, but as of today
ownership of the permit transfers to Alpine Ascents.
The Seattle-based Alpine Ascents leads expeditions all over the world, with trips to the highest mountains on every continent, including Mt.
Everest. In addition, Alpine Ascents operates a mountaineering school in
Washington state's north Cascades and offers guided climbs of Mt. Rainier. Denali
Preparation Courses are available for climbers who aspire to the highest
summit in North America.
In 1999, Alpine Ascents has announced a schedule of six climbs of Denali
via the West Buttress route. Guides for these climbs will include Wally
Berg (4 summits of Everest), Vernon Tejas (20-plus ascents of Denali,
including the legendary 1st solo winter ascent), Willi Prittie (Director
of Alpine Ascents’ North Cascades Mountaineering School, with more than
30 summits of Aconcagua) and Everest Guide Todd Burleson (President of
Alpine Ascents). Todd Burleson, who founded Alpine Ascents, along with
Peter Athans and the late Anatoli Boukreev, were recently awarded the highly
esteemed American Alpine Club David A. Sowles Award, for their rescue
efforts on Mt. Everest in 1996.
"Having grown up in
Alaska, I feel it is a great privilege and honor to be able to guide on
the beautiful glaciers of Denali. We are looking forward to building a
great climbing tradition," Todd Burleson said of the recent permit acquisition.
Program Director Gordon Janow added, "we are extremely excited to add
Denali programs to our repertoire, as it is such a natural extension of
what we already do. We will be offering expeditions with a maximum of
six climbers (and two guides) which will present a unique opportunity
for those interested in climbing Denali as part of a small team."
— Mountain Zone Staff
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