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Denali Skills Workshop Weekend

  • We have wrapped up our Denali Skills Workshops for the Winter 2024-2025 season. Please be in touch if you're interested in Winter 2024-2025 offerings.

The Basics

Though not quite the 20,320' height of Denali/Mt. McKinley, the mountains of the Northeast have been a training ground for successful Alaskan expeditions since the time of Bradford Washburn's first ascent of Denali's West Buttress. During this two-day workshop we'll both review the fundamentals essentials to summit success and introduce more advanced techniques that you'll apply on your Denali climb, including:

  • Ascending/descending cramponing techniques on steep and variable terrain
  • Team arrest technique for roped travel
  • Self-arrest techniques for the variety of falling scenarios that can occur
  • Rope management during roped-team travel
  • Alpine-specific anchoring and belay techniques
  • Fixed line ascending and travel using intermediary anchors
  • Building snow anchors
  • Crevasse rescue techniques
  • Basic avalanche awareness

Day one will focus on skills-building. Day two will focus on applying those skills, most likely through a Mt. Washington Summit Climb. The small-group, customized nature of this workshop will also allow time for participants to direct the learning toward other skills of interest. If you're planning an expedition to Denali or any of the other Great Ranges in the next year or so, this is the workshop you need in order to be prepared for the challenges ahead.

Course Details

Course Leader:

  • Kel Rossiter will be leading this workshop. You can learn about Kel and his experiences in the alpine world by clicking HERE.

Course Dates:

  • We have wrapped up our Moving Up on Ice Workshops for the Winter 2023-2024 season. Please be in touch if you're interested in Winter 2024-2025 offerings.

Course Cost:

  • $550 total for two days. A 30% deposit confirms your place on this course. Details about payment can be found on our Scheduling Page.

Location:

  • The final locations for this course will be weather/avalanche-condition dependent. On day one will most likely meet at the AMC Highland Center in Crawford Notch, NH at 8am.  After an initial orientation and gear check, we will head to the Willeys Slide training area and train until approximately 4pm.
  • Training on Day 2 will likely occur in Tuckerman/Huntington Ravine, provided weather and avalanche conditions permit us to.  We will meet in the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitors Center basement area at 7am. Conditions permitting, we will either attempt a Mt. Washington Summit Climb or hike two miles and 2000' up to Tuckerman/Huntington Ravine areas and conduct training there. 
  • In the event of unfavorable weather, we will develop an alternative training plan.

Payment: $550 total for two days. A 30% deposit confirms your place on this course. Details about payment can be found on our Scheduling Page.

Pre-Course Preparation:This course is designed for those aspiring to climb the highest mountain in North America. A solid base level of physical fitness, able to support travel at 2mph with a 30+ pound pack in snowy terrain is fundamental. Familiarity with basic climbing knots, climbing terminology, and climbing equipment is also required. If you need more familiarity or a refresher with this, we recommend the classic “Freedom of the Hills” book, available through many online booksellers.

Other Questions, Etc: Adventure Spirit prides itself on its customized service—if you’ve got any particular questions, etc, please contact owner/lead guide Kel Rossiter here.