100+ Duffel Bag(s)
A durable duffel bag (100-120L) made of tough material with rugged zippers for gear transport and storage. Can be used as checked luggage and for organizing gear at base locations.
8 Days
|
Skiing
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$6,500
|
$1,250
Deposit
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Intermediate
A six-day guided ski mountaineering expedition in the Alaska Range, operating from a glacier base camp at a destination chosen for current snow and weather conditions.
Day-by-day program overview.
Fitness, experience, and preparation.
Gear requirements for this program.
Meals and nutrition on the mountain.
Getting there and local logistics.
Booking, cancellations, and requirements.
Common questions, direct answers.
What climbers are saying.
Every tour is planned around finding good snow and quality turns, with guides coaching ski mountaineering technique along the way.
The team flies to the Alaska Range glacier with the best snow, stability, and terrain for the group, then skis it for six days.
A comfortable camp beside the glacier airstrip, with a kitchen tent and hot breakfasts and dinners, anchors every day of touring.
The Alaska Range offers ski terrain of every kind: long glacial ramps, wide bowls, big faces, and couloirs that drop from the ridgelines toward the glacier floor. The Alaska Range Ski Expedition puts confident backcountry skiers and splitboarders in the middle of it for six days, with a guide team whose job is to find the best snow in the range that week and get the group onto it.
The program is built around the skiing. Rather than locking in a destination months ahead, the guides choose the glacier based on the forecast, the snowpack, and the team's goals and ability, then fly the group in and stay put. Base camp sits beside the landing strip, so the days go into touring instead of hauling loads or moving camp. Each morning's plan follows what the snow and weather are doing, and guides coach ski mountaineering technique and terrain decisions on every tour, from mellow glacier runs to steep lines with technical entrances.
This expedition is for skiers and riders who are already at home in steep, ungroomed terrain and want to take that ability into a remote, glaciated setting. You come away with six days of big-mountain touring in Alaska, 2,500 to 5,000 feet of vertical a day in your legs, and firsthand experience of how guides read the snowpack, choose terrain, and manage glacier travel on big ski days.
Skiing in the Alaska Range asks more of a guide service than good snow sense. The team is flown onto a remote glacier and committed there for six days, touring crevassed terrain where avalanche conditions, weather, and snowpack can change quickly. RMI has been running expedition programs in Alaska since 1975, and that experience shapes how this trip is built, from choosing a glacier that fits the conditions to running a base camp that keeps skiers rested and fed between big days.
RMI guides on this program are experienced ski mountaineers, and their focus is getting the team good turns with margins that fit the terrain. They read the snowpack, choose objectives, and coach technique tour by tour, adjusting plans as conditions change. RMI also handles the Alaska logistics, including shuttles, pre-trip lodging in Talkeetna, and flight coordination with K2 Aviation, so skiers arrive focused on the skiing. The 3:1 ratio and six-skier cap keep coaching personal and let guides match terrain to each member of the team.
Risk management on a glacier ski trip comes down to preparation and judgment. Guides hold avalanche, wilderness medicine, and technical rescue training, carry medical and communication equipment, and base every decision about where and when to ski on ongoing assessment of the snowpack and weather.
To learn more about RMI's history and guiding philosophy, visit our About page.
All our climbs in Mt. Rainier & Denali National Parks are 100% carbon neutral. We have acquired offsets for greenhouse gas emissions through our partnership with Ostrom Climate, Canada's top carbon management solutions provider. Their carbon offset projects undergo rigorous verification by third parties to validate that emission reductions are genuine and permanent, ensuring that our contribution is making a tangible impact.
The program starts with travel to Talkeetna and a ski-plane flight into the Alaska Range, where the team sets up a comfortable glacier base camp and spends its days touring the surrounding terrain in search of the best snow. Each day's plan is built with the guides around the weather, the snowpack, and the group's goals, and the trip wraps up with a flight back to town and a celebration dinner.
Anchorage, AK
20° – 45°+
8 Days
2,500' – 5,000'
6
6 Skiers, 3:1 Ratio
1:30 p.m.: Meet the guides at Anchorage International Airport (Domestic Terminal), carousel 1 in Alaska Airlines baggage claim.
The shuttle to Talkeetna leaves at 2:00 p.m. and takes about three hours, including a 45-minute stop at a grocery store in Wasilla to buy lunch food and perishables. In Talkeetna, we drop ski bags at the K2 Aviation hangar, settle into the hotel, and meet over dinner to go over the plan for flying onto the glacier.
We meet at the K2 Aviation hangar in the morning for a gear check, then pack and weigh duffels for the flight. When the weather allows, the team loads the planes for a 30-minute to one-hour flight, depending on the destination. Once on the glacier, we establish base camp near the landing strip, with sleeping tents and a comfortable kitchen tent. Time, weather, and conditions permitting, we may head out for a short tour to stretch our legs before dinner.
Each day, the guides and team work together to plan tours around the weather, snow conditions, and the group's goals, aiming for the best terrain and snow in the area. Breakfast and dinner are served at base camp, and lunch is eaten on the go during the tour. Expect big days, with 2,500 to 5,000 feet of climbing and skiing.
The guides coordinate pickup timing with K2 Aviation. If time allows, a short morning tour offers one last run before we pack up base camp and get ready for the ski planes. Back in Talkeetna, we re-sort gear for the trip home and celebrate with dinner in town.
The shuttle meets the team in the morning for the drive to Anchorage International Airport and flights home.
You should arrive fit enough to climb and ski 2,500 to 5,000 vertical feet a day with a 20-pound pack, then recover and repeat over several consecutive days.
Prior ski touring experience and confident skiing or riding on black diamond terrain of 35 degrees and steeper in variable off-piste snow are required; roped glacier travel experience is strongly recommended.
Base camp sits at moderate Alaska Range elevations, so altitude is rarely the limiting factor; cold temperatures, weather, and repeated big days of vertical are the bigger considerations.
The Alaska Range Ski Expedition is built for skiers and riders who already have solid backcountry experience. You should be comfortable on black diamond terrain of 35 degrees and steeper in the full range of off-piste snow, including powder, breakable crust, firm snow, spring corn, and crud, while carrying a pack of about 20 pounds. Prior touring experience is required, along with familiarity with your own setup: boots, tech bindings, skins, and transitions. Roped glacier travel experience is strongly recommended. Guides may refresh glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and rope systems as needed to reach terrain, but the program assumes your backcountry skiing skills are already in place.
Tours typically involve 2,500 to 5,000 feet of climbing and descending on terrain that ranges from low-angle glacier runs to slopes of 45 degrees and steeper, some with technical entrances. Training should build uphill endurance on skins with a pack, leg strength for skiing variable snow at the end of a long day, and the ability to recover and repeat over consecutive days. The stronger you arrive, the more terrain the team can consider each day.
If you are a strong resort skier who has not yet toured, or you are not yet confident on steep, ungroomed slopes, plan to build that experience before joining this expedition.
Recommended climbing experiences include:
Skills Covered:
A two-day introduction to backcountry ski and splitboard touring fundamentals.
Skills Covered:
Application of ski mountaineering techniques on a full summit ascent and long glaciated descent.
Skills Covered:
Crevasse rescue systems adapted for ski and snowboard travel, including anchor construction, hauling systems, and self-rescue.
Your climbing resumé should include:
Confident skiing or riding on black diamond terrain of 35+ degrees*
Comfort in variable off-piste snow: powder, breakable crust, firm, spring, and crud*
Prior ski touring or splitboard touring experience*
Familiarity with your own touring boots, tech bindings, and skins, including transitions*
Ability to ski or ride with a 20 lb pack*
Ability to climb and descend 2,500' to 5,000' in a day*
Prior roped glacier travel experience
Familiarity with avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe use
Items marked with an Asterix (*) are considered mandatory prerequisites for this program.
Mountaineering places sustained demands on your body and your ability to stay composed under effort. Even very fit people find that moving uphill with weight, for long hours, in variable weather is a different kind of challenge than most everyday training.
Preparation matters. Fitness directly affects how well you move, how much you learn, how the team functions, and how enjoyable the experience is overall.
Start early. Begin training well in advance of your program with the goal of arriving rested, resilient, and confident in your capacity for sustained effort.
Train intentionally. Emphasize aerobic endurance, uphill movement, and strength that supports long days on your feet. Core stability, balance, and mobility all play an important role in efficiency and injury prevention.
Train specifically. The closer you get to your program date, the more your training should resemble the demands of mountaineering: hiking uphill with weight, moving steadily for hours, and recovering well enough to do it again the next day.
Across RMI programs, strong preparation typically means being comfortable with long days of continuous movement, carrying a pack appropriate to the objective, and maintaining focus and decision-making when tired. Technical skills are taught or reviewed as appropriate to each program, but fitness is something you bring with you.
Nothing contributes more to a successful and rewarding experience than arriving well prepared. Plan to be in excellent physical condition and ready for a demanding day in the mountains.
Our guides have decades of experience training for alpine objectives, and we've done our best to put together relevant resources to help you with your expedition preparation.
Develop your aerobic base for endurance, strength, and performance in alpine environments with RMI’s expert guidance. Level up your training today.
Fitness & Training
Fueling Long-Duration Climbs with Enhanced Fat Metabolism
Fitness & Training
Strengthen your mountaineering training with a community of like-minded climbers who motivate and share the journey. Join us and explore.
Rainier
A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Your Own Progressive, Goal-Oriented Program
Fitness & Training
Mountaineering is both an individual challenge and a team endeavor. Before any program begins, RMI works directly with prospective climbers to confirm that everyone joining a team is genuinely prepared for the demands ahead. Depending on the program, this may involve conversations with our office staff, a review of your climbing history, or feedback from guides and other climbers who know your abilities. The goal is straightforward: to ensure that every person on the rope belongs there. We ask that each climber hold themselves to the same standard:
The standards we set exist to protect everyone on the team. RMI holds all climbers accountable to them, and we take seriously our responsibility to build teams of people who are ready to be in the mountains together. RMI reserves the right to remove a participant from a program or send them to a lower altitude if our guide staff determines, in their sole discretion, that the participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared or capable of participating, or for any other reason that may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the participant or the group. In such cases, no refunds or credits will be issued, and the participant will be financially responsible for any additional costs associated with an early departure, including evacuation, transportation, lodging, and meals.
The Alaska Range Ski Expedition is a fly-in ski mountaineering program on glaciated terrain, and this gear list is built around that combination: a full touring setup with tech bindings and skins, avalanche rescue equipment, glacier travel essentials, and a camp kit warm enough for cold spring nights in the Alaska Range. It reflects decades of RMI guiding experience in Alaska and represents what RMI expects each skier to bring.
Every experienced ski mountaineer refines their kit over time, and your preferences may differ from some items on the list. Not every item will be used on every trip, but all required equipment must be brought and available once the team is on the glacier. Guides run a gear check at the K2 Aviation hangar in Talkeetna before the flight, and if you have questions about a specific piece of gear, especially skis, boots, or bindings, contact the RMI office before you travel.
Each RMI program includes a required personal equipment list built around the specific terrain, conditions, and objectives of the climb. Every item serves a purpose and supports safety, efficiency, and comfort in the mountains.
Guide Picks™ are examples that meet our performance standards and illustrate the type of gear we recommend. Each year, our partners at Whittaker Mountaineering survey our staff of 70+ guides to get a consensus on the best gear for the job. You do not need to purchase the exact item shown, but any alternative must offer comparable function and durability.
All listed items are required for the gear check. Final adjustments may be recommended by your guide based on conditions and team needs once the expedition begins.
Most of the required equipment is available for rent or purchase from our affiliate Whittaker Mountaineering. RMI climbers receive a 10% discount on new clothing and equipment items ordered from Whittaker Mountaineering.
A 30 to 40 liter pack built for ski touring, carrying layers, food, water, and avalanche rescue gear on every tour. Look for a diagonal or A-frame ski carry, a dedicated shovel and probe pocket, and attachment points for an ice axe and helmet.
A comfortable, adjustable alpine climbing harness. Removable, drop-seat, or adjustable leg loops are recommended for managing layers and bathroom breaks in the mountains.
10- or 12-point adjustable steel crampons with anti-balling plates for general mountaineering and glacier travel. Automatic, semi-automatic, or strap-on attachment depending on boot compatibility. Ensure crampons are compatible with your specific boots before your program.
A UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme) or CE (European Committee for Standardization) certified climbing helmet or a ski mountaineering helmet rated from both rock fall and skiing falls. Standard ski helmets are not acceptable. They are not rated for rockfall and are too warm to be worn during ascents.
Glacier glasses are protective sunglasses that provide close to 100% frame coverage (wrap-around frames and side shields ensure no light can enter from the top, bottom, and sides of the glasses) and transmit less than 10% of visual light.
We recommend a minimum of five upper body layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Two of these should be insulating layers, one light, and one medium, that fit well together. Today there are many different layering systems to choose from, including fleece, softshell, down, and synthetic options.
A lightweight, breathable long-sleeve shirt in synthetic or merino wool for sun protection and moisture management during active climbing.
One step up in warmth and bulk from a baselayer. A technical fleece makes an ideal light weight insulating layer.
An insulated jacket or softshell for warmth during low-output activity and extended rest breaks. Should fit over baselayers and midlayers, and under a shell.
A waterproof, breathable shell built for ski touring, with a helmet-compatible hood and pit zips for venting on the skin track. It should fit comfortably over all of your insulating layers.
An expedition-style down parka that extends below the waist with an insulated hood, designed to fit over all other layers. Worn primarily in camp, during rest breaks, and on summit day. Down fill recommended over synthetic.
We recommend a system of four layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Products which combine several layers into one garment, such as traditional ski pants, don’t work well as they don’t offer the versatility of a layering system.
Lightweight synthetic or merino wool baselayer bottoms for moisture management and temperature regulation during active climbing.
Softshell climbing pants can be worn in combination with a base layer on colder days, or alone on warmer days.
Waterproof, breathable shell pants or bibs designed for ski touring, sized to fit over your baselayer and softshell layers. Look for side zips for venting and for getting them on over boots, and cuffs that fit over ski boots.
A pair of lightweight, insulated pants are ideal for extra warmth on summit day and cold days at camps. Full-length side zippers are required for facilitating quick clothing adjustments over boots.
Great for traveling and wearing around town or camp. A pair of tennis shoes or light hikers works well.
Either wool or synthetic. Whatever sock combination you are accustomed to wearing during your training or previous adventures (whether single medium weight socks, a medium weight with a liner sock, two medium weight socks together, etc.), should work just fine for this program.
We require each team member to bring the medications listed below for this program. Speak with your physician about each one before your trip. Altitude medications are carried for emergency use only: we do not take them prophylactically, and if someone shows symptoms of HAPE or HACE, our standard protocol is immediate descent. Please talk with your guide before taking any medication during your program.
Our guides carry comprehensive medical kits, so keep yours small and light. We recommend a selection of adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, Moleskin and blister care, medical tape and/or duct tape, basic pain reliever, and personal medications.
Meals provided vary by program. See the Food tab for what’s included and suggestions for anything you’ll need to bring.
Heavy-duty trash compacter bags for use as waterproof pack/stuff sack liners. You can also use a waterproof pack liner.
Books, magazines, or a journal for downtime at camp; a Kindle or similar e-reader is a practical alternative for longer expeditions where weight and bulk matter. Choose based on program length and personal preference.
A small container of moisturizer to prevent skin dryness at altitude and in cold, low-humidity environments. Bring a travel-size bottle that fits easily in your pack.
Disposable or reusable ear plugs for sleeping in shared tent or hut accommodations.
Spare prescription glasses if you wear contact lenses/eyeglasses.
A lightweight sleeping mask for blocking light in shared tent or hut accommodations and during extended daylight hours at high latitudes.
Many smartphones have excellent cameras. Action cameras, small point-and-shoots, and compact dSLRs are lightweight and work well at altitude.
A small power bank, enough to charge a phone or e-reader several times.
We recommend bringing a selection of clothing to wear while traveling, sightseeing and dining.
If Glacier Glasses are not required, regular sunglasses will suffice on this program.
Purchase travel insurance.
Purchase airplane tickets.
Reserve rental equipment.
Be in the best shape of your life!
Backcountry skis around 100 mm underfoot, mounted with tech (pin) bindings, for everything from powder to firm spring snow. All skis need brakes or retention leashes; frame and hybrid ("50/50") bindings are not recommended. Splitboards are welcome with a touring-ready binding setup.
Alpine touring boots with tech inserts that match your bindings, a walk mode for skinning, and enough stiffness to ski variable snow with a pack. Boots must also fit your crampons; splitboarders should bring a stiff, crampon-compatible boot. Call our office to talk with a guide about boot recommendations.
Adhesive or strap-on coverings that attach to the base of skis or a splitboard to provide traction during uphill travel. Essential for efficient ascents in ski mountaineering programs.
A crampon specific to your ski binding which is used for ascending firm slopes with skis on.
We recommend traveling with a ski bag large enough to accommodate skis, poles, and extra gear that might not fit in your duffel.
An insulated, waterproof pull-on boot (Muck Boot style) for wearing around base camp once your ski boots come off. Look for a warm lining, good tread for packed snow, and a fit that slips on easily over warm socks.
On the Alaska Range Ski Expedition, you will need 6 mountain lunches. All of your mountain lunch items should weigh 5+ lb.
Breakfast and dinner meals on the mountain are included in your program cost. You are responsible for all meals while we are off the mountain.
Mountain lunches are eaten during short breaks throughout the day. We continually snack to keep our energy levels up while we tour - lunch begins just after breakfast and ends just before dinner! Avoid packing any items that require preparation or hot water.
The importance of having foods that are genuinely enjoyed cannot be overstated. Eating properly is the key to maintaining strength while in the mountains. To combat the loss of appetite at altitude, we aim to have a variety of foods that stimulate the whole palate, from sweet to sour to salty.
Recommended mountain lunch items: bagels, tortillas, crackers (Wheat Thins, Triscuits), hummus, Pringles, corn nuts, smoked almonds, roasted cashews, GORP mix (peanuts, M&M's, sunflowers seeds, raisins, etc.), smoked salmon, fresh veggies (carrots), salami, pepperoni, cheese (pepper jack, Swiss, cheddar), jerky, candy (sweet and sour varieties), chocolate bars, hard candies, energy bars (Cliff, Luna), dried fruits (apricots, pineapple, pear), and drink mixes (Gatorade/Kool-Aid).
Perishable food items may be purchased at a grocery store en-route to Talkeetna; you should have the bulk of lunch items already purchased and packed.
Breakfasts consist of fresh food (bagels, cream cheese), bacon and eggs, instant oatmeal, instant grits, cold cereal (granola), breakfast bars, and hot drinks.
Group food for the full program is flown in with the team and can be stretched in the event of bad weather.
The dinner menu is a combination of fresh food (vegetables, tortillas, cheese), retort entrees (fully cooked meals packaged in sealed containers and heated in hot water), freeze-dried entrees (Mountain House or Alpine Air), and packaged main course items (ramen, Lipton Rice or Noodles, macaroni and cheese). Various hot drinks (tea and cocoa) and dessert are also provided.
Every attempt is made to assure a variety and adequate quantity.
This page covers the practical details you’ll want to review before your trip, including travel logistics, entry requirements, local considerations, and required policies. Taking time to understand these details ahead of departure helps ensure a smoother experience once you’re on the ground and focused on the climb.
Climbers need to arrive at Anchorage International Airport (ANC) by 1:00 pm on Day 1 of the program. The group will meet at 1:30 p.m., Alaska Airlines domestic baggage claim, carousel #1.
If your flight cannot arrive in Anchorage before 1:00 p.m., it will be necessary to arrive a day earlier and go to the airport to meet the team.
We have found it works well to book a one-way flight to Anchorage, AK, for the beginning of your trip, then scheduling your return flight once the team returns to Talkeetna. Another option is to book a flight with a flexible return date. This works better than an open-ended ticket or missing an early return date.
We will arrange a transfer from Anchorage to Talkeetna at 2:00 p.m. the day your program begins. Please arrive in Anchorage no later than 1:00 p.m. Talkeetna is a three-hour drive from Anchorage. If you are traveling to Talkeetna on your own, please let RMI know in advance that you will not require transportation.
If you are arriving in Anchorage the day before your program begins, below are some hotel options close to the Anchorage Airport:
Your travel insurance policy should include trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, baggage loss or delay, medical expenses, and evacuation.
Navigating through the different options for travel insurance can be challenging. When purchasing Travel Insurance, here are a few items to consider:
In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer Travelex Insurance protection plans to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.
For more information on the available plans visit Travelex Insurance Services or contact Travelex Insurance (800) 228-9792 and reference location number 47-0370.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC #16535, state of domicile: New York). RETWEB
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance is travel insurance designed for adventurers, including the best evacuation and rescue services available.
Benefits are tailored for adventurers and include:
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance is powered by Redpoint Resolutions, a medical and travel security risk company. Their team is comprised of special operations veterans, paramedics, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, former intelligence officers, insurance actuaries and global security experts with dozens of years of experience in theaters around the world. The Redpoint network covers the globe, making them uniquely equipped to provide elite rescue travel insurance – in every sense of the word. Whether it’s reimbursing you for a cancelled trip, paying your travel medical bills or evacuating you home in an emergency, Ripcord takes the worry out of your travel.
RMI has partnered with Erin Rountree to provide travel planning support. Erin is an independent agent with extensive experience booking travel for adventure programs worldwide and understands the specific needs of RMI expeditions.
Phone: (208) 788-2870
Email: [email protected]
It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance policy provides appropriate coverage for your specific program and activities. Review policy details carefully before purchasing, and confirm coverage well in advance of your departure.
Mt. McKinley's weather forecast is updated through the National Weather Service
Our guides put considerable effort into ensuring your wellbeing and success on the mountain. If you had a positive experience, leaving a gratuity is a wonderful gesture to show your appreciation. The amount is up to you and should reflect how much you enjoyed the service. Typically, tips for excellent service range from 10% to 15% of the program cost. Guides can accept gratuities in cash, Venmo, or by check. If you prefer, you can also pay tips using a credit card through the RMI Office.
The following policies are applicable for this expedition.
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. reserves the right to modify the land cost of a trip at any time before departure.
Deposit Payments: A non-refundable deposit payment of $1,250 per person secures your reservation.
Balance Payments: The balance payment is due 120 days before the start of your program.
*There is a 3% surcharge on all credit/debit card transactions.
**Wire transfers must include all fees charged by your bank. The amount received by our bank must match the deposit amount.
The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
We do not offer refunds. Please remember this before registering for this program. Due to the time-sensitive nature of this program, no exceptions will be made to the cancellation policy.
Date changes are subject to availability and can only be applied to the current climbing season. Changes must be requested at least 90 days before the departure date and will incur a $200 fee per person. No date changes are allowed within 90 days of departure.
Please clearly understand that ski mountaineering includes inherent risk. Managing risk is RMI’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in ski mountaineering, but they cannot eliminate them. Objective hazards include rockfall, icefall, avalanches, slides or falls by individuals and rope teams on steeper slopes, weather-related problems including cold, heat, high winds, and other unnamed dangers that can occur while climbing and skiing.
You are choosing to engage in an activity in which guided and non-guided climbers and skiers have been injured or killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risks and hazards of ski mountaineering and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in this activity.
Ski mountaineering is both an individual challenge and a team endeavor. Each Participant is required to share in the responsibility of the safety and success of the team. For this reason, we ask that each Participant:
RMI reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a program or to send the Participant to a lower altitude at any time if the RMI Guide Staff determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program or for any other reason that may compromise the safety, health or well-being of the Participant or the entire group. If this decision is made, the Participant will not receive any refunds or credits and will be financially responsible for any additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to, evacuation, transportation, hotels, meals, etc.
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) does not tolerate harassment or mistreatment of our participants or employees. Inappropriate conduct under this policy may include conduct that creates a disrespectful, intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for a participant or employee. Engaging in such conduct is a violation of this policy.
RMI may consider conduct to violate the policy even if it falls short of unlawful harassment under applicable law. When determining whether conduct violates this policy, we will consider whether a reasonable person could conclude that the conduct created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or demeaning environment.
Violation of this policy may result in removal from a program, as well as refusal to provide services indefinitely. We place the utmost value on the safety of our participants and employees. Please report any incidents to RMI management.
All participants must be 18 years old at the time of registration.
RMI’s Photo Release outlines the terms and conditions for using your likeness in photographs, videos, or other digital media.
I hereby grant Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) or its affiliates permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any and all of its publications, including web-based publications. By granting permission, you allow RMI to utilize these media for lawful purposes.
Here are the key points:
RMI’s program schedule and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, group strength, terrain, or other environmental factors, and many other factors. RMI has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including but not limited to, increases in program fees, changes to program schedule or itinerary, and changes to guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. Once the program has started, the Lead Guide will decide on any changes to the itinerary, including ending the program early if the continuation of the program may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the group.
We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather, route conditions, or for any other reason. In such a case, we will make every effort to reschedule the Participant on a different program date. If rescheduling is not possible, we will issue the Participant a refund for all program fees paid to RMI, less any non-refundable payments made on behalf of the Participant to secure any of the included land costs provided for this program, including but not limited to, hotel accommodations, transportation, transfers, tours, group equipment and food, permits, and local outfitter services, prior to the cancellation of the program. Additionally, RMI cannot be responsible for any non-refundable expenses the Participant incurred in preparation for the program (i.e., airline tickets, hotel reservations, rental cars, equipment purchases or rentals, etc.).
Once a program begins, there are no refunds or credits for weather-related cancellations or for a program that may end early due to weather, route conditions, or any other circumstances that may compromise the health, safety, or well-being of the group. Furthermore, if the Participant decides for any reason not to begin a program or discontinue a program at any time, no refunds or credits will be issued. The Participant will be responsible for all additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to evacuation, transportation, hotel reservations, meals, etc.
Land Costs are provided as a package, and refunds or credits will not be issued for any unused meals, accommodations, group transportation, or other unused costs. Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A Single Supplement Fee will be charged to those Participants occupying single accommodations either by choice or circumstance. If you are willing to share a room, we will make every effort to pair you with another same-gender team member. We will match willing same-gender team members based on the order of registration date. If we are unable to match you with another same- gender team member, a single supplement fee will be charged. The availability of single accommodations is limited in most of the hotels where we stay, and single accommodations are not available while in the mountains.
The Participant understands and agrees that RMI assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any travel and hospitality services provided to the Participant by other companies in connection with the program, including but not limited to, the services provided by airlines, hotels, rental cars, and transportation companies. In addition, RMI is not responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay, irregularity, or danger by a supplier of travel or hospitality services to the Participant in connection with the RMI program. The Participant will be responsible for all costs associated with any travel delays, missed connections, or missing baggage that requires additional arrangements (separate transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, etc.) to be made on your behalf for you or your baggage to rejoin the program.
The Alaska Range Ski Expedition is a fly-in ski program with a destination chosen for conditions, and most questions come back to how that works: where the team goes, what the skiing is like, and how to prepare for six days on a remote glacier. The answers below cover the program's structure, the skiing, travel and logistics, and what the price includes.
The final destination is chosen for current conditions, the forecast, and the group's goals and ability. Potential destinations include the Pika, Eldridge, Buckskin, Dall, and Surprise glaciers, along with other zones in the Alaska Range. The guides make the call close to the start of the program so the team flies into the area with the best snow and terrain that week.
No. Once the team flies in, it stays in that area for the full six days. Guides choose a zone with good conditions and enough terrain variety to keep the skiing interesting all week, and the time that would go into relocating goes into skiing instead.
Base camp is set up near the glacier landing strip and includes sleeping tents and a comfortable kitchen tent, where the team gathers for breakfasts and dinners. It serves as home base for every tour.
Teams are capped at six skiers, with a 3:1 skier-to-guide ratio.
You should be comfortable skiing or riding black diamond terrain of 35 degrees and steeper in a variety of off-piste conditions, including powder, breakable crust, firm snow, spring corn, and crud, with a pack of about 20 pounds. Prior ski touring experience is required, and roped glacier travel experience is strongly recommended.
Yes. The program is equally open to competent splitboarders. Riders should meet the same terrain and touring standards as skiers and be comfortable with their own splitboard setup and transitions.
Terrain ranges from low-angle glacier runs of about 20 degrees to slopes of 45 degrees and steeper, some with technical entrances. Where the team skis on a given day depends on snow stability, conditions, and each skier's comfort.
Expect big days, with 2,500 to 5,000 feet of climbing and skiing, depending on weather, conditions, and the team's energy.
The trip is focused on skiing, and guides coach ski mountaineering technique and terrain decisions throughout each tour. When the terrain calls for it, they may run refreshers on roped glacier travel, crevasse rescue, or rope systems.
Guides assess the snowpack and weather continuously and choose terrain based on what they find, adjusting plans as conditions change. Every skier carries an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe as part of the required gear.
The program runs from late March to early May.
In Anchorage. Plan to arrive at Anchorage International Airport (ANC) by 1:00 p.m. on Day 1; the team meets at 1:30 p.m. at carousel 1 in the Alaska Airlines baggage claim. The shuttle to Talkeetna leaves at 2:00 p.m., with a stop in Wasilla to buy lunch food and perishables.
Flights onto and off the glacier are operated by K2 Aviation and are weather dependent. If conditions prevent the flight on Day 2, the team waits in Talkeetna until flying is possible, and the pickup on Day 7 can be delayed the same way. Talkeetna lodging beyond the included first night is not covered, so we recommend booking a flexible return flight home.
Breakfasts and dinners on the mountain are included and served at base camp. You bring your own lunches and snacks for the glacier (plan on six mountain lunches), and you are responsible for meals while off the mountain.
Guide gratuities are not included in the program price. If you had a good experience, tips typically range from 10% to 15% of the program cost, and guides accept cash, Venmo, or check.
Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended for a remote fly-in program and is not included in the price. RMI partners with Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance; details are on the Travel tab.
Yes. Private Alaska Range ski expeditions can be arranged with changes to duration, guide selection, and location. Contact the RMI office for details.
When you've been in business since 1969, you pick up a thing or two about mountains you guide. Below are the resources relevant to this program, but you can check out our full Resources section for all of our hard earned knowledge.
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