Why consider a custom expedition or private instruction
course? Because everyone has 
different
skills, abilities, and expectations. A climbing course or expedition tailored
to your individual needs has greatest potential for fulfilling your expectations
for the adventure of a lifetime. Alpine Guides Alaska specializes in custom
climbing trips and courses for individuals and small groups, emphasizing
high quality, personalized service. From a remote trek to a technically
challenging alpine ascent, Dave's years of experience and leadership give
you the flexibility to customize your adventure so you won't be stuck in
a crowd. Alpine Guides isn't some monolithic guide service. Dave Staeheli
considers himself your personal mountain guide, for your quality
experience!
Dave Staeheli is one of the most experienced mountain guides in Alaska. He has guided for over 25 years in Alaska and New Zealand, and has summited on Denali over a score of times, including the first solo winter ascent of the West Rib in 1989. He is an Everest veteran, an instructor and examiner on alpine guide courses for the American Mountain Guides Association, and was a lead mountaineering guide/instructor in the New Zealand Alps. As well as owning and operating the Snowbird Glacier Hut, the only private ski and mountaineering hut in the Talkeetna Mountains, Dave has been ski guiding for 19 years, is a Level II qualified American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education avalanche instructor and a P.S.I.A. Level I Nordic Instructor. Dave leads every trip personally.
As we at AGA primarily run trips and instructional on a mostly custom basis, it is difficult to standardize prices. Below are guidelines for estimating guide rates for each category of trip. Exceptions to these are special package prices for popular or difficult to categorize style trips.
Private High Guiding Daily Rates cover those days actually in the field where the primary goal is roped climbing, usually to a summit. Only that instruction necessary to achieve the goal is usually covered. Overnights in a field camp are the norm. Included in these daily rates are the guide fees, small party road transportation, group equipment, food and incidental fees.
Ski Guiding Daily Rates apply for overnight ski trips, primarily during the winter where the main activity is backcountry ski touring. As with Private Guiding, the daily rate covers guide fees, small party road transportation, group equipment, food and incidental fees.
Private Instruction Daily Rates apply where the primary goal is instructional climbing or skiing. Possibly a summit can be achieved, but no field camps are expected. Daily trips to the field, car camping or similar situations apply. Included are instructor fees and group equipment, but not incidental fees and personal gear. Road transportation may be included at instructor's convenience.
Aircraft Charter Rates are very common in Alaska and apply to many of the trips we do. The different companies we deal with structure their pricing in different ways. We will provide estimates for air charter on those trips which require them, but cannot guarantee final charges. Clients are responsible for total charges, including those of the guide/guides.
For courses, the course fee or $100, which ever is less, is required for deposit. Tours, expeditions and climbs require a deposit of 50% of the guide fee if registering more than 30 days prior. If registering for a tour, expedition or climb less than 30 days prior to scheduled dates, the full guide fee is required to reserve your space. Balance of any outstanding tour or course fee is due immediately before commencement of any tour or course.
If participants cancel more than 60 days prior to a course/tour/climb, they are entitled to a full refund. If cancelling more than 30 days, but less than 60 days prior, 50% of any collected deposit will be returned. If cancelling less than 30 days prior to course/tour/climb commencement, the deposit is forfeit. Any fees paid beyond required deposits will be returned in any case.
If AGA must cancel a course or tour due to inadequate registration or unsafe conditions, you will receive a full refund. AGA however, will not be responsible for additional expenses incurred including nonrefundable airline tickets, equipment, medical expenses, etc. We recommend that you obtain trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.
Current as of January, 2004
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HC 31, Box 5118
Wasilla, Alaska 99654-9703
(907) 373-3051
E-mail: AlpineAK@aol.com
Updated 1/7/2004
