Denali Prep Course | Miyar Adventures
DETAILS

Join Us On an 8 Day Denali Prep Course

The first session is a 2-day classroom course. The material learned during the Denali Prep Course two-day course will prepare you for the next six days of training. This is taught in person, but there is an option to take the course online. The next session is a 3-day course in the mountains during which time the information learned in the first session will be applied. The final session is a 3-day course where participants lead an Alaskan-style climb of a challenging peak in the North Cascades such as Mt. Shuksan or Mt. Baker, under the supervision of instructors.

The sessions can be tailored for beginner and intermediate mountaineers. Previous glacier travel and glacier camping experience is beneficial but not required. Participants must be physically fit for extended alpine activity, including carrying a 60-lb pack and pulling a sled. Some activities will be extremely rigorous. Adequate training, fitness, and gear will make the trip more enjoyable and allow you to focus on the many skills covered.

We have two options for dividing up the Denali Prep Course Trip:

1. Break down the trip in multiple sessions over consecutive weekends: 2 day Classroom weekend + 3 day weekend + 3 day weekend. This will work well for Seattle/Portland area people who may not want use their vacation days.

2. Combine all three sessions in one 9-day period: 2 day Classroom + 3 day mountain + day off + 3 day mountain. This will work well for people flying in.


  PRICE BASIS
PRICE INCLUDES

  • Course instruction with experienced guides
  • Tents
  • Stoves/Cooking kits
  • Group climbing equipment
  • Park fees
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Any hotel stays or in town expenses
  • Transportation (We will help arrange carpools or transportation can be provided for extra fees)
  • Meals
  • Gratuities for Guides
  • Travel insurance
ITINERARY

Session 1: Logistics and Skills (2-days)

This session is information rich. We use an indoor and outdoor classroom to learn information and practice techniques in a controlled setting. It is possible that this session will be a distance learning session. We find classroom/technology learning makes the learning process much easier than learning on the side of a mountain. Information may also be accessed at a later date and reviewed. The information from this session is then applied in a mountain environment during session 2.

Indoor Classroom, Overview - Day 1
Introductions
Run-through of experience of participants in cold weather mountain environments
Overview of West Buttress Route
Pass-out and go over the Denali packing list (provided to participants before the course)
Reserving your climbing permit
Choosing a flight service to Kahiltna
Detailed day-by-day of the route
How to do food shopping Food Packing
Boot fitting, socks, & lacing
Crampon fitting with overboots (large sizing bars)
Skis vs. snowshoes
Backpack and sled rigging (reinforcing haul loops)
Prussic cutting and tying for rescue and travel systems
Indoor Classroom, Overview - Day 2
Introduction to Kahiltna Base Camp
Packing an expedition backpack
Packing an expedition sled
Rope management and storage to prevent freezing
Attaching to the rope/prussic systems
Rope-team travel in a glacial environment (emotional and physical challenges)
Attaching to fixed-lines
Ascending fixed-lines
Clipping-past an anchor
Descending fixed-lines
High altitude concerns
High altitude eating and hydration

Session 2: Application of Knowledge (3 days)

During this session we practice the skills we learned in session 1 on a glaciated peak. We also add movement skills, self-care, and crevasse rescue. The focus of this session is not to summit a peak, but rather to build a skill-set that will allow us to climb Denali.

Overview - Day 1
Travel to a mountain environment
Review/practice packing backpacks and sleds
Uphill walking techniques (with a weighted sled)
Downhill walking techniques (with a weighted sled)
Lower glacier navigation and travel
Belaying and probing for a good campsite
Work hardening snow for camping
Wind-wall building
Tent set-up and anchoring Cooking shelter area construction
Pee-hole area construction
Cooking and snow melting
Weather reports and forecasting
Drying clothing
Sleeping warm
Overview - Day 2
Self-arrest with packs and sleds on a rope team
Snow anchors specific to Alaska powder
Clipping past running protection
Attaching the rope to anchors
Self rescue with a pack and sled (in actual crevasse)
Probing a campsite/food cache
Camp selection and set-up
Cooking and snow melting
Tent organization
Keeping hands and feet warm
Crevasse Rescue - Day 3
Practice crevasse rescue in an actual crevasse. Systems are complicated, and working through the systems will take most of the day. Use video setting on cameras to record the lesson for later reference.

Session 3: Leadership & Assessment (3 days)

This session will be a student-led “mini expedition” of a glaciated peak in the Pacific Northwest which will be climbed using the same equipment and techniques we will use on Denali. Students will plan, organize, and lead the trip. The intention is for all participants to summit the peak safely. Guides will come as participants in order to offer advice and coaching to participant leaders. Realistic scenarios will be used to test students’ knowledge and abilities during the climb.

Expedition Start - Day 1
Briefing by participant leaders
Travel to mountain destination
Pack backpacks and sleds
Rope-up for glacier travel
Progress toward Camp I
White-out navigation scenario
Camp set-up: kitchen, tents, “toilet crevasse”
Camp II - Day 2
Pack-up camp
Load packs & sleds
Progress toward Camp II
May include use of fixed-lines depending upon route chosen
High winds scenario
Camp set-up with wind walls and reinforced kitchen
Summit - Day 3
Summit Day
May include use of fixed-lines depending upon route chosen
Pack-up camp
Progress down toward base camp
Return home
FAQs
How does the timing of these three sessions occur? All back to back?
You'll have one 9-day period, with 8 days of course sessions and one day off: 2 day classroom + 3 day on-mountain + day off + 3 day on-mountain.
What is the best way to get to the trip start location?
Plan to meet your guides and rest of your group somewhere in the Seattle area, Miyar Adventures will work with you directly to coordinate the most convenient location.
Do I need previous experience in order to take this course?
Yes, all participants in this course must have some level of previous glacier travel and glacier camping experience.
What are the accommodations like?
You'll be staying in shared 2 person tent accommodations.
What if I'm a solo traveler? Is there a single supplement to get my own tent?
You will need to pay a single person supplement of $125 directly to Miyar Adventures.
How much extra money should I budget?
Plan to spend an additional $200-400 for gratuities, food on the mountain, and hotel stay during days in the city.
What should I bring? Do you have a packing list?
Miyar Adventures will share the detailed packing list before the trip. You can rent any items not included in your trip cost directly from Miyar.
Can I cancel the trip?
For information about cancellation policy Click Here
QUESTIONS?

Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or email us at contact@miyaradventures.com.

Reviews

Testimonials
  • Looking down during climbing Aconcagua

    I've known the owner of Miyar Adventures for a few years and he's one of the best climbers I know. He's helped with other climbs I've been a part of even before forming the company and definitely knows his stuff. He also works hard (really hard) to keep costs down compared to other larger companies. I took the Denali Prep course in Summer 2015. Our Denali guide presented how to rig a sled and we did real crevasse rescue in a real crevasse. I had had some training in related areas, but I still learned a ton every minute from our guide. The course is still ongoing and I'm looking forward to the student-led climb! Can't wait to try Denali and a winter ascent of Rainier! I have friends that did Kilimanjaro and the accompanying Safari. While I didn't go, everyone said it was great and well organized.

    Rob Miller
  • Stella To Summit

    Loved the Denali Prep Course offered through Miyar, and the awesome guides that we had. They were extremely knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. They made sure that every one of us received individual attention and got the chance to learn everything that we were supposed to learn. They answered all our questions, gave very useful advice on various things, and had a great attitude/were very patient, both with us and the weather :). I had a great experience with them! And most importantly, I felt very safe climbing with them. The crevasse rescue practice was done very safely with plenty of anchors, and during the summit push, the guides were skilled enough to make the call to turn back due to the conditions being bad - which turned out to be a good decision, since a whiteout came in soon after we turned back. Regarding the course itself, everything was very well planned and went smoothly. The course was structured and paced very well. I loved the flexibility in scheduling, and appreciate the trouble that Miyar (especially Sandeep) took in order to be flexible! I learned a lot through the course and it was a great experience!

    Akshay Kulkarni
  • Climbers working on skill for Denali

    I had a great experience taking the Denali Prep Course with our instructor Glen. The course was very thorough and Glen did a great job of teaching us complex systems in a simple way while sharing a wealth of real world mountaineering experience. We covered everything from how to tie your boot laces so they won't freeze to a comprehensive review of the recommended Denali climbing itinerary. Glen was amazingly hospitable and was very flexible in tailoring the class to work well with our location and current weather conditions. All together it was a fantastic experience that I would highly recommend and I feel much more prepared for the challenges that Denali will present.

    Jeff Crow
  • Crevace exploring while preparing for Denali

    Glen was a true professional and provided a totally personalized experience. Glen's teaching style allowed each of us to walk away with significantly improved mountaineering knowledge and skills. A good example on the trip happened when I soaked my boots. Glen didn't miss a beat and used it as a learning experience for the group on how to balance tasks when one person has a temporary handicap. The training was delivered in such a positive, customized, and professional way that learning came easy. By the end of the training, we felt stronger, more capable, and equipped to challenge Denali. Thanks, Glen!

    Steven Waller