About Us
AMGA/IFMGA Certified Guides and Instructors
Pikes Peak Alpine School has taught climbers, mountaineers and skiers and offered guidance in the mountains since 1989. We are your ROCK, SNOW, and ICE guide service on Pikes Peak.
Who we are
Pikes Peak Alpine School is a mountain school and guide service centered in the Pikes Peak region. We also guide throughout Colorado, the North Cascades, Alaska and the Alps. The School has been teaching and offering guidance to mountaineers, climbers, and snow riders since 1989. We guide year-round; ROCK, SNOW, and ICE on Pikes Peak and beyond.
We love rock, snow, and ice. Having the ability to adjust to the current conditions of the terrain allows us to teach, guide, and play year round. Some of our favorite ways to experience the unwavering beauty of the Springs is to climb the technical routes and hike to the summit of our backyard 14er, Pikes Peak. We offer single or multi-pitch climbing on rock in the warmer months and ice climbing in the winter months. Guests can take one of our multi-day mountaineering courses preparing them for climbs on glaciated terrain around the world. Avalanche education is among our core programs at Pikes Peak Alpine School. For a skier/snowboarder looking to get away from the resorts and step out into the backcountry for the first time or a hiker working on the 14ers and looking to include a few winter ascents, avalanche training is a must. Regardless the season, we get out and want you to join us!
Our mission at Pikes Peak Alpine School is to provide exceptional guidance and education for climbers, mountaineers, skiers, and splitboarders. Our passion is extended to all ages and all levels of experience for the enjoyment and safety of the outdoor community.
Why Choose Our Guides?
Smaller Ratios
Most of the climbs and outings we guide are 2:1 guest to guide ratios. This means more hands on for participants on courses and bigger objectives for guided climbs. This also means the course or climb can be customized. We aim to truly know our guests by the end of the day or the trip, not just a name in the crowd.
Professional Guides
The PPAS guides encompass the three qualities that make up a great guide. Our guides are experienced, qualified and passionate about what they do. We understand the mountains have an infinite amount of knowledge to be acquired.
Our guides are passionate to continue to improve their own personal skills, whether it’s spending time together in the mountains or crags on off-days or professional development through the American Mountain Guides Association. We hold ourselves to a high standard of expertise and knowledge, making Pikes Peak Alpine School the leading authorities of current affairs in the Front Range. This passion has evolved over years of experience making us who we are. It fuels our enthusiasm to adventure and educate new and experienced climbers alike.
AMGA/IFMGA Training and Certification
Because some climbing areas (including Garden of the Gods) don’t require climbing guides to have any formal training, hiring a guide can be “climber beware”. As well as in-house training all of our guides have subjected themselves to the examination and assessment from the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The AMGA is the only internationally recognized third party standard for guide training and certification.
Our guides have higher level of training and experience than any other company in Colorado Springs. Each of our guides have taken at minimum, the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. Some are full IFMGA Mountain Guides, a ten year training and exam process. To better understand the AMGA training investment, see Our Guides page and the AMGA education flowchart on that page.
