Aspen Alpine Guides
Aspen Alpine Guides (operating as Aspen Expeditions) is a four-season technical mountain guide service founded in 1977 in Aspen, Colorado, offering guided rock climbing, ice climbing, ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing, hiking, and international expeditions to individual adventure travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersAspen, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aspen Alpine Guides does
Aspen Alpine Guides, operating commercially as Aspen Expeditions, is a four-season technical mountain guide service founded by Dick Jackson in 1977 and based in Aspen, Colorado. The company delivers guided outdoor experiences including rock climbing, ice climbing, ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing, hiking, and backpacking, alongside multi-day international expeditions to Hokkaido (Japan), Iceland, Norway, Alaska, the European Alps, and the Andes. A secondary brand, San Juan Expeditions, operates out of Silverton, Colorado, and a Moab Desert Climbing program extends coverage to the Southwest.
The offering is built entirely on certified human guide expertise, route knowledge, and access to public mountain terrain; there is no proprietary technology platform, booking application, or digital product layer described. Equipment and brand support are provided through partnerships with The North Face, Cripple Creek Backcountry, CAMP, and Ortovox.
The business runs on a direct-to-consumer, quote-based pricing model for custom private and group trips, with no enterprise contracts, recurring memberships, or channel intermediaries disclosed. Customers are individual adventure travelers and private groups, and revenue mechanics depend on seasonal guide seat-days across winter and summer rather than on volume-driven, technology-mediated bookings.
Aspen Alpine Guides firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aspen Alpine Guides
- Legal name
- Aspen Expeditions
- Website
- https://aspenalpine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aspen Alpine Guides (operating as Aspen Expeditions) is a four-season technical mountain guide service founded in 1977 in Aspen, Colorado, offering guided rock climbing, ice climbing, ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing, hiking, and international expeditions to individual adventure travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aspen Alpine Guides industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mountain Guide Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC), Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing) (THAAAJAD), Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)
Keywords
Where Aspen Alpine Guides is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aspen
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Aspen Alpine Guides business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Guided Adventure Services: Revenue generated from privately guided custom mountain activities including rock climbing, ice climbing, ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing, day hiking, backpacking, hut trips, and international expeditions. Services are sold on a per-trip or custom package basis with pricing varying by duration and activity type.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Private Guided Trips - pricing varies by activity and duration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Aspen Alpine Guides product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aspen Expeditions is a four-season, technical mountain guide service based in Aspen, Colorado, operating since 1977. It sells privately guided custom outdoor adventures including rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, hut trips, and international expeditions to destinations such as Hokkaido Japan, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, the European Alps, and the Andes/South America. Services are tailored to individuals and small groups ranging from beginners with no experience to advanced climbers and skiers, with pricing quoted on a custom basis.
Product overview
Aspen Expeditions is a four-season technical mountain guide service offering a portfolio of guided outdoor activities. The core offerings include Summer Adventures (mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, hut trips, rock climbing), Winter Mountain Guiding (backcountry skiing, winter mountaineering), and custom Expeditions worldwide (ski trips to Japan, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, European hut traverses, South American volcano climbs). Specific activities include Rock Climbing, Moab Desert Climbing, and Day Hiking. The company operates from Aspen, Colorado and Silverton, Colorado, teaching rock, ice, ski, and alpine mountaineering skills since 1977.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Summer Adventures Privately guided custom summer mountain activities in Aspen and the surrounding Rocky Mountains, including mountain and gravel biking, hiking, backpacking, hut trips, and rock climbing instruction for individuals and small groups with no experience to lots of experience.
- Winter Mountain Guiding Backcountry skiing and winter mountaineering adventures including lift-assisted backcountry days, guided ski tours, and access to terrain outside Aspen's four ski areas, led by certified guides.
- Expeditions Custom privately guided expeditions worldwide including adventure skiing in Hokkaido Japan, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, European hut traverses, and South American volcano climbs for smaller private groups.
- Rock Climbing Daily custom guided rock climbing and rock climbing instruction in Aspen and the surrounding areas, with a 4-6 hour duration.
- Moab Desert Climbing Guided climbing experiences on enormous Wingate sandstone towers in the Moab desert area, lasting approximately 6 hours.
- Day Hiking Private custom mountain hikes in the Aspen-area wilderness, available daily on request as short day (4 hours) or full day (6 hours) options, planned by office staff and veteran mountain guides.
Companies that use Aspen Alpine Guides
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Aspen Alpine Guides technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Aspen Alpine Guides partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- The North FaceminorFeatured partner brand in the 'Our awesome partners' section of the website. The North Face is a major outdoor apparel and equipment brand that likely provides gear sponsorship or co-marketing opportunities for the guiding service.
- Cripple Creek BackcountryminorFeatured partner in the 'Our awesome partners' section. Cripple Creek Backcountry is an outdoor gear retailer specializing in backcountry equipment for skiing and climbing.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Aspen Alpine Guides competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Mountain Guides: Washington-state based guide service offering mountaineering, climbing, and ski expeditions worldwide. Directly comparable to Aspen Expeditions in technical guiding, international expedition portfolio, and certified guide roster.
- Mountain Madness: Seattle-based guide service offering mountaineering expeditions, climbing courses, and ski tours domestically and internationally. Comparable to Aspen Expeditions in expedition-style guiding and certified AMGA guide roster.
- Alpine Ascents International: Seattle-based mountaineering guide service offering climbs, expeditions, and ski tours globally, including high-altitude peaks. Directly comparable in custom international expeditions and certified guide expertise.
- RMI Expeditions: Washington-based technical mountaineering and ski expedition operator offering domestic and international trips including Denali, Rainier, and global objectives. Comparable to Aspen Expeditions in guided expedition model and premium pricing.
- Colorado Adventure Guides: Colorado-based mountain guiding company offering backcountry skiing, avalanche education, and mountaineering trips across the state. Comparable service mix to Aspen Expeditions with a similar year-round Colorado operating model.
- Mountain Trip: Telluride, Colorado-based mountain guide service specializing in technical climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing in the San Juan Mountains. Closely comparable as a Colorado technical guide operator serving similar premium clientele.
- Exum Mountain Guides: Grand Teton/Jackson Hole-based guide service specializing in rock climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing since 1964. Direct peer in technical mountain guiding for affluent clients, with a comparable legacy brand and custom trip model.
- American Alpine Institute: Long-established US mountain guide service offering rock, alpine, ski mountaineering, and expedition programs domestically and internationally. Closely comparable to Aspen Expeditions in multi-discipline technical guiding, custom trip model, and expedition destinations.
- Colorado Mountain School: Boulder, Colorado-based mountain guide service offering rock climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and avalanche courses. Directly comparable to Aspen Expeditions as a Colorado-based technical guide operator serving similar clients with a similar year-round service catalog.
Broad incumbents
- Aspen Skiing Company: Operates the four Aspen-area ski mountains and dominates in-bounds lift-served skiing in the same geography as Aspen Expeditions. The Aspen Expeditions website itself directs in-bounds skiers to Aspen Skiing Company, illustrating its role as the incumbent that defines the local market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aspen Alpine Guides social profiles
Digital presenceAspen Alpine Guides financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aspen Alpine Guides leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aspen Alpine Guides funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aspen Alpine Guides M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aspen Alpine Guides
What does Aspen Alpine Guides do?
Aspen Expeditions is a four-season, technical mountain guide service based in Aspen, Colorado, operating since 1977. It sells privately guided custom outdoor adventures including rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, hut trips, and international expeditions to destinations such as Hokkaido Japan, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, the European Alps, and the Andes/South America. Services are tailored to individuals and small groups ranging from beginners with no experience to advanced climbers and skiers, with pricing quoted on a custom basis.
Is Aspen Alpine Guides a public or private company?
Aspen Alpine Guides is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aspen Alpine Guides founded?
Aspen Alpine Guides was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aspen Alpine Guides based?
Aspen Alpine Guides is headquartered in Aspen, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aspen Alpine Guides make money?
One revenue line is on record: guided Adventure Services.
Who are Aspen Alpine Guides's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Mountain Guides, Mountain Madness, Alpine Ascents International, RMI Expeditions, Colorado Adventure Guides, Mountain Trip, Exum Mountain Guides, American Alpine Institute and Colorado Mountain School. Aspen Skiing Company is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Aspen Alpine Guides have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aspen Alpine Guides.
What industry is Aspen Alpine Guides in?
Aspen Alpine Guides's product category is Mountain Guide Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAALAA, Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering), with a secondary code of THAAADAC, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.