Adrian Ballinger is a big mountain climber and skier, certified mountain guide, and professional speaker. Ballinger is the founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, and has been professionally guiding groups on the world’s tallest mountains for 25 years.
He has led over 150 international climbing expeditions on six continents, and made 17 successful summits of 8,000m peaks, including 8 summits of Mt. Everest. He is known for pioneering the use of pre-acclimatization for commercial expeditions, which cuts the amount of time typically spent on an expedition in half, while also leading the industry’s shift to ethical standards while guiding the world’s tallest mountains.
As an athlete, Adrian is the only American to have made three successful ski descents of 8,000m peaks, including the first ski descent of Manaslu from its summit. He is also the fourth American to have summited both Mount Everest and K2 without the use of supplemental oxygen. Most recently, following a year of focused rock climbing amidst the Covid pandemic, Adrian climbed his first 8a/5.13b, Fall of Man in the Virgin River Gorge. Adrian aims to excel in all three of the traditional mountain guide disciplines - Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and Skiing.
Top Accomplishments
Summited Everest and K2 without supplemental oxygen
First ski descent of Manaslu (8th tallest peak in the world) from summit
First ski descent of Makalu (5th tallest peak in the world) from summit
Founded Alpenglow Expeditions, which now takes 6000+ people a year skiing, climbing and mountaineering
IFMGA Mountain Guide since 2008
Eighteen summits of 8000-meter peaks
Persuading Emily Harrington to marry me
Proud dad of Aaro Storm
Partners
These are the companies that make it all possible:
