Improved Guide Experience Requirements on Denali

Denali National Park and Preserve (DENA) put forward a new, park-wide regulation in 2018 that stated all guides must climb a route before guiding it. The requirement limited guiding opportunities for guides, caused staffing difficulties for guide services, and in several cases prevented the public from being able to hire a guide for the route of their choice. Over the summer and fall of 2019, the AMGA and five Denali guide services advocated for changes to the requirement in order to protect longstanding guiding traditions in the Alaska Range. In a meeting on October 16th, DENA agreed to change the requirement so it would apply only to the West Buttress on Denali. The new revised policy aligns with historical guiding practices while supporting NPS management goals. Thank you to the National Park Service and all participating guide services for contributing to a highly successful outcome for all involved.

AMGA Comments on Denali Guide Experience Requirements