About Us

Providing Outstanding Service and Memorable Experiences in the Mountains Since 1977

Aspen Expeditions is a boutique mountain guide service,  where the genuine care and safety of our guests is our highest mission. Our guided experiences are always tailored to meet our clients’ individual expectations and goals. We believe in equitable accessibility into the mountains, which includes growing our women’s programming and promoting our female guides and instructors. Aspen Expeditions seeks to uphold the highest industry standards in training and certification for our skilled and seasoned mountain guides. So whether it is in the mountains, on the rock, or in the snow – come take the next step with us!

Hut Trip Winter Skiing

Partners

Aspen Expeditions is proud partners of The North Face, CAMP, DPS, Ortovox and Cripple Creek Backcountry, our retail partner, offering the most extensive slopeside alpine touring and four season backcountry equipment/apparel sales/rentals in the region. 

Elk Mountains

How we started

Aspen Expeditions was founded in 1977 by pioneer American IFMGA Guide, Dick Jackson. AE is now owned and operated by Internationally Certified Mountain Guide (IFMGA) Amos Whiting and AMGA Certified Ski and Rock Guide Britt Ruegger. We take pride in the service and products we deliver. Our commitment to our highly qualified staff of mountain guides, who are all committed to AMGA guide training, fosters our prestigious industry reputation and cultivates our many return clients and families that work with us year after year.

Capitol Lake Hike

how we grew

In 2018, Aspen Expeditions acquired Kling Mountain Guides from Josh Kling, IFMGA guide and renowned avalanche educator. Rebranded as San Juan Expeditions, our Silverton-based program has earned its reputation as one of the finest AIARE avalanche education programs in the San Juan Mountains. We offer privately guided custom ski, ice, hut, rock and mountain climbing adventures, from Red Mountain Pass and the Weminuche wilderness to Durango. 

In 2022, Aspen Expeditions acquired local competitor Aspen Alpine Guides (AAG). This proud and reputable program was started in 1987 by lifetime avalanche educator, Scott Messina. From the beginning, Scott Messina has been a very large part in making the 10th Mountain Hut Association and Mountain Rescue Aspen the amazing professional organizations that they both are today. The addition of AAG’s veteran mountain guide team has been integral in creating one of the most trained and experienced guide staffs in Colorado.  

Rock Climbing on Indy Pass

Meet Our Guides

Aspen Expeditions is a place where the genuine care and safety of our guests is our highest mission. Our guided experiences are always tailored to meet our client’s individual expectations and goals. We pledge to always uphold the highest industry standards in training and certifications for our highly skilled and seasoned mountain guides.

Adventure with us

Join us all year for local and international mountain adventures with our trained and certified guides.

Alpine

Tackle your last 14ers with us or start your 14er or 13er alpine climbing journey in the Elk Mountains. The Aspen-area offers a variety of peaks that can be climbed early spring in the snow…

View Trips : Alpine

Bike

The Roaring Fork Valley is home to some of the best mountain biking and gravel biking in Colorado. Join us for a few hours to ride a local trail and explore beyond the pavement. …

View Trips : Bike

Rock

Independence Pass offers easily accessible climbing adventures close to Aspen. Aspen Expeditions offers a multitude of options ranging from short day family climbing to technical multi-pitch adventures. …

View Trips : Rock