1. Why should I climb with Mountain Link?
The Mountain Link crew works hard to stay on the leading edge
of adventure travel and is proud to be one of the premier guide
services in the world. While we continue to change and grow,
our philosophy and priorities remain the same: quality
instruction in the latest mountaineering techniques and just
plain fun. Please read more about our company here.
Our guides are not only world-class climbers, but also exceptional teachers. Their true talents lie in their ability to mentor others, giving Mountain Link participants great memories and the climbing experience necessary to serve them on future adventures. Please read more about our guides.
2. What is your success rate?
Climbing a mountain is a round trip experience. The summit at
all cost is not a Mountain Link motto. Success is to have all
team members come home safe and sound. We have 100% success in
that department.
In terms of reaching the summit in a particular destination, it is mountain specific. Please call and ask for details about the specific trip in which you are interested.
3. What is the guide to participant ratio on Mountain
Link adventures?
1:3 is the guide to participant ratio on all climbs.
4. How can I learn the basic mountaineering skills for
your trips?
This year we have created several new seminars to both
introduce and improve your mountaineering skills. Based out of
Snowbird Ski and Summer
Resort in Utah, we have 1-, 3- and 5-day seminars to best
suit your schedule. Depending on the length of the program,
your guides will move into more advanced skills including snow
and ice climbing, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, rope/belay
techniques, route finding, wilderness navigation and
understanding weather conditions.
We also offer seminar programs in Washington on Mount Olympus
and Mount Rainier.
5. I have taken some mountaineering seminars
domestically. Where do you suggest I climb next?
Please call or email for specific information regarding your
past climbing experiences. Phone (800) 408-8949 or e-mail us here.
6. What certifications do your guides
have?
Robert Link is an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide. All of the
Mountain Link lead guides have either Wilderness EMT,
Wilderness First Responder or Outdoor Emergency Care Technician
certifications. At a minimum, all guides have Advanced First
Aid and CPR. Leave No Trace and Avalanche Forecasting from the
American Avalanche Institute are other certifications that some
of our guides hold.
7. How much experience do I need for a Mountain Link
adventure?
To help you decide which trip is for you we have rated each
trip on a four-grade system
Grade 1: Simple hiking. This includes general trekking.
Grade 2: Strenuous hiking with some basic mountaineering skills (crampon and ice axe use, rope travel).
Grade 3: Some technical mountaineering skills needed. Experience in the use of ice axe, crampons and roped travel on glaciers.
Grade 4: A full range of technical mountaineering skills a necessity.
Experience at high altitude (over 14,000 feet). Knowledge of crevasse rescue and fixed line travel.
Participants have responsibilities to themselves, Mountain Link and to each other. They must choose the trip that is appropriate for their interests and skill level. Good physical condition is important on all Mountain Link trips and is a prerequisite for participation. Proper trip preparation includes, but is not limited to, acquisition of the proper equipment, understanding the trip's itinerary, awareness of local customs and traditions and familiarity with proper wilderness etiquette.
8. What personal equipment do I need to
bring?
Personal equipment is specific to each trip. Please refer to
the equipment list for the trip that is of interest to you.
9. What environmental and social policies does Mountain
Link adhere to?
Mountain Link adheres to the Leave No Trace ethics. www.lnt.org
10. What does the price of the trip
include?
Mountain Link, LLC covers all land costs as part of the overall
trip fee. Land costs include hotel rooms, sightseeing (only
activities explicitly described in the trip packet), guide
services (both Mountain Link and local guides), all meals while
trekking or climbing (unless otherwise noted), porters and/or
pack animals, cooks, ground transportation (unless otherwise
noted) and all group climbing and camping gear for the duration
of the scheduled trip. The cost of delays is not included. If a
trip is delayed due to road or trail conditions, airline
delays, government intervention, illness, acts of war or
terrorism or any other contingency that we or our agents cannot
control, Mountain Link reserves the right to modify the trip
fee.
11. What expenses do I incur when I sign up for a
Mountain Link adventure?
Participants are responsible for personal airfare,
personal/travel insurance (see Travel Insurance), passport and
visa fees (see Passports & Visas), excess baggage fees,
airport taxes and park entrance fees. Participants are also
responsible for meals prior to or after the actual scheduled
trip, and if there are delays, any meals not explicitly
described in the trip itinerary, or meals that are chosen as
alternatives to the ones offered by Mountain Link. The price of
the trip does not include any additional room charges (room
service, telephone charges and the like), laundry services and
other personal expenses. Tips for guides and camp staff,
medical costs and costs of any hospitalization and/or
evacuation required for the climber are not included. Please
confer with the hotel or with Mountain Link guides about
in-country telephone surcharges.
12. Can Mountain Link help me with my travel
arrangements?
Mountain Link works closely with "The Travel Agency." Their
toll-free number is (866) 581-1502. Annie Tippin will help you
with your travel arrangements. Once she has your airline
tickets booked she will fax your itinerary directly to Mountain
Link so you won't have to. If you choose to use your own travel
agent or arrange your own travel, please send your itinerary to
Mountain Link no later than 45 days prior to departure. We need
this information so that arrangements can be made to pick you
up at the airport in your destination city. If you plan to
redeem frequent flier mileage make sure to book your flight
early, as seats are limited.
13. Can Mountain Link create a custom trip for me?
Yes! Please contact our office with your ideas, dates,
number of people, what peaks you are interested in climbing and
we will do our best to create your dream adventure.
14. What is your reservation/refund
policy?
Written notice is required to cancel a trip. The following
cancellation fees apply (time calculated from receipt of
written notification):
90 or more days prior to departure - $100.00
60-89 days prior to departure - 25% of land cost
31-59 days prior to departure - 50% of land cost
30 days or less prior to departure - 100% of land cost
You may opt to transfer to another Mountain Link trip without penalty 90 or more days prior to your original departure date. Cancellation fees will apply to all other transfers. Mountain Link reserves the right to cancel any trip for any reason. In this event, Mountain Link will refund the land costs in full. Mountain Link is not responsible for any other expenses incurred in preparation for a cancelled trip such as, but not limited to, non-refundable airline tickets, medical expenses, equipment purchase/rental or visas. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Please allow 60 days to process refunds.
15. Do I need a Passport or Visa?
For all international trips a passport is required. If you
don't already have a passport you should apply for one now.
Acquiring a passport may take some time, so allow for that in
your plans. If you already have a passport check the expiration
date. In some countries they will not let you enter unless your
passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date you
complete your trip.
You can apply for a passport at the nearest U.S. Passport Agency or over the Internet at www.Travisa.com. They can also be reached at (800) 222-2589 or (800) 421-5468.
Currently, the trips that require visas are Tanzania: Africa, Nepal: Everest Region, Tibet: Cho Oyu. For countries where a visa is required, it would be wise to apply for one well ahead of time; the visa process usually takes a while. You may apply for a visa through the consulate of the particular country you are interested in or over the Internet at www.Travisa.com or call them at (800) 222-2589 or (800) 421-5468.
16. Do I need/want Travel Insurance?
Travel Insurance is highly recommended. Any policy you purchase
should, at the very least, cover trip cancellation, loss of
baggage, accident/life coverage, travel delays and
non-refundable airline tickets. You may also consider insurance
that covers emergency medical evacuation. Carriers for travel
insurance include Travel Guard www.travelguard.com and
Travelex www.travelex-insurance.com.
Other insurance carriers may be found on the American Alpine
Club Web site regarding medical evacuation at www.americanalpineclub.org
17. Still have more questions? Please call our offices at (800) 408-8949 or email us here. We look forward to hearing from you!
