The Pika Glacier of the central Alaska Range is located approximately 35 miles to the south of Mt. McKinley. This infrequently visited area has been aptly dubbed 'Little Switzerland' for it's spectacular alpine setting.

Our basecamp at 5600 feet is positioned below beautiful soaring granite buttresses. The valley is home to numerous moderately-graded alpine rock climbing objectives of 500-2500 feet, snow couloirs, seracs, crevasses and easily accessible terrain. Rigging for Rescue has conducted a mountain rescue training seminar in Little Switzerland on two previous occasions and the included photos are from a week in March, 2005.

Access to Little Switzerland is via a glacier flight from Talkeetna. The flight is incredibly scenic and offers the passenger a real appreciation for the scope and scale of the central Alaska Range Mountains. Weather is always a major consideration when traveling in the Alaska Range; participants should include some flexibility in their Lower 48 return flight in case of unexpected weather delays at the back end of the seminar. July weather is typically quite good with moderate temperatures and around 20 hours of daylight.

Little Switzerland offers some of the highest quality, most easily accessible, glaciated mountain rescue terrain anywhere in the country. Consider joining us for an intense, high caliber week of training!

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