Upcoming events.
MEMBER ACTION REQUIRED: MCA’s 501(c)(3) Transition & Proxy Vote
The Mountaineering Club of Alaska is taking the exciting step of applying for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This change is incredibly important for the future of the club because it will allow donations—such as those needed to build and maintain our backcountry huts—to be entirely tax-deductible for the donor.
To make this happen, state law requires us to update our Articles of Incorporation. We are also taking this opportunity to modernize our governance to better protect our volunteer officers and streamline club operations.
We will be officially adopting these changes at a Special Meeting held via Zoom on July 15th (see your registered member email for the invitation and link to the meeting).
We Need Your Help (and Your Proxy!) Because this is a major legal change, state law requires us to hit a specific attendance quorum (at least 10% of our total membership) to legally hold the vote. Since it is the middle of the Alaskan summer, we are relying heavily on Proxy Voting to reach our numbers.
Please click the link in your registered member email to visit our online voting site and fill out your Proxy Form. It only takes two minutes.
To keep things simple, submitting this online proxy does three things at once:
Casts your vote: It directs the Proxy Committee to vote "Yes" or "No" on your behalf for the 501(c)(3) amendment.
Opts you into electronic notices: It gives the club explicit legal permission to send you official corporate notices by email in the future, saving the MCA thousands of dollars in physical postage.
Helps us with future quorums: It allows the Proxy Committee to count you for "attendance" at future meetings so we never fail to reach a quorum again. (Don't worry—the form specifically states the committee cannot use your proxy to vote on new measures or candidates without your explicit permission).
Important Note for Family Memberships: Because our governing documents do not limit household voting, every individual covered by a Family Membership is legally entitled to one independent vote. Because we only have one primary email address on file for your household, please forward this email and the online voting link to the other adult members of your family so they can submit their own individual proxies.
If you want to dive into the legal details, you can review the full text of the official notice and proposed changes by clicking the links below:
Thank you for helping us take this massive step forward for the MCA!
Sincerely,
The MCA Board of Directors
Annual MCA Annual Flattop Solstice Sleepout
Make your way to the summit of Flattop any time after 6:30 p.m. If you don’t run into us in the car park, ask around on top.
Food, drink, chairs, tables, and sleepover camping encouraged. Big crowd last year, loads of fun, let’s do it all over again.
This is a great event for meeting kind and welcoming fellow mountaineers and talking sh*t.
May General Meeting
Speakers: Susan Casey and Benjamin Casey
Topic: The Caseys Finish the Chugach 120
Plus, as always, an opportunity to catch up with fellow mountaineers, make connections, reminisce, and plan the next mission.
November General Meeting
6:00 PM 8:00 PM
B.P Energy Center (map)
Join us for our November Fall Potluck!! Come out to enjoy some good food and socialize with fellow mountaineers!
Potluck Sign-up Link: https://www.PerfectPotluck.com/JEVM7663
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!!
Photo: Sean Kortus (East Twin Peak Trail)
October General Meeting
BP Energy Center at 1014 Energy Court in Anchorage.
MCA annual Board elections and the big reveal of the 2026 MCA Calendar Photo Contest winners!
2025 Mountaineering Club of Alaska Ice Climbing Festival
Climbers gather for instruction at the MCA Annual Ice Fest at Matanuska Glacier.
Register on Eventbrite.
September General Membership Meeting
Join us for our September General Meeting!!! A presentation on the July Summer Mountaineering Course hosted at the Mint Hut.
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!!
Photo: Students on glacier.
SOLD OUT - 2025 MCA Mountaineering Course July 10-16
SOLD OUT 6/10/2025. Course will take place at MCA's Mint Hut from July 10-16th, 2025. We plan to cover a broad range of alpine skills. New places have just become available due to withdrawals. Please note that the refund period has expired and refunds are no longer available for late withdrawals.
Sign-up on Eventbrite.
Annual MCA Solstice Flattop Sleepout
Make your way to the summit of Flattop any time after 6:30 p.m. If you don’t run into us in the car park, ask around on top.
Food, drink, and sleepover camping encouraged. Big crowd last year, loads of fun, let’s do it all over again.
May General Membership Meeting
6:00 PM 8:00 PM
B.P. Energy Center (map)
Join us for our May General Meeting!!! "Minus 148: First Winter Ascent of Mt. McKinley", an evening with Author Art Davidson.
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!!
Photo: Cover of “Minus 148”
April General Membership Meeting
Join us for our April General Meeting!!! "Latest and Greatest Outdoor Gear" presentation by Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!!
Photo: Sean Kortus (Denali: From the air)
-MCA
March General Membership Meeting
Join us for the March General Membership Meeting!! “Bagging the Chugach 120” presented by Azriel Sellers.
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!
Photo: Azriel Sellers
February General Membership Meeting
Join us for the February General Membership Meeting!! “Go Big, Then Go Home” - Lightweight Long-Distance Winter Travel presented by Jonathan Byers.
We will also discuss and vote on club proposed 2025 Budget, By-Laws, and Strategic Plan.
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!
Photo: Jonathan Byers
Crevasse Rescue Course (Beginner/Intermediate)
Leaders are Gerrit Verbeek and other instructors T.B.A. Register through Eventbrite.
Day 1 will be indoors at REI and focus on theory. We’ll cover knot practice, progress capture devices (friction hitches and mechanical devices), what you need for glacier travel on foot and on skis, how to rope up, how to build haul systems, and a quick overview of glacier navigation. Day 2 will be indoors at a rope access training facility. We’ll focus on practicing self-rescue, rescuing teammates, and glacier travel.
Twenty slots are available, once the course is full, we will waitlist those who are interested. There will be a $130 non-refundable fee for participants. Please do not sign up unless you can commit to attending both days, but a refund can be issued if a participant is forced to cancel more than a week in advance and we can fill the spot from a waitlist.
Enrolments on Eventbrite.
January General Membership Meeting
Join us for our first General Meeting of 2025!!! Focused on avalanche safety presented by John Sykes (Chugach Avalanche Center). A couple of topics include:
- General Avalanche Safety, Identification, and Considerations
- Terrain Mapping
- Chugach Avalanche Center website familiarization
We will also discuss what we have planned for the 2025 general meeting agenda. Expect to get outside more with the MCA this upcoming year as we look to promote the exercise of skill and safety in the art and science of mountaineering!
Stop by to learn, network, and plan your next outdoor adventure!!
November General Membership Meeting
Pichler’s Perch, Eklutna Traverse
Join us for our November General Meeting focused on skills and community connection. A couple of topics include:
Planning and Executing Einter Bomber and Eklutna Traverses and
Fixing Your WhisperLite on an Adventure.
Stop by to ask questions and engage in conversation with potential skiing and climbing partners!
October General Membership Meeting
Presenter: 2025 MCA Calendar Winners
Topics: Stories behind the photos
We are planning to have 2025 calendars for sale at a special meeting price of $15. Please bring cash. They will be available for purchase after the meeting for $20 each and will be sold in local shops throughout Anchorage, AK.
September General Membership Meeting
Presenter: Jane Lockshin
Topic: Minty Fresh: An Overview of the MCA's 2024 Mountaineering Course
Annual MCA Summer Solstice Flattop Hangout/Sleepout
Make your way to the summit of Flattop Mountain any time after 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the summer solstice. Bring your own food and drink. Sleepover camping encouraged. Good cheer mandatory. All welcome, super casual, see you there!
Annual Chester Creek Cleanup
Creek Cleanup is an annual Anchorage event held every May. Hundreds of volunteers throughout Anchorage put on boots and gloves or go out in canoes and kayaks to clean tons of trash from local streams and waterways. This effort improves habitat for fish and other critters and helps humans thrive too!
Marcin Ksok is again hosting the MCA's group for the Chester Creek clean-up. If you are looking to join a group for the Anchorage Creek Cleanup, this is the group for you. Also a great way to support MCA's good reputation in the community.
When: 6pm Thursday May 23rd
Where: meet at 1836 Rosemary St, Airport Heights
Bring: Waders, gloves, bug repellant, rubber boots will do fine for the shore walkers.
Marcin can be contacted at 928-380-2995 or marcinksok@netscape.net.
MCA April General Meeting
Topic: Why 14? Analyzing the relationship between age and ability to belay
Presenter: Ruby Williams
MCA March General Meeting
Presenter: Kelly Kropko
Topic: Major Accidents in Climbing, Biking, Surfing and Pack Rafting
MCA February General Meeting
Presenters: Kathy Still and Az Sellers
Topic: The 120 Chugach State Park Peaks
MCA January General Meeting
Presenter: Joe Stock
Topic: An Instructional Overview of the Avalanche Avoidance System and more!
Annual MCA Holiday Party
Come celebrate the holiday szn with your favorite mountaineering club! This is the perfect opportunity to meet new and old members alike.
Food will be potluck style so please consider bringing a dish to share!
Wild Ice, exploring and accessing. November General Membership Meeting
Presenters Allie Heaslet and Paxson Woelber.
Please join us for our monthly membership meeting at the BP Energy Center. Due to availability of the Birch Room, the November meeting has been scheduled for first Thursday of the month instead of the first Wednesday of the month. Thank you for understanding. During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to meet with other members and learn about the latest MCA news and hear from our presenter.
You can also attend remotely. Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83674706360?pwd=VUY4VElyVEpqc2xmN29BbG1OKzR3dz09
Meeting ID: 836 7470 6360
Passcode: 033973
October General Membership Meeting
Due to availability of the Birch Room, the October meeting has been scheduled for first Thursday of the month instead of the first Wednesday of the month. Thank you for understanding.
Please join us for our monthly membership meeting at the BP Energy Center. During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to meet with other members, learn about the latest MCA news, and hear from our 2024 Calendar Photo Contest winners. Currently, we plan to have calendars available for purchase at a special meeting price during the October meeting. After the meeting, calendars will be available for purchase at local shops throughout Anchorage.
Ice Fest
Climbers gather for instruction at the MCA Annual Ice Fest at Matanuska Glacier. Photo by Chris Walden.
September General Membership Meeting
Please join us for our monthly membership meeting at the BP Energy Center. During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to meet with other members, learn about the latest MCA news, and hear from our presenter.
Photos on this page:
Header: [Untitled] by Carin Olsson (non-member). 2014.