At the Edge
of Hard or
Impossible
38 expeditions. 7 continents. Everest summited. K2 at 58. 23 seasons of Everest reporting. Nearly $500,000 raised for Alzheimer's research.
The Climber Who Climbs for a Reason
Alan Arnette isn't a professional climber — he's a former corporate tech executive who took up high-altitude mountaineering at 48 and turned every major summit into a platform for Alzheimer's awareness.
He summited Everest in 2011 and K2 in 2014 at age 58, becoming the oldest American to summit K2. He's covered Everest for 23 consecutive seasons for outlets including CNN, Outside Magazine, and his own widely-read dispatches at alanarnette.com.
His mother Ida died of Alzheimer's. His memoir — Hard or Impossible? Summiting K2 for Ida — tells the full story.
Full Story →Four Ways to Engage
23 seasons of Everest dispatches. Season reports, accident analyses, and in-depth mountaineering journalism read by over one million people annually.
38 major expeditions across all 7 continents. Everest. K2. Denali. Kilimanjaro. A track record built on persistence, preparation, and purpose.
Personalized summit coaching for serious climbers. From Kilimanjaro to Everest — training plans, gear reviews, expedition strategy, and honest guidance.
Keynotes on perseverance, goal-setting, and leadership drawn from extreme environments. Customized for corporate, nonprofit, and conference audiences.
Everest 2026
Hard or Impossible?
Summiting K2 for Ida
"Alan Arnette's story is not just about climbing the world's most dangerous mountain — it's about love, loss, and the refusal to give up." — Ed Viesturs, only American to summit all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen
@AlanArnetteClimbs
Reach Your Summit.
With Someone Who's Done It.
Alan coaches climbers at every level — from first-time Kilimanjaro aspirants to serious Everest candidates. His approach is direct and honest: he tells you what it actually takes, helps you build the fitness and skills to get there, and keeps you safe.
He's not a guide. He's a coach — someone who prepares you to work with the best guides in the world.
- Personalized training plans
- Gear selection & expedition logistics
- Mental preparation & goal-setting
- Climb-specific altitude strategy
- Route & guide company selection
"Alan's coaching was the difference between getting to base camp and summiting. His training plan, his knowledge of the route, and his honest feedback pushed me further than I thought possible."
"As a woman climbing without guides in a male-dominated environment, having Alan in my corner gave me the confidence and preparation I needed. He believed in my summit before I did."
Lessons From 29,000 Feet
Alan draws on 38 expeditions and a 30-year career in enterprise technology to deliver keynotes that are as practical as they are inspiring. His talks resonate with corporate, nonprofit, and conference audiences because they're grounded in real experience — not motivational clichés.
Climbing for a Cure
For 30 years, Alan has used every major expedition as a platform to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's research — in honor of his mother Ida, who died of the disease. Nearly $500,000 raised across 38 expeditions.
The Cause →