About MountainQuest
MountainQuest is an adventure travel company built by high altitude mountaineers. We take your ideas, and work together to build the "Adventure of a Lifetime."
Remember... The summit is only the halfway point
Many ‘tour operators’ focus on jam packing as many clients on to each trip as possible. Unfortunately, lack of safety, low quality food, unfair treatment of porters – and ultimately a disappointing overall experience – is the result.
Safety - NOT price - should be the deciding factor when choosing a tour operator.
We design our expeditions the way we think it should be done. Safety comes first. Next, we like to suggest great routes. Food can make or break your trip... so why not eat the best food you can. Is gear important? Hey... We tested our tents on Mt. McKinley. Our staff is hand selected. We climb with them first, and if we don't approve, they don't guide for us. Yep... we have all that.
Our trips offer you a balance of safety, great lodging, excellent food, and top notch service, along with the best routes, staff and gear. These factors combine to give you an outstanding chance of climbing Kilimanjaro - and enjoying your trip!
Oh... And our prices are great, by the way.
Our trips are built by high altitude mountaineers.
MountainQuest President Russ Barstow organises the ropes in Alaska
We are not a ‘tour operator,’ we are a climbing company. We 'build' our trips the same way we organize expeditions to far off technical mountain peaks. This approach puts safety first. We select great routes, use the best gear, and hire staff that we feel safe climbing with.
MountainQuest's president is high altitude climber Russ Barstow. Russ has climbed since 1985, and has led hundreds of climbers on expeditions to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Barstow has personally stood on the highest summit of four continents.
"We focus on the specific needs of each client, and provide ultimate service from the day you book – until the end of your adventure" says Barstow. "Quite honestly, I feel that we offer the best option for anyone considering a climb or trek."
We hand build your expedition to be the best - and the safest - for the best price
Our routes are chosen for safety. We select, and recommend routes that offer the best possible 'escape options.' This means that you will have numerous options to walk off and descend easily from any camp - even Kilimanjaro's high crater camp!
If you require a more serious evacuation, our staff are experts at arranging it. We always hire extra guides to assist any climber who might feel the need to turn back.
Our guides, assistant guides, cooks and mountain staff are the best - on every expedition we organize
We started on Kilimanjaro. Our MountainQuest Kilimanjaro crew has been together since 2001. Though porters come and go (we have established a core group of them too) our guides, assistant guides, cooks, assistant cooks and mountain staff are a well oiled machine.
Wherever we travel, our hand picked guides are experts in helping our climbers avoid altitude sickness. Any sy0mptoms are quickly recognized and dealt with. If our clients do feel sick, we like to give options - as opposed to shuttling them off the hill.
If you have a problem at 18,000 feet, it's good to know that you will always have experienced pros with you... who can speak English! (You would be amazed how many mountain guides can not communicate with their teams - all over the world!)
We 'teach' our clients how to prepare for a high altitude expedition
While many outfitters focus on telling you how they can save you when you collapse, we focus on hiring and teaching staff who immediately recognize the symptoms of altitude sickness BEFORE they get that bad. The real trick with altitude sickness is recognize the symptoms early -- and nip it in the bud.
Our goal is to have the 'best educated' teams on the mountain. We will teach YOU what symptoms to recognize in yourself and your team mates. You will learn how to deal with altitude and altitude related issues.
Our 'required reading' list as well as our expedition dossier, altitude booklet, and climbers guide are all incredible resources. Our 'ask a question' service is always available to our teams as well!
Acclimatize slowly. We prefer slow acclimatization, on great routes selected for their visual appeal. It is not about herding a group of clients to the summit in five days... Instead, we ensure that you enjoy the journey. Pole pole... (slowly in Swahili)
We believe that the most important thing about your expedition is your safety
"I have spent numerous expeditions training our staff of guides,
porters and cooks. We absolutely have the strongest climbing guides.
I have climbed with all of them. Their strength and judgment is why
we hire them. Our guides have trained at the National Outdoor Leadership
School in mountain safety and rescue, and have an intimate knowledge
of their mountain. From native flora and fauna, to the wildlife you
experience as you climb.”
- MountainQUEST President
Russ Barstow
Our trip extensions are great, too.
From our African Safaris, to Zanzibar beaches, the highlights of Kathmandu, or a winery tour in South America. Once your trek is finished, take advantage of the amazing things to see in the far off land you have travelled to!
We prefer traveling off the ‘beaten path’ and choose locally run bed and breakfast accommodations and camps, instead of a large chain hotels.
Did we mention that our prices are great?
We cut out the middleman. With MountainQuest, you are dealing direct.
KILIMANJARO - Low price / High quality:
Did you know that about 90% of Kilimanjaro 'climb outfitters' have never even set foot in Africa? Many simply take your money, remove their commission, and pass their clients on to a local outfitter in Africa.
With MountainQuest, there is no middleman. And that's why we can keep our prices low, but our climb quality remains extremely high. We deal direct. We have offices in North America - AND - in Arusha, Tanzania. We own our own staff and our own gear. We have our own vehicles. From beginning to end - You deal with MountainQuest for your entire adventure.
You will not find better value for your money on a Kilimanjaro climb.
Even though our prices are very competitive... your experience will be nothing but spectacular. All of our staff, our climbing and safari guides, our cooks and accommodations have been hand selected by MountainQuest president Russ Barstow.
No stone goes unturned.
Since 2000, we have done extensive research in Africa on everything from lodging to food… Without a doubt, we offer the best value for your money in a Kilimanjaro climbing experience.
Kilimanjaro is a "once in a lifetime" event. We understand this, and our trips are built to ensure your experience is absolutely perfect.
You would be surprised how many high end tour operators use third party contractors in Africa. MountainQuest Adventures eliminates the middle man. Hotels and lodges that are great one year can be unrecognizable a year later! Because we actually travel to Africa every year, we are able to constantly update our standards of accommodation, climbing staff, guides, cooks and food (our head climbing cook is the BEST on Kilimanjaro!). Last but not least, we can let you know what conditions to expect on your route.
We have climbed and trekked on 6 continents… But we specialize in climbing Kilimanjaro. If you have ever dreamed of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and planning a safari through East Africa... We are here to help. It doesn't cost any more to deal with a specialist.
