Precision Preparation · Denali 2026
The world's first fully integrated 6-month precision preparation and guided expedition. Train with Alpine Athletics. Summit with Mountain Madness and a team Lisa would trust with her own life.
Limited to 10 Climbers · 1:2 Guide Ratio · Physician Oversight
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Co-developed by Mountain Madness and Alpine Athletics, Precision Preparation is what happens when world class guiding meets elite high altitude training science.
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Precision Prep Webinar
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The Problem
Denali is where intermediate climbers step into truly serious alpine terrain. The margin for error is smaller. The logistics are heavier. The cold is real. Most people underestimate either the fitness or the logistics. Precision Preparation exists so you don't have to guess on either.
Meet the Precision Team
"I would only bring in experts I'd personally use." Lisa Thompson, Owner & Program Lead
Lisa is a high altitude mountaineer, Denali & Everest summiteer, K2 and Seven Summits finisher, and the new owner of Mountain Madness. This Precision Preparation program is the first offering built entirely under her leadership – combining 40+ years of MM expedition legacy with the structured training system she wished she'd had on her own Denali journey.
Performance Engineering
Periodized strength & endurance mapped to carrying days, camp moves, and summit push. TrainingPeaks + CTL targets keep legs, lungs, and load ready capacity on track.
Lisa Thompson
Summit coach & program architect · K2, Everest, Seven Summits
Alpine Athletics Coaches
NASM certified high altitude performance specialists
Altitude Nutrition Protocol
Six months with a high altitude dietitian to dial daily fueling, gut resilience, hydration, and on mountain menus no guesswork, just proven protocols.
Alyssa Lieb
High altitude expedition dietitian · Cold weather, multi day haul specialist
Summit Safety & Medical Command
Baseline labs, med history reviews, altitude meds, and go/no go guardrails keep you aligned with Denali risk thresholds.
Dr. Tracee Metcalfe
High altitude expedition physician · 6 month oversight
Mountain Madness Guide Team
1:2 guide ratio on the mountain
Breathwork for Mountain Athletes
The Mountain Madness Score™ taps your Recal Breath Index to train CO₂ tolerance, recovery capacity, and decision clarity before summit day.
Anthony Lorubbio
Recal Founder & High Altitude Breathwork Specialist
Gear Logistics & 1:1 Summit Strategy
Item by item gear review, camp and rope team systems, and 1:1 summit sessions so questions never languish in a forum thread.
Lisa Thompson
Personal summit mentor for the program
Alpine Athletics / Mountain Madness Gear Concierge
Dedicated support for equipment & logistics
Ready to be Denali ready?
Secure one of the 10 seats for the 2026 cohort and get the full team behind your summit bid.
This Mountain Madness + Alpine Athletics collective is why our athletes post a 80%+ success rate on Denali every specialist aligns around one outcome: you stepping onto the summit prepared, confident, and safe.
Trusted by Expert Partners
Precision Preparation is powered by partnerships with the most trusted names in mountaineering, high-altitude training, and expedition medicine.
The Diagnostic
Your personalized benchmark for high altitude expedition readiness built from data we trust on Denali, Everest, and beyond.
Powered by 3 Performance Engines
Breathing Efficiency
Recal Breath Index™ shows how your respiratory system performs under simulated altitude stress.
Strength & Endurance Load
Fitness Index benchmarks carry strength, endurance, and workload capacity against Denali demands.
Resilience Under Stress
Mindset Index measures calm under pressure, risk processing, and recovery between pushes.
Why climbers trust it
Used by climbers preparing for Denali, Kilimanjaro & more.
The 6-Month System
Precision Preparation is structured, tangible, and premium covering the physical, mental, and expedition readiness pillars required to move from:
Phase 1 MONTH 1
Deliverable
You leave Month 1 with a green lit, fully customized path to Denali success
Phase 2 MONTHS 2-4
Deliverable
Your physiology adapts fitness moves from "capable" → performance ready
Phase 3 MONTHS 5-6
(No surprise "go/no go" you'll know you're ready well before departure)
Deliverable
Confidence, competence, and a clear path to summit day
Next Step
Download Your Denali Success Toolkit
Gear checklist • Training overview • Payment planning • All curated by Lisa's team
Free download. Instant access.
Safety · Ethics · Legacy
Transparent group size (10 climbers max, 1:2 guide ratio), honest communication on inclusions, and safety first decision making. Our guides are empowered to call no go when it matters, and our expedition medical oversight keeps every climber aligned with the plan.
Guide Ratio
1:2
Maximum 6 climbers per guide team.
Group Size
10
Exclusive cohort per 2026 departure.
Medical
Physician Oversight
Baseline labs + on mountain protocols.
Ethics
Transparent Inclusions
All expedition essentials included up-front.
Your summit bid is executed by Mountain Trip, one of the most respected guiding companies on Denali.
They've led successful teams on the West Buttress for over five decades, earning the industry's top recognitions including the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award (2024).
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Pricing & Value
Every detail from training to summit is integrated. Compare the value to piecing together training, logistics, and expedition support separately.
Includes:
Find the best possible payment plans for you with no cost or surprises
Value Equalizer
Book a Denali climb → hire a coach → guess everything else → pray it works
Starts with the summit, engineers backward, and controls every variable that causes failure:
The premium is smaller than the cost of failure
and infinitely less than giving up on Denali.
| What You Get | Precision Preparation | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Madness Score Diagnostic | Included | Not available |
| Integrated Training + Expedition Coordination | One accountable team | Multiple failing handoffs |
| Medical + Nutrition + Breathwork Oversight | Built-in | Self-managed |
| Transparent Logistics & Costs | Fully mapped | Hidden & variable |
| Guide Ratio on Denali | 1:2 via vetted partner | Often 1:3 or worse |
Testimonials
Hear from climbers who trusted Mountain Madness and Lisa's leadership on Denali and other high altitude objectives.
Denali Expedition
"Precision logistics, calm leadership, and zero surprises. Denali was the hardest thing I've ever done and I never once doubted the plan."
Eric M., Denali Summit 2024
High-Altitude Expedition
"Mountain Madness blended cultural immersion with elite guiding. I arrived stronger, more confident, and more capable because of their system."
Sofia R., Aconcagua 2023
Lisa's Guidance
"Lisa coached me through every decision. She balances warmth with decisiveness the exact guide you want when the weather turns."
Daniel K., Himalayan Expedition 2022
FAQs
Honest answers to the questions high-performing professionals ask before committing to Denali.
That's exactly what the 6-month runway is for. We benchmark your Mountain Madness Score, then map TrainingPeaks targets that meet you where you are. If you're committed to the work, we'll build you up deliberately.
We build contingency into the plan. Your coach recalibrates weekly around travel, illness, or workload. If a major life event happens, we'll collaborate on deferment options so the investment still serves you.
Yes, if you're ready to commit to the prep course component. We'll schedule Denali Prep on Rainier/Baker (or equivalent) to ensure glacier systems, sled management, and fixed lines are second nature before Alaska.
Precision Prep mirrors Mountain Madness expedition terms: a $3,000 deposit ($2,000 non-refundable) secures your spot, balance due 120 days out. We strongly recommend cancellation insurance and we're transparent about all inclusions.
We can collaborate with your current coach or take the lead. Alpine Athletics shares CTL targets, lab data, and phase objectives so everyone rows in the same direction. No competing plans one unified roadmap.
We can extend your programming or shift you to a later Denali departure. The structure is flexible enough to maintain momentum without compromising the standard Lisa expects for Mountain Madness Score.
Still unsure?
Request a short call to walk through your fitness, logistics, or timing concerns. We'll point you to the best next step whether that's Precision Prep or another progression.
Final Call
One path. One team. One plan that removes the guesswork. Join the 2026 Precision Preparation cohort before the 10 seats are gone.