Expert Coaching. Real Courses.
Your Best Summit Season Yet.
Membership gives you structured courses, personalized trip planning, and 1:1 coaching from a certified wilderness professional — so you summit with confidence, not guesswork. Starting at less than a coffee a week.
What Membership Gives You
Everything you need to plan safer, smarter trips — with a real expert in your corner.
Online Courses
Structured, module-based courses through the Summit Skills Academy — not just blog posts, but real curriculum with completion certificates.
Trip Planning Support
Get personalized guidance for your specific trips — peak selection, route options, weather windows, gear for the conditions, and contingency plans.
1:1 Adventure Coaching
Zoom sessions with Alex to talk through your goals, build your skills, debrief your trips, and plan your next adventure with expert guidance.
Meet Your Coach: Alex Derr, M.P.A.
I started The Next Summit after witnessing dozens of unprepared hikers walking blindly into a thunderstorm on Longs Peak. I realized that trail directories give you where to go — but nobody was teaching people how to be safe when they got there.
Through trip planning and adventure coaching, I offer the same personalized guidance I wish I'd had when I was starting out. Whether it's your first 14er or your fiftieth, I'll help you plan smarter, climb safer, and enjoy the mountains more.
Peek Inside the Summit Skills Academy
Structured courses built for Colorado's mountains — not generic hiking tips.
How to Climb Your First Colorado 14er
8 modules covering everything from choosing the right peak to summit-day decision making. 5.0 student rating.
- Module 1: Choosing Your First Peak
- Module 2: Understanding Difficulty Classes
- Module 3: Gear & Packing Essentials
- Module 4: Altitude & Weather Safety
- + 4 more modules...
Backcountry Navigation Skills for Beginners
Learn to navigate confidently with map, compass, and GPS — so you always know where you are and how to get back.
- Topographic Map Reading
- Compass Basics & Bearings
- GPS Device & App Skills
- Route Finding in the Field
- Emergency Position Location
Choose Your Membership
Every tier includes full course access and member-only content. Pick the level of personal support that's right for you.
- Full Summit Skills Academy access (2 courses)
- Member-only articles & guides
- Support education & advocacy programs
- Trip planning support
- 1:1 adventure coaching
- Full Summit Skills Academy access (2 courses)
- Member-only articles & guides
- Support education & advocacy programs
- Trip planning support for your hikes
- 1:1 adventure coaching — 2 sessions/year
- Full Summit Skills Academy access (2 courses)
- Member-only articles & guides
- Support education & advocacy programs
- Unlimited trip planning — every hike covered
- Monthly coaching — 12 sessions/year
What Members Are Saying
Real feedback from people who've used TNS to plan safer, better trips.
Your Membership Powers Real Impact
Every dollar supports education, advocacy, and conservation in Colorado's mountains. Here's what members have made possible.
Common Questions
What do I get access to immediately?
I can find trail info for free online. Why pay?
Are membership dues tax-deductible?
Can I cancel anytime?
How does trip planning support work?
What's the difference between trip planning and coaching?
I don't hike often enough to justify a membership.
Ready for Your Best Season Yet?
Join 75+ members who are building their skills, planning smarter trips, and protecting the peaks they love.
