Is it better to go guided

        Some climbers enjoy the perks of going guided. Going guided is a great alternative to going unguided with a team of climbers that you are not so familiar with. It has its advantages. The planning and routefinding is all taken care of by someone else. Your training is your own responsibility, and you can do it on your own schedule and timetable. The leadership is strong in the sense that your leader will be someone with experience on Denali, plus experience leading expeditions. Also the success ratio for guided trips is much higher than unguided trips.
        When we were at 14,000', and listening to all the noise coming from Vern Tejas' tents, I couldn't help but think "they sound like they are having more fun than us".
        The obvious disadvantage to going guided is the cost. It may cost as much as $3,000 per person more for a guided expedition.
        Other groups may want the additional challenge of being on their own, and some individuals may want the challenge of leading an expedition. The major advantage to going unguided is the opportunity to climb with your own group of friends. A major disadvantage is that in a lot of cases, the team breaks up before the actual event, leaving you stranded without a trip. In that respect, when going guided, you have more of a guarantee that the trip will actually happen.
        So, is it better to go guided? I guess the answer depends on your personal goals, how busy your schedule is, if you can find enough people who can and want to go, how well you know and can depend upon these people, and how much you are willing to spend.