Expert Tips

Lightweight, calorie-dense, and practical strategies for fueling in the mountains Mountaineering demands a lot from your body. Cold, altitude, heavy… Read More

Micro cams live in the world of finger cracks and below—tiny constrictions where larger gear simply won’t go. These cams… Read More

Simul-climbing is an advanced climbing technique where two climbers move up a route at the same time while tied to… Read More

...AAI Climbing Blog features several other posts that highlight women in climbing, including awe-inspiring rock climbing videos (2013), a discussion… Read More

Basic Knots for Climbers and Mountaineers: Notes and Online Animations By Tom Kirby AAI Instructor and Guide Introductory Terminology: Knots,… Read More

If you’re new to climbing, you may be puzzled by some of the terminology.  Climbing styles and sub-disciplines, in particular,… Read More

“They should be tight man, really tight.” You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again. It happens all over… Read More

Getting equipped for waterfall ice climbing, a highly equipment-intensive activity, used to be easy. You just had to buy some… Read More

In the mountaineering courses and expeditions that we run at AAI, there are many instances where we must bring some… Read More

Alasdair Turner As a guide who always carries a camera, I am often asked about cameras on climbing trips and… Read More

Let’s begin with a definition. Alpine climbing, in general, is: 1) a long way from the trailhead; 2) any combination… Read More

...alpine ice climbing in the North Cascades of Washington. His trip was to include some glacier travel, camping on snow,… Read More

​ AAI Instructor and Guide In the mountains, speed is often thought of as safety. Reducing your exposure to the… Read More

...anyway that awareness of weather must be combined with solid navigation skills, knowledge of self-rescue, and well-founded decision-making abilities to… Read More

From the December 2005 edition of AAI’s E-newsletter Snow avalanches occur tens of thousands of times each year throughout the… Read More

As climbers, we are all quite familiar with photography. A camera rides shotgun on most climbing trips, whether it’s a… Read More

Whether you are traveling alone, taking part in an expedition or climbing course, or responding as a member of a… Read More

Reading the AAC’s “Accidents” Could Save Your Life What is it about climbing accidents that so fascinates us?  Magazines regularly… Read More

​ AAI Program Coordinator and Denali guide Pulling sleds on an expedition is very much a love-hate relationship – one… Read More

...Climbing Styles: What Do the Different Terms Mean? Alpine Efficiency: Combining Speed and Safety Selecting Equipment for Waterfall Ice and… Read More

...medium mountaineering; glacier climbing; scrambling routes in the mountains; and multi-day outings where your feed need to be warm, relatively… Read More

...Mountaineering While climbing, skiing, and mountaineering in the winter, your hands are gloved almost 100% of the time. Snow tends… Read More

The Physical Difficulties of High-Altitude Mountaineering ​ Former AAI Program Coordinator and Guide The process of advising and screening for… Read More