Educational articles
...system that is unusually deep, continuous, and mentorship-driven. Entry Requirements for New AAI Guides Before beginning work, entry-level guides must… Read More
Getting Fit for Alpinism: Preparing for Your First American Alpine Institute Program Starting an alpinism course can be both exhilarating… Read More
...weather window to strike for the summit. Preparation and Prerequisites Climbing Denali is a “PhD-level” mountaineering objective. To ensure the… Read More
“Daddy,” my then elementary-school son said. “Can we go to the rock gym today…? “I don’t wanna go to the… Read More
...Alive in Avalanche Terrain (Bruce Tremper) — One of the most widely recommended avalanche safety texts, breaking down snowpack evaluation,… Read More
Lightweight, calorie-dense, and practical strategies for fueling in the mountains Mountaineering demands a lot from your body. Cold, altitude, heavy… Read More
...common than targeted violence, so practice normal urban awareness: secure valuables, use reputable transportation, and stay in well-reviewed accommodations. Overall,… Read More
...learners, not superheroes. While some programs require prior experience, many AAI courses are built specifically for people who are: New… Read More
...some places where it’s not terribly useful or realistic (like in a sport setting), but in trad and multi-pitch settings,… Read More
So here’s the deal… I’m an outdoor enthusiast and a mountain guide. When my kids were little, it was incredibly… Read More
...Practice Leave No Trace techniques in travel, camping, climbing and skiing. Develop an understanding and acceptance of climbing and mountaineering… Read More
What is a Glissade? In short, glissading is sliding on snow. It is an incredibly fun endeavor. Indeed, it’s all… Read More
...and educational as you can imagine. What was Mountain Gear? Mountain Gear was a privately held outdoor equipment and apparel… Read More
Overview The American Alpine Institute has a long-standing commitment to advocacy and action in support of outdoor recreation, mountain education,… Read More
...in 1980 and the company is one of the only companies to offer the Polish Direct Route on the mountain.… Read More
...matters too. Use breadcrumb tracking on your inReach or satellite communicator, and secure that device somewhere internal where it won’t… Read More
...because it doesn’t interrupt your sleep. Alternatives Some research indicates that Ginkgo Biloba may work in acclimatization. As this is… Read More
...pregnant climbers to consider. EQUIPMENT: A harness that avoids abdominal pressure is key—options like the Petzl 8003 Full-Body Harness or… Read More
...more you understand about the systems that are there, the better you’ll be able to asses them for yourself. Resources:… Read More
In the United States, we use the Yosemite Decimal System. This is a rating system used primarily in North America… Read More
Alpine ice climbing is the art of moving over steep, frozen terrain high in the mountains. Unlike waterfall ice, which… Read More
In the mountains, numbers can feel deceptively simple. A climb is labeled “Class 3” or “Grade III,” and suddenly people… Read More
...your hair stands on end or you hear buzzing in your climbing helmet or trekking poles, that’s not just nerves… Read More
...to have more trip support on the mountain. When Climbers “Spin” On Denali, climbers may need to “spin,” meaning they… Read More
