Educational articles
...fall factors in mind. Good protection placement, thoughtful anchor management, and appropriate personal attachment systems are fundamental to climbing safely.… Read More
At the American Alpine Institute, we believe that mountain education has the power to change lives. Every course, guided climb,… Read More
...of climbing stewardship. Unlike first ascents or new route development, rebolting rarely earns recognition. The work often involves long days… Read More
...not replace proper belay technique, they have become widely adopted in climbing gyms, sport climbing, and professional guiding. Today there… Read More
American Alpine Institute Guide Training The American Alpine Institute (AAI) is widely regarded as one of the premier mountain schools… Read More
Getting Fit for Alpinism: Preparing for Your First American Alpine Institute Program Starting an alpinism course can be both exhilarating… Read More
...aspirations first and make every decision throughout the trip with your goal of making the summit in mind. The West… Read More
...Gym Perhaps the best way to introduce a child to climbing is through a rock gym. There are often two… Read More
...Burns) — A foundational navigation text covering map, compass, GPS, route planning, and terrain interpretation. Widely used in outdoor education… 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
...exposure is a distinct factor in Tanzania. Careful preparation, situational awareness, and conservative public behavior are essential for minimizing risk… Read More
If you’re considering an American Alpine Institute (AAI) course and feeling nervous, uncertain, or even flat-out scared, let’s start with… 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
...that we’d take them on their first backpacking trip. Holly, prepped for her backpacking trip! At the time the kids… Read More
...accept the serious responsibility of mountain partnerships, to understand mountain environments and the threats to them, and to develop preservationist… 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
...traffic brought it back to the surface, and meltwater carried contamination downslope toward camps and glaciers used for drinking water.… Read More
...in 1980 and the company is one of the only companies to offer the Polish Direct Route on the mountain.… Read More
Heading into the winter backcountry alone can feel like stepping into a beautiful, frozen cathedral—quiet, serene, and just a little… Read More
...may simply be experiencing a placebo effect. On the other hand, those taking anticoagulants such as ibuprofen, aspirin, warfarin, or… Read More
...input prior to climbing…especially if climbing includes bouldering or leading, places where bodily harm might be more likely. Key Considerations… Read More
We have published a few different articles on Grade Scales. Each article points out how difficult it is to really… Read More
In the United States, we use the Yosemite Decimal System. This is a rating system used primarily in North America… Read More
