Why Climb Denali (Mt. McKinley) with American Alpine Institute?
Climbing Denali with the American Alpine Institute (AAI) isn’t just about reaching North America’s highest summit—it’s about doing it the… Read More
American Alpine Institute offers a wide array of instructional programs, peak ascents, expeditions, and private programs. Browse the different program types here.
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Educational articles
Climbing Denali with the American Alpine Institute (AAI) isn’t just about reaching North America’s highest summit—it’s about doing it the… Read More
...collapses, and the more a person struggles, the deeper they sink. It’s called snow immersion suffocation (SIS), and tragically, it… Read More
...Accidents in North American Climbing, and mountain guide, Jason Anton, talk about ways to avoid a similar accident. https://youtube.com/shorts/wLE98eTe_ec?si=NVkeUnLtRf1DNy9I Whitney… 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
...routes and alpine ice climbing, its diverse terrain offers challenges and thrills for every level of mountaineer. Sulphide Glacier Grade… Read More
Climb the Highest Peaks on the Seven Continents The highest peaks on each of the seven continents – collectively nicknamed… Read More
...Mt Herman Mt Herman (Anderson Creek Tour) White Salmon Glacier Table Mountain and the Blueberry Chutes Ruth Mountain Goat Mountain… Read More
The North Cascades are a playground for climbers and mountaineers of all skill levels, offering a wide range of routes… Read More
...nib. From camp to the summit is 3.5mi/5.5km with 4870ft/1480m of gain. Key Stats Total Distance (round trip): ~15mi/24km Total… Read More
Eight Days of Climbing with AAI in the “Range of Light” Text and Photos by Zac Merriman Zac on the… Read More
AAI Program Coordinator Hard-core alpinists beware: This is not a thrilling story of alpine bravery, nor is it an… Read More
...our perfect day in the mountains on a classic route like Epinephrine. Interested in climbing Epinephrine? Click the link to… Read More
...a fall hazard. Terrain type Terrain type is very critical in my own decision-making. When the terrain is wide-open, such… Read More
An AAI Team Makes the Second Ascent of China’s 20,050-foot Reddomaine By Aidan Loehr AAI Instructor and Guide Mountain… Read More
AAI Instructor and Guide Rising from the middle of the flat Patagonian steppe, Fitzroy and Cerro Torre are two… Read More
...alpine rock routes at Washington Pass: the Becky Route on Liberty Bell (5.6) and the South Arete of South Early… Read More
...individual at the climbing shop. “Dude, you need shoes that hurt,” he tells you. “They should be at least two… Read More
...the climbing world and in our society as a whole have forced a reassessment of the traditional answers to these… 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
...variability can creep in and there can be a mix of rain occasionally, but rain-free days are often warm and… Read More
...needs to happen quickly, even if the climber is uninjured. Crevasse rescue is a mandatory skill for mountaineers, followers and… Read More
Alasdair Turner As a guide who always carries a camera, I am often asked about cameras on climbing trips and… Read More
AAI’s Denali program was designed to provide the safest and most successful guided expeditions on the mountain. We accomplish this goal through a process of continuous improvement, subjecting our expedition practices … Read more
Descending the West Buttress on Denali. AAI Collection. Denali is high, cold and physically demanding. The mountain is home to some of the most severe weather and climbing conditions on … Read more
AAI Guide Hali Scroggins high on Radio Control Tower in the Alaska Range. Kevin McGarity. This action packed ten-day program, provides a complete training in the foundational skills of alpine … Read more
Winter mountaineering encompasses one of the most aesthetic and rewarding facets of the sport of climbing. Winter mountaineering has as much to do with mental challenge as it does with … Read more
We do it all on this trip: Learn or refresh mountaineering skills with local expert instructors, climb Cayambe and Cotopaxi, immerse yourself in a rich culture, take rest days in … Read more
Chimborazo stands out as not only the tallest mountain in Ecuador, but as the the tallest mountain in the world when measured from the center of the earth. This is … Read more










