Events, Films and Speakers Overview The American Alpine Institute offers a wide array of events throughout the year. These include actual events, seminars, educational programming, films, speakers, art and photography displays.
Annual Events
Mountain Festival, Maker's Market and Gear Sale (October)
This event takes place simultaneously with AAI's annual used gear sale. Makers, primarily those with outdoor or mountian themes, present their wares at this annual event. Check out local mountain art, jewelry, photography, clothing and other handmade goods from some of the best artisans in our region. In addition to this, take clinics on mountain skills!
Bellingham Climbers Film Festival (TBA)
Amature filmmakers present their short climbing and mountaineering related films at this annual two-night event.
Mountain Art and Photography Market (April)
Jill Pelto is a climate artist whose work is on display in the AAI Shop.
Every spring, artists and photographers drape the Mountain Center in photos, drawings, paintings and sculputres. This is your opportunity to see, and potentially purchase, some of the best work that our local outdoor community has to offer.
Films and Speakers
Films events and speakers are presented at the Mountain Center throughout the year. Keep any on the Dates and Prices tab, as well as the Featured Events tab for updates.
Featured Artists and Photographers
The American Alpine Institute features one artist or photographer every quarter. The artist's work will be for sale through the AAI retail shop.
Events, Films and Speakers Dates/Prices Some events are free to attend, while others have a small cost. Please note if tickets are sold ahead of time. Some events have limited space.
Events, Dates and Prices
11/7/24 (7pm - Free) Avalanche Awareness Seminar
11/12/24 (7pm - Free) Leave No Trace Awareness
12/5/24 (7pm - Free) Avalanche Awareness Seminar
12/11/24 (7pm - $20) Ski Wax and Tuning Clinic (Registration Required )
3/29/25 (10am-5pm) Mountain Art and Photography Market
3/30/25 (10am-5pm) Mountain Art and Photography Market
4/19/24 (9am-12pm) Mt. Erie Adopt-a-Crag (offsite at Mt. Erie)
Climbing Seminars:
AAI has several exclusive climbing seminars throughout the year at the Mountain Center. To learn about these, click here .
Events, Films and Speakers Featured Following is a breakdown of current and upcoming featured artists, speakers, films and events.
Jill Pelto - Featured Artist (July-October)
Jill Pelto is a climate artist based in Bellingham, WA.
Jill Pelto is a climate artist based in Bellingham, WA whose work focuses on communicating human-environment connections. She incorporates scientific data into watercolor paintings to share the emotion behind these stories of change, whether overwhelming or hopeful.
Her work is inspired by her fieldwork in places like the alpine glaciers in Washington state and British Columbia, and by communities around the world who are working hard to mitigate climate change.
Jill’s work has been featured on the cover of TIME, and she uses her artwork in education and outreach, working with classrooms to bring her data-art curriculum to students.
For more information on Jill's work, see her website at: jillpelto.com
Upcoming Special Events
TBA
Events, Films and Speakers Wilderness Skills Wilderness Skills are incredibly varied. The American Alpine Institute offers a wide array of skills related courses at the AAI Mountain Center. The programs presented here are the inaugural programs at the center. In the coming months and years, many additional programs will be added.
Know Before You Go (70-Minutes)
AAI offers a variety of "Know Before You Go" programs. These are designed to give those who are at an entry level at a given activity an a baseline from which to begin their journey. Among other things, Know Before You Go topics include Outdoor Climbing, Hiking, Backpacking, Skiing, Snowshoeing and other topics.
Avalanche Awareness (90-Minutes)
The American Alpine Institute offers free Avalanche Awareness seminars throughout the winter season. These short evening programs are designed to introduce winter backcountry enthusiasts to avalanche terrain assessment, winter snowpack analysis and baseline rescue technique. To read more about these programs, click here .
Leave No Trace Awareness (90-Minutes)
The Awareness program is a perfect introduction to the principals of Leave No Trace. This free program is perfect for groups that are new to outdoor ethics like gym-to-crag climbers, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, or any other organization or individual that is curious about the nature of Leave No Trace and wilderness ethics.
Nature and Mountain Photography
Expert photographers from AAI's staff and from the outdoor community share their knowledge and skill in these evening seminars.
Long Distance Hiking - The PCT Bootcamp
Expert Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers share their knowledge on how to cut weight and move fast on the National Scenic Trails.
Introduction to Wilderness First Aid (Full Day)
AAI guides share how they deal with common injuries in the mountains, while also sharing how to manage common traumatic injuries.
Wilderness Navigation Essentials (3-Hours)
The Backcountry Navigation Essentials course is a three-hour introductory course for those who spend time in the wilderness both on and off-trail. This program provides you with the basic skills required to manage wilderness route-finding on trails, in complicated terrain or in whiteout conditions. To learn more about this program, click here .
Wilderness Navigation Comprehensive (Full Day)
The Backcountry Navigation Comprehensive course is a one-day program for those who spend significant time in the wilderness both on and off-trail. This program provides you with both the basic and advanced skills required to manage tour planning and wilderness route-finding on trails, in complicated terrain or in whiteout conditions. To learn more about this program, click here .
Events, Films and Speakers Equipment The Mountain Center at the American Alpine Institute offers a wide array of clinics on-site for those that wish to advance their skills around equipment maintenence and repair.
Following is a list of available programs:
Ski Tuning and Waxing for Recreationalists
Ski Tuning and Waxing for Professionals
Prep and Upkeep of Backcountry Ski Equipment (cutting skins, regluing skins, etc.)
Backcountry Ski Orientation for Beginners
Backcountry Splitboard Orientation for Beginners
Mountain Electronics Orientation and Use
Rock Equipment Upkeep and Repair
Ice Equipment Upkeep and Repair
Related Programs
Events, Films and Speakers Submissions Submissions vary by event. AAI is always open to film, slideshow, speaker and other event sumbissions. All submissions should be sent to [email protected] .
Artist/Phographer in Residence Submissions
AAI features one artist or photographer each quarter (Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec). The artist's work is sold in the AAI retail shop at a price set by the artist. AAI receives a 10% commission on all work sold.
Samples of work should be submitted via email the first week of the new quarter for consideration in the next quarter. In other words, work should be submitted the first week of January, April, July, and October. Selections for the next quarter will be made within 15 business days of the final day of submission.
Selections should be sent to [email protected] .
Mountain Maker's Market Participation
The Maker's Market will take place at the same time as AAI's Annual Equipment Fall Equipment Sale every year. The building has two bays where sellers may set-up. The cost to participate is $25 per booth. No commission is charged.
To participate in the Mountain Maker's Market, contact AAI at [email protected] by October 1st to secure a position.
Bellingham Climbers Film Festival Submissions
The Bellingham Climbers Film Festival is a two night event where amature filmmakers may present their climbing, mountaineering, rescue, and canyoneering related work.
The combined films during the Bellingham Climbers Film Festival will not exceed two-hours in running time with an intermission. Shorter submissions are more likely to be selected. Submissions over fifteen minutes long are unlikely to be selected.
Submissions will be accepted from November 1-November 15 each year. Submissions should be suitable for all audiences, similar to films shown at the Reel Rock or Banff Film Festival tours.
To learn more, please email [email protected] .
Mountain Art and Photography Market Participation
This program is fully open to all that are interested. Those who wish to set-up a booth may do so for $25. Others may set-up artwork around the space, but if AAI sells the artwork, we will take a 10% commission.
To participate in this event, please email [email protected] .
Submission of Other Films, Speakers or Presentations
AAI is fully open to partnering with organizations, individuals or filmmakers to present their product to an audience. All aspects of a presentation are negotable. In addition to a submission, those who submit must note how they will promote their event in conjunction with AAI. AAI is not in a position to be the sole promoter of any given event.
Please email [email protected] with submissions or ideas.
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