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Programs
- - - Programs
      
      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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  - - Instructional Courses
      
      Programs (63)
      
      Intensive mountain skills instruction and summit climbs
      
      Group Summit Climbs
      
      Programs (7)
      
      Introductory summit climbs with some skills instruction
      
      Expeditions
      
      Programs (34)
      
      Longer trips in remote locations to ascend major peaks, including the Seven Summits
      
      Private & Custom Trips
      
      Programs (42)
      
      Custom adventures for individuals or groups – with the best-trained guides in the industry
      
      Treks, Tours, & Backpacking
      
      Programs (11)
      
      Full-service, non-technical adventures for all outdoor enthusiasts
      
      Government, Military, & Veterans
      
      Programs (3)
      
      Training for government personnel and vocational programs for veterans under the GI Bill
      
      Youth Climbing Programs
      
      Programs (3)
      
      Our youth programs inspire young adventurers to explore the outdoors, build confidence, and develop climbing and leadership skills in a fun and supportive environment.
      
      Mountain Center
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Short classroom and outdoor courses, films, lectures, and other low-cost programming for the local outdoor community
Activities
- - - Activities
      
      American Alpine Institute offers mountain activities of all kinds, including rock-climbing, ice-climbing, mountaineering, and more. Browse activities here.
  - - Alpine Climbing & Mountaineering
      
      Programs (54)
      
      This is mountain climbing in its most classic form – over rock, snow, alpine ice, and glaciers, in pursuit of major summits.
      
      Rock Climbing
      
      Programs (36)
      
      Once mere skill-practice for mountaineers, rock climbing is now a highly developed sport, with numerous sub-disciplines such as trad, sport, and aid.
      
      Ice Climbing
      
      Programs (11)
      
      One of the most fundamental skills of mountaineering, ice climbing comprises skills for tackling both waterfall ice and alpine ice/glacier ice.
      
      High Altitude Climbing & Seven Summits
      
      Programs (30)
      
      Climbing the highest mountains in the world is a special discipline of mountaineering, with unique challenges and rewards.
      
      Backcountry Skiing & Boarding
      
      Programs (21)
      
      Guided skiing in world-famous backcountry, and skills instruction for skiers, split-boarders, and ski mountaineers
      
      Avalanche Training
      
      Programs (14)
      
      Avalanche safety training is a must for anyone who ventures into the backcountry in winter, and we offer the gold standard in avalanche education.
      
      Hiking And Backpacking
      
      Programs (15)
      
      Living and moving in the mountains is a reward in itself, and provides the fundamental skills that underlie all mountaineering.
      
      Wilderness Skills
      
      Programs (8)
      
      Those who venture into the wilderness must draw from a deep skill base, including navigation, outdoor cooking, water purification, and countless others.
      
      Outdoor Educator & Guide Training
      
      Programs (14)
      
      Technical and non-technical leadership courses from the AMGA's longest-accredited guide service
      
      Technical Rescue & Medical
      
      Programs (8)
      
      Industry standard technical rescue and wilderness medicine instruction
Destinations
- - - - Most Popular
      - North America
      - South America
      - Asia
      - Africa
      - Oceania
      - Europe
      - Antarctica
  - - Destination
      
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      Programs (24)
      
      Bellingham Area
      
      The gateway to the North Cascades, Bellingham is home to our headquarters and the AAI Mountain Center.
      
      Programs (12)
      
      Mount Baker
      
      At 10,780 feet, heavily glaciated Mt. Baker presents climbing objectives for all skill-levels.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Denali / McKinley
      
      The highest summit in North America, at 20,310 feet, and the hardest of the Seven Summits
      
      Programs (1)
      
      Mt. Whitney / Sierra
      
      The highest peak in the conterminous United States and the fabled "Range of Light"
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Ecuador's Volcanoes
      
      The high-altitude volcanoes of the Ecuadorean Andes are among the most sought-after summits in South America.
      
      Programs (17)
      
      Red Rock / Las Vegas
      
      Desert rock climbing at its best – and at its most accessible, just miles from the Las Vegas strip
      
      Programs (12)
      
      Joshua Tree
      
      A winter paradise for desert rock climbing, Joshua Tree is home to literally thousands of climbs for all skill levels.
      
      Programs (48)
      
      North Cascades
      
      Nicknamed "America's Alps", The North Cascades are the most heavily glaciated range in the conterminous United States.
      
      Programs (2)
      
      East Africa
      
      Although not traditionally a major destination for climbers, Africa is home to Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, and in recent years has become a destination for adventurous rock climbers.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      New Zealand
      
      Guided ascents of the classic routes in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, including Aoraki Mount Cook, Mt. Tasman, and Mt. Aspiring. Helicopter and hut supported climbing allows for multiple ascents in a short amount of time.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      New Guinea
      
      New Guinea is home to Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid), the highest mountain peak of an island on Earth, and the highest peak in the Sudirman Range of Mimika Regency, Indonesia, and the larger Oceania region.
      
      Programs (77)
      
      Washington
      
      Washington State is a mountaineer’s paradise, with rugged peaks, glaciers, and iconic alpine routes that make it one of the most diverse climbing destinations in North America.
      
      Programs (23)
      
      California
      
      Alpine rock climbing and cragging in the Eastern Sierra Nevada range and Joshua Tree
      
      Programs (10)
      
      Alaska
      
      Expeditions and custom trips in the Alaska Range, Denali National Park, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
      
      Programs (7)
      
      Utah
      
      Guided desert rock climbing and climbing instruction in the Moab area and Indian Creek
      
      Programs (16)
      
      Colorado
      
      Ragged rock, powdery snow, and glistening ice can all be found in the mountainous playground that is Colorado.
      
      Programs (19)
      
      Nevada
      
      Our Nevada campus centers on Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas.
      
      Programs (7)
      
      British Columbia
      
      British Columbia is a mountaineer’s paradise, offering rugged peaks, glaciers, and world-class climbing destinations like Squamish and the Bugaboos.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Ecuador
      
      High-altitude summits, hot springs, and haciendas – Ecuador is adventure tourism at its finest, and a paradise for a mountaineer.
      
      Programs (6)
      
      Peru
      
      Peru's Cordillera Blanca is an alpinst's dream – a rugged, heavily glaciated range with spectacular, picture perfect summits.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Argentina
      
      Argentina is the eastern gateway to the jagged Andes that form the border between it and its more rugged, icy neighbor to the west, Chile.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Bolivia
      
      The high peaks of Bolivia's Cordillera Real offer some of the most spectacular alpine climbing in the world.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      Ellsworth Range
      
      Entirely unexplored until 1966, the Ellsworth range was long regarded as a scientific curiosity. In that year the American Alpine Club, backed by the National Science Foundation, organized the first successful ascent of Mt. Vinson, and a new era of Antarctic exploration was born.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      French Alps
      
      The French Alps are the world capital of alpinism, and for good reason: the range offers hundreds of the highest quality rock, snow, and ice routes with unmatched accessibility.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Swiss Alps
      
      From scenic climbs like the Rothorn to classics like the Matterhorn and Eiger, Switzerland's Alps offer spectacular and varied climbing in the birthplace of mountaineering.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      Russia
      
      Crowning the great geographic and cultural divide between Europe and Asia, 18,510-foot Mt. Elbrus is one of the world's coveted "Seven Summits."
      
      Programs (4)
      
      Nepal
      
      Tucked on the south slopes of the fabled "Roof of the World," the mountain kingdom of Nepal is the homeland of the famed Sherpas and the launch pad for expeditions to Mt. Everest.
      
      Programs (4)
      
      China
      
      AAI offers technical climbing, mountaineering expeditions, and trekking and cultural experiences in the Himalaya and Sichuan areas of China.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      Japan
      
      Japan's northern island of Hokkaido offers world-class powder snow skiing and wonderful cultural experiences. Both of these immersive aspects enrich a traveler's soul in their own unique ways.
      
      Programs (1)
      
      Southeast Asia
      
      Rock climbing in Southeast Asia offers diverse natural landscapes, including iconic limestone caves, coastal cliffs, and expansive mountain ranges, catering to all skill levels.
Equipment Shop
- - - Equipment Shop & Rentals
      
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Inquiry Form

Use this form to request information about our programs. You can also call our headquarters during our business hours, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, at (360) 671-1505 to speak with a guide or program coordinator.

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Programs

Founded in 1975, American Alpine Institute is a mountaineering school and guide service offering a wide array of courses, peak ascents, expeditions, and private programs in North America and around the world.

View All Programs

Types

Instructional Courses
Group Summit Climbs
Expeditions
Private & Custom Trips
Treks, Tours, & Backpacking
Government, Military, & Veterans
Youth Climbing Programs
Mountain Center

Activities

Alpine Climbing & Mountaineering
Rock Climbing
Ice Climbing
High Altitude Climbing & Seven Summits
Backcountry Skiing & Boarding
Avalanche Training
Hiking And Backpacking
Wilderness Skills
Outdoor Educator & Guide Training
Technical Rescue & Medical

Popular Destinations

Mount Baker
North Cascades
Mt. Whitney / Sierra
Denali / McKinley
Ecuador Volcanoes
Red Rock / Las Vegas
Joshua Tree
Bellingham Area

AMGA Accredited since 1986

Accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association continuously since 1986, longer than any other American guide service.

The second guide service world-wide to receive Leave No Trace Gold Standard designation.

World Headquarters

4041 Home Road, Ste A Bellingham, WA 98226

Main Office

Monday - Friday:  
9:00am to 5:30pm

Equipment Shop

Monday - Friday:  
10:00am to 6:00pm

Saturday - Sunday
Noon - 6:00pm

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American Alpine Institute is an equal opportunity provider and an authorized permittee in the public lands in which it operates.

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