Skills Expeditions

Intensive On-the-Climb Training on the Way to Major Summits

American Alpine Institute's Skills Expeditions are designed to provide outdoors enthusiasts who have minimal climbing experience a rapid introduction to the skills necessary to climb major peaks. These expeditions can also serve as acclimatization climbs for more advanced climbers pursuing high-altitude summits.

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  • Resident llama at Refugio Laguna Tuni
  • Hikers Traveling to Camp at Laguna Chiar Khota
  • Ice Climbing Skills Practice
  • Camp at Laguna Chiar Khota
  • Condoriri
  • Climbers on Huayna Potosi
  • The picturesque Pequeno Alpamayo
  • The Condoriri Lake District
  • Condoriri Basecamp
  • View from camp in the Condoriri Lake District
  • The glaciers of Cerro Condoriri
  • Climbing Huayna Potosí
  • Stone faces in the Semi-subterranean Temple of Tiwanaku
  • Donkey in Codoriri

  Bolivia - Huayna Potosi Skills Expedition

  The high peaks of Bolivia's Cordillera Real offer some of the most spectacular alpine climbing in the world. Join AAI for just the first part of this skill-building expedition, or use it to prepare and acclimatize for the Illimani Expedition.

  • Location:Cordillera Real, Bolivia
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:17 days or 10 days without acclimatization trek
  • Cost:Starting at $3140

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  • Climber and new objective
  • An unnamed Peak on the Bagley Icefield
  • Mount St. Elias towers above guide Ben Traxler.
  • Meal time in the St. Elias Range
  • Matanuska Glacier snout
  • Climbers on the summit ridge of an unnammed peak
  • Basecamp deep in the St. Elias Range
  • Interpreting the map
  • Sunset over the remote St. Elias Range

  Saint Elias Range Skills Expedition

  Introducing Alaska and expedition climbing, participants with previous mountaineering experience will learn the skills to be a rope team leader on moderate glacial terrain while intermediate climbers review snow and ice techniques, protective systems, and crevasse rescue. All participants attempt ascents at a beginner or intermediate level in the Wrangell-Saint Elias Mountains.

  • Location:St. Elias Range, Alaska
  • Season:May - June
  • Length:Varies
  • Cost:Please contact AAI for pricing

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  • Cotopaxi Summit
  • Cayambe Hut
  • Climbers on the Summit of Cayambe
  • Climbers studying their route on Cayambe
  • On the Summit of Cotopaxi
  • Ice Skills Practice on Glacier Hermosa
  • Acclimatizing on Fuya Fuya
  • High on Cayambe
  • Acclimatization hike to Quilotoa
  • Quito Rooftops

  Ecuador - Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

  With two days of skills instruction, those with little technical climbing experience have the opportunity to ascend Cayambe (18,997 ft) and Cotopaxi (19,348 ft) by way of classic snow and ice routes.

  • Location:Ecuadorian Andes
  • Season:November - March, May - July
  • Length:10 days, or 14 with Chimborazo extension
  • Cost:$3520 or $4650 with Chimborazo extension

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  • Camp on Toqllaraju
  • Alpenglow from high on Toqllaraju
  • Climbing steep snow Toqllaraju
  • Nearing the summit of Toqllaraju
  • Ishinca Valley Base Camp
  • High camp on Toqllaraju

  Tocllaraju Skills Expedition

  Ascents of Nevado Urus Este (17,783 ft.), Ishinca (18,143 ft.), Toqllaraju (19,790 ft.) plus review of alpine climbing and glacier travel skills.

  • Location:Cordillera Blanca, Peru
  • Season:May - August
  • Length:14 days or 20 days w/6 day extension for Chopicalqui
  • Cost:$3590, or $4790 with Chopicalqui extension

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  • Lamoshe, 'Goddess Peak', on the right
  • Locals in the Tibetan town of Tagong
  • Climbing objective up the left hand skyline
  • The town of Kangding
  • On the approach to Lamoshe
  • Climbing advanced base camp on Lamoshe
  • The N. Ridge of Lamoshe on right skyline
  • An unclimbed peak in the Sichuan Province

  Lamoshe Skills Expedition - Sichuan, China

  Bring your expedition climbing skills to a remote part of China and climb Lamoshe (19,915 ft). This unique program revives the adventuresome spirit of climbing, taking us into a range of major peaks that have escaped attention by western climbers.

  • Location:Sichuan, China
  • Season:September - October
  • Length:13 days
  • Cost:$8900 for 6:3