Fighting for Fitzroy
American Alpine Institute
...the Indian name for Fitzroy. Likening the mountain’s constant cloud cover to smoke, the natives named it “Chalten” meaning “volcano”… Read More
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label/Mountain Comedy
Programs
Technical Rope Rescue Level I – Operations
…fire departments, paramedics, and mountain rescue units with the skills to manage scenes, identify rescue requirements, and perform low- and high-angle evacuations. This program meets NFPA 1670 operations-level standards and…
Year Round
4 days
Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership – Part II
…mountains while exploring the nuances of climbing in the winter environments. By blending the worlds of backcountry skiing and alpinism, year-round opportunities to explore the mountains start to become more…
January-March
6 days
LGBTQ+ Climbing and Mountaineering Programs
AAI is proud to offer a variety of Queer climbing and mountaineering programs, including LGBTQ+ rock climbing clinics, mountaineering courses, and guided summit climbs. LGBTQ+ affinity courses offer a powerful opportunity for…
Year-Round
Varies
The Alps Trilogy – Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger
Since the birth of mountaineering, these three peaks have captured climbers like no others: Mont Blanc (15,771 ft.), the highest point in Western Europe, because its ascent heralded the dawn…
June - September
11 days
Technical Rope Rescue Level II – Technician
…Rescue Comprehensive, a four-part, 14-day series. After Technician, participants can expand their abilities with Self-Rescue for Climbers and Advanced Mountain Rescue, or take any combination of courses individually. The full…
Year-round
5 days
Alpinism 2 – Intermediate Mountaineering
Designed as the natural progression from AAI’s Alpinism 1 – Intro to Mountaineering, this program is ideal for those with a few days of rock climbing under their belt and…
May - September
6 days
La Paz and Cordillera Real Trek
…jungles, dry altiplano, fertile valleys, and numerous glaciated mountain ranges. But while the scenery is spectacular, the startling physical contrasts of each area have put different requirements upon humanity and…
May - August
7 days
Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership – Part III
…remote winter mountain terrain. This will allow you to venture deeper into the mountains to score the best tracks and lines of fresh powder. Designed for students who have completed…
Mid-February - April
12 days
Carstensz Pyramid/Puncak Jaya
…New Guinea in the east. The mountain was first climbed in the 1960s and has seen relatively few ascents since then. Climb the highest mountain in Australasia; one of the…
February-March, August-October
11 days
Vocational Training for the Outdoor Professional
…Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part II (AMTL II) Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part III (AMTL III) Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part IV (AMTL IV) Wilderness First Responder Certification…
Year-round
Varies
Backcountry Skiing – Advanced
This immersive two-day backcountry skiing clinic is designed for experienced skiers and splitboarders who want to go beyond the basics and push deeper into the wilderness. You’ll refine your touring…
January - April
2 Days
Cho Oyu Expedition
Cho Oyu stands along the Nepali-Tibetan border about 18 miles west of Everest, tied to it by a long ridge with five summits over 23,000 feet. Cho Oyu is the…
September - October
45 days
Program Activities
Alpine Climbing & Mountaineering
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This is mountain climbing in its most classic form – over rock, snow, alpine ice, and glaciers, in pursuit of major summits.
Rock Climbing
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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
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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
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Climbing the highest mountains in the world is a special discipline of mountaineering, with unique challenges and rewards.
Backcountry Skiing & Boarding
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Guided skiing in world-famous backcountry, and skills instruction for skiers, split-boarders, and ski mountaineers
Avalanche Training
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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
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Living and moving in the mountains is a reward in itself, and provides the fundamental skills that underlie all mountaineering.
Wilderness Skills
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Those who venture into the wilderness must draw from a deep skill base, including navigation, outdoor cooking, water purification, and countless others.
Program Types
Expeditions
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Longer trips in remote locations to ascend major peaks, including the Seven Summits
Private & Custom Trips
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Custom adventures for individuals or groups – with the best-trained guides in the industry
Treks, Tours, & Backpacking
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Full-service, non-technical adventures for all outdoor enthusiasts
Government, Military, & Veterans
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Training for government personnel and vocational programs for veterans using VA benefits
Articles
Decades of Stewardship: American Alpine Institute’s Commitment to Replacing Aging Bolts
American Alpine Institute
...about developing skills, building community, and caring for the wild places where we climb. That philosophy has guided AAI’s approach… Read More
Footcare for Climbers: Stepping up to Happier Feet
American Alpine Institute
From the May 2006 edition of AAI’s E-newsletter Here at AAI, our guides cannot stress enough that, in the mountains,… Read More
Lightweight Winter Emergency Gear
American Alpine Institute
...in the Catskills and Adirondacks (mostly day hikes). Even in the winter, the trails are essentially non-technical, but often require… Read More
Picture Savvy: Improving Your Climbing Photography
American Alpine Institute
...shots later in your presentation. Don’t stop shooting after reaching the summit. Many good mountaineering photos are made while going… Read More
Red Rock Super-Classic: Epinephrine
American Alpine Institute
...on Community Pillar. The last difficult pitch of the climb was completely enclosed deep inside Magic Mountain. And at the… Read More
Feeling Nervous About an AAI Course? You’re Not Alone—and You’re Probably Ready
American Alpine Institute
...learners, not superheroes. While some programs require prior experience, many AAI courses are built specifically for people who are: New… Read More
Ice Axes and Tools for Alpine Climbing
American Alpine Institute
...axes or just one technical axe and one long mountaineers axe? Can you self arrest just as well with an… Read More
Selecting a Rope for Alpine Climbing
American Alpine Institute
Question: From the March 2006 edition of AAI’s E-newsletter I am looking at ropes for alpine glacier and couloir routes… Read More
Simul-Climbing: Managing Danger from Falls
American Alpine Institute
...limiters and allowing backwards movement, which would still keep the climbing team attached to the mountain in case of a… Read More