Women Who Conquered the Outdoors:
American Alpine Institute
...AAI Climbing Blog features several other posts that highlight women in climbing, including awe-inspiring rock climbing videos (2013), a discussion… Read More
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label/Mountain Comedy
Programs
Wilderness First Responder
…will encounter caring for a patient over a period of hours or even days while awaiting evacuation. Mountain climbing guides, river guides, hiking guides, and backcountry rangers are usually required…
Year-Round
5-9 Days
Boulder Rock Climbing
…some of them just minutes from Boulder’s famous Pearl Street, with its shops, eateries, and street performers. An hour further north and west, the climbing in Rocky Mountain NP ranges…
March - November
1+ days
Peru – Huascaran Expedition
Nevado Huascaran is the highest peak in Peru and one of the world’s most imposing summits. It offers a challenging ascent requiring strong intermediate level alpine skills, and an unusual…
June - July
14 days
AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Climbing Wall Instructor Certification is for professionals who teach climbing on indoor gyms and artificial climbing walls. This two-and-a-half-day course and exam aims to…
Year-Round
2.5 Days
Tocllaraju Skills Expedition
…highest mountain, Huascarán, as well as famous 6000-meter peaks like Alpamayo and Artesonraju. With hundreds of peaks rising to elevations between 17,000 and 22,000 feet, the area encompasses a remarkable…
May - August
12 days (Part 1) or 20 days (Parts 1 & 2)
Avalanche Training – Snowmobile AIARE Courses
…safety while traveling in the backcountry. Avalanche Level 1 from John Grace on Vimeo. Similar to the course for skiers, boarders and mountaineers, but this course is for the motorized…
January - March
2 Online Evenings + 2 Field Days for Rec 1 and Rec 2, 1 Field day for Rescue
Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor Course
Every time we step into the backcountry we have an impact. We walk on terrain that may be changed by our method of travel. We build fires and go to…
Year-Round
5 or 6-Days Depending on Program
Avalanche Awareness Seminars
…probability of encountering an avalanche jumps dramatically. Indeed, every single person who spends time in the mountains in a winter context will encounter avalanche terrain and avalanche conditions. The only…
October - March
90 minutes
Guided Rock Climbing at Joshua Tree, CA
Joshua Tree National Park is a classic winter retreat for rock climbers of all levels. The colors, the plant-life, the animals and the rock in this unique 4,000-foot plateau at…
October - May
1+ days
Multi-Pitch Skills Course
…Red Rock Canyon, the East Buttress on Mt. Whitney in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, or the North Ridge of Mt. Stuart in the North Cascades. Each of these routes, and…
Year Round
4 days
Petzl PPE Competent Person Course
The PPE Competent Person course credential is considered an industry standard for those that manage fleets of work-at-height equipment or oversee vertical workers. The three-day program was designed to provide…
Year-Round
3 Days
Canyoning Washington: Skills and Descents
The American Alpine Institute’s Washington Canyoning: Skills and Descents program was designed for those who are interested in entry to intermediate level instructional guided descents in the Pacific Northwest. AAI…
June - October
2 Days
Program Activities
Alpine Climbing & Mountaineering
Search Results (55)
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
Search Results (31)
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
Search Results (37)
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
Search Results (3)
Training for government personnel and vocational programs for veterans using VA benefits
Articles
Winter Mountaineering Gear: Snow Cave or Tent?
American Alpine Institute
Question: I am wondering about snow caves verses a good four-season tent; is one a better shelter than the other?… Read More
Success in Sichuan: Second Ascent of Reddomaine
American Alpine Institute
An AAI Team Makes the Second Ascent of China’s 20,050-foot Reddomaine By Aidan Loehr AAI Instructor and Guide Mountain… Read More
What’s the Best Month to Climb in the Cascades?
American Alpine Institute
Seasonal Differences in AAI Summer Mountaineering Programs We are often asked, “What’s the best time to climb Mt. Baker …… Read More
Mountain Preparedness: What Goes in a Guide’s Pack
American Alpine Institute
...alpine ice climbing in the North Cascades of Washington. His trip was to include some glacier travel, camping on snow,… Read More
Using Your Camera in the Mountains
American Alpine Institute
Alasdair Turner As a guide who always carries a camera, I am often asked about cameras on climbing trips and… Read More
American Alpine Institute History
American Alpine Institute
...of Merit and gifted the medal to Dunham in gratitude. Growth and Change Alan Kearney, another influential guide, joined AAI… Read More
Ecuador Volcanoes – A Climbing Trip Report
American Alpine Institute
The Cayambe hut with the Hermosa glacier pouring in slow motion down the mountain’s West Face. Editor’s note: Climbing in… Read More
Ski Mountaineering: Whippet or Ice Axe?
American Alpine Institute
Question: From the January 2007 edition of AAI’s E-newsletter I am looking to get out in backcountry skiing more, and… Read More
Climbing Articles
American Alpine Institute
Writings on Various Topics by AAI Guides Over the years, AAI guides and staff have written many articles about climbing… Read More
Blog Posts
Climbing, Skiing, Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad – 7/16/2026
American Alpine Institute
July 16, 2026