Roping up for Glacier Travel
American Alpine Institute
Question: From the July 2006 edition of AAI’s E-newsletter My team and I are traveling to Rainier to climb the… Read More
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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
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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
Ice Axe Positions and Alpine Ice Climbing
American Alpine Institute
Alpine ice climbing is the art of moving over steep, frozen terrain high in the mountains. Unlike waterfall ice, which… Read More
Alpine Efficiency: Combining Speed and Safety
American Alpine Institute
...guarantee your climbing will be fast and effective. Don’t forget to have fun in the process! Click the link to… Read More
Selecting Equipment for Waterfall Ice and Mixed Climbing
American Alpine Institute
...rated only as aid climbing protection and not for falls), so you should decide what length of screws to bring… Read More
Crevasse Rescue – Introduction
American Alpine Institute
...hypothermia, meaning that a rescue needs to happen quickly, even if the climber is uninjured. Crevasse rescue is a mandatory… Read More
Backcountry Meal Planning Guide
American Alpine Institute
...food per person per day. For alpine climbing or summit pushes, daily intake often trends toward the higher end of… Read More
Climbing Class and Commitment Grade
American Alpine Institute
In the mountains, numbers can feel deceptively simple. A climb is labeled “Class 3” or “Grade III,” and suddenly people… Read More
“Ask a Guide” Letters
American Alpine Institute
...Director of the AMGA. Letters Ice Screw Placement on Multi-Pitch Climbs Climbing Efficiently with Large Groups Cordellettes vs. Slings Speaking… Read More
50 Classic Climbs
American Alpine Institute
...are linked to trip reports or route profiles. Some routes that we frequently guide are shown in bold and are… Read More
Can You Climb While Pregnant?
American Alpine Institute
...input prior to climbing…especially if climbing includes bouldering or leading, places where bodily harm might be more likely. Key Considerations… Read More
Blog Posts
Climbing, Skiing, Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad – 7/16/2026
American Alpine Institute
July 16, 2026