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Programs

Various Locations - US and Canada Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
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5
Physical
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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
Climber on Rincon Wall
Boulder, Colorado Special Offer
Type
Private & Custom Trips
Technical
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5
Physical
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5

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
Huascaran from Camp on Toqllaraju
Cordillera Blanca, Peru Special Offer
Type
Expeditions
Technical
1
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5
Physical
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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
A climber bouldering on an indoor climbing wall
Private Programs Only Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
2
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4
5
Physical
1
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3
4
5

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
Camp on Toqllaraju
Cordillera Blanca, Peru Special Offer
Type
Expeditions
Technical
1
2
3
4
5
Physical
1
2
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5

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)
Washington Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
2
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4
5
Physical
1
2
3
4
5

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
Washington, California & Nevada Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
2
3
4
5
Physical
1
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4
5

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
Backcountry Skiing
Various Locations Special Offer
Type
Mountain Center
Technical
1
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5
Physical
1
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4
5

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
Joshua Tree National Park, CA Special Offer
Type
Private & Custom Trips
Technical
1
2
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4
5
Physical
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5

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
Red Rock Multi-Pitch Climb
Nevada, Washington Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
2
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4
5
Physical
1
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4
5

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
Ropes
Bellingham, WA Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
2
3
4
5
Physical
1
2
3
4
5

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
Whitewater Rappel
Washington Special Offer
Type
Instructional Courses
Technical
1
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5
Physical
1
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3
4
5

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 image

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 image

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.
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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 image

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.
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Backcountry Skiing & Boarding

Search Results (22)
Guided skiing in world-famous backcountry, and skills instruction for skiers, split-boarders, and ski mountaineers
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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.
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Hiking And Backpacking

Search Results (14)
Living and moving in the mountains is a reward in itself, and provides the fundamental skills that underlie all mountaineering.
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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.
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Outdoor Educator & Guide Training

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Technical and non-technical leadership courses from the AMGA's longest-accredited guide service
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Technical Rescue & Medical

Search Results (8)
Industry standard technical rescue and wilderness medicine instruction

Program Types

Instructional Courses icon

Instructional Courses

Search Results (66)
Intensive mountain skills instruction and summit climbs
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Group Summit Climbs

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Introductory summit climbs with some skills instruction
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Expeditions

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Longer trips in remote locations to ascend major peaks, including the Seven Summits
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Private & Custom Trips

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Custom adventures for individuals or groups – with the best-trained guides in the industry
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Treks, Tours, & Backpacking

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Full-service, non-technical adventures for all outdoor enthusiasts
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Government, Military, & Veterans

Search Results (3)
Training for government personnel and vocational programs for veterans using VA benefits
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Youth Climbing Programs

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Our youth programs inspire young adventurers to explore the outdoors, build confidence, and develop climbing and leadership skills in a fun and supportive environment.
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Mountain Center

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Short classroom and outdoor courses, films, lectures, and other low-cost programming for the local outdoor community

Articles

Physical Conditioning for Mountaineering Expeditions

American Alpine Institute

...get by with as little effort as is possible. That having been said, a Denali climb’s difficulty is hard to… Read More

American Alpine Institute Values and philosophy

American Alpine Institute

...accept the serious responsibility of mountain partnerships, to understand mountain environments and the threats to them, and to develop preservationist… Read More

Best Mountaineering and Climbing books

American Alpine Institute

Level Up Your Mountain Skills: The Ultimate Outdoor Reading List Whether you’re dreaming of your first summit or honing advanced… Read More

Red Rock Rendezvous

American Alpine Institute

...with massive online platforms ultimately proved unsustainable. Mountain Gear sold equipment and apparel from leading brands including The North Face,… Read More

Blog Posts

The Turkey Problem: Why Past Success Can Make Climbers and Skiers Less Safe

American Alpine Institute
October 28, 2026

Climbing as a Party of Three on Technical Glaciated Climbs

American Alpine Institute
September 6, 2019

Film Review: A Walk in the Woods

American Alpine Institute
July 29, 2019

The Worst Climbing Movies Ever!

American Alpine Institute
September 16, 2016

The Worst Climbing Movies Ever

American Alpine Institute
July 26, 2010

Book Review — Red Rock Odyssey

American Alpine Institute
April 28, 2008

Get to Know Your Guide: An interview with Kurt Hicks

American Alpine Institute
March 31, 2008

Alex Honnold Reviews Classic Climbing Scenes in Movies

American Alpine Institute
March 7, 2022

Pro Tip: How to Eat Your Climbing Partner if You’re Starving

American Alpine Institute
September 13, 2021

Funny Climbing Quotes

American Alpine Institute
July 23, 2021