Mount Waddington and British Columbia’s Coast Range
American Alpine Institute
...great mountaineering route. Harder Routes Mt. Waddington, South Face (Bravo Glacier Route) Technically, the aspect is southwest, not south. This… Read More
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label/Mountain Culture
Programs
Ptarmigan Traverse
…from the traverse. AAI teams regularly ascend a handful of mountains during the trip. Depending on time, parties ascend peaks like Magic Mountain, LeConte Peak, Sentinal Peak, Old Guard, Sinister…
July - August
7 days
Ecuador – Chimborazo Climb
Chimborazo stands out as not only the tallest mountain in Ecuador, but as the the tallest mountain in the world when measured from the center of the earth. This is…
November - March, May - July
4 days
Guided Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cascades
We offer guided ski and snowboard descents on some of Washington’s most iconic peaks, including Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and others. Our private trips are…
December - June
1 day and up
Winter Mountaineering Course
Winter mountaineering encompasses one of the most aesthetic and rewarding facets of the sport of climbing. Winter mountaineering has as much to do with mental challenge as it does with…
January - April
5 days
Events, Films and Speakers
…Unless otherwise stated, these events take place at our Mountain Center. Mountain Center 4041 Home Rd, Suite A, Bellingham, WA 98229 Events November 1st, 2026 – Mountain Festival and Gear…
Year-Round
Varies
Passport to Denali
Many climbers who attempt Denali (Mount McKinley) possess the basic skills needed to reach the summit—provided everything goes exactly as planned. But Denali is a mountain where conditions rarely cooperate….
Year-Round
Varies by program
Glacier Peak Climb and Skills Clinic
…in glacier travel, rope team skills, crevasse rescue, and backcountry mountaineering. Designed for competent backpackers ready to step into glacier mountaineering, this program emphasizes learning essential skills while ascending the…
June - July
6 days
Denali Prep Course
Descending the West Buttress on Denali. AAI Collection. Denali is high, cold and physically demanding. The mountain is home to some of the most severe weather and climbing conditions on…
January - March
6 days
Guided Alpine Climbing in the Cascades
…Mount Baker, or the rock cragging routes in Leavenworth and Index, to “tune up” their skills before tackling their high mountain goals. Any four to six-day (or longer) itinerary can…
May - September
Varies
Backcountry Navigation Comprehensive
…explore deep into the backcountry, whether on foot or on skis. Backcountry and wilderness navigation are essential parts of every single trip into the mountains, whether on foot, snowshoes, skis,…
Year-Round
1-Day
Saint Elias Range Skills Expedition
Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is America’s largest and most rugged national park, containing one of the world’s least visited expanse of mountain terrain. Bordering Canada’s Yukon, this vast area…
May - June
Varies
Ama Dablam Expedition
…(15,750/4,800m) through the Khumbu Valley provides exceptional views of Ama Dablam, while we experience the culture and hospitality of the Sherpa people. Once established in Base Camp, we review climbing…
October - November
28 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
Search Results (3)
Training for government personnel and vocational programs for veterans using VA benefits
Articles
Women Who Conquered the Outdoors:
American Alpine Institute
...Alma Wagen’s personal and professional life in Pretty Girls & Windmills, by Jason Martin, on Alpenglow.org. Lynn Hill was the… 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
Winter Mountaineering Gear: Snow Cave or Tent?
American Alpine Institute
...you took me into a gear store and I needed the following three items to survive and enjoy a high… Read More
What’s the Best Month to Climb in the Cascades?
American Alpine Institute
...soft snow, it is challenging to discuss avalanches. But it’s easy to develop higher-end cramponing skills. Indeed, as there’s more… Read More
Mountain Preparedness: What Goes in a Guide’s Pack
American Alpine Institute
...the importance of “going light.” These commentaries most commonly arise in the context of marketing efforts and in declarations from… Read More
Using Your Camera in the Mountains
American Alpine Institute
...already available on the internet, but much of it does not apply to taking cameras up mountains where conditions are… Read More
American Alpine Institute History
American Alpine Institute
...in 1980 and the company is one of the only companies to offer the Polish Direct Route on the mountain.… Read More
Stewardship and the American Alpine Institute
American Alpine Institute
Overview The American Alpine Institute has a long-standing commitment to advocacy and action in support of outdoor recreation, mountain education,… Read More
Ski Mountaineering: Whippet or Ice Axe?
American Alpine Institute
...climbing a big mountain – ski mountaineering for a ski descent – I’ll usually have an ice axe with me… Read More
