American Alpine Institute

06/15/2026

The mountains are never static.

For decades, climbers approaching the Coleman Deming route on Mount Baker looked up at a landscape dominated by ice. The lower icefall spilled down the mountain, and much of the rocky terrain visible today remained buried beneath snow and glacier ice.

The change is impossible to ignore.

Mountains have always evolved, but witnessing that evolution within a single climbing career is a powerful reminder of how quickly these landscapes can transform. For those of us who spend our lives in the mountains, these aren't changes measured in centuries. They're changes measured in seasons, photographs, and memories.

The routes we climb tell a story. So do the routes that no longer exist.

Photo 1: Early-season conditions several years ago.
Photo 2: Later September 2006.
Photo 3: May 2026

06/12/2026

You’ve climbed glacier routes. You’ve spent time at the crag. Now you find yourself looking beyond the standard objectives and wondering what lies deeper in the mountains.

The next step is learning how to move confidently through more complex terrain where rock, snow, ice, route finding, and leadership all come together. Courses like Learn to Lead, Alpine Ice, and Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership 2 are designed to help climbers bridge that gap and unlock bigger objectives.

If peaks like Forbidden, the North Ridge of Mt. Baker, or Shuksan Fisher Chimneys are calling your name, it’s time to build the skills that turn ambitious goals into real mountain adventures.

06/12/2026

Congratulations to AAI Denali Team 5 on their recent summit of Denali!

https://www.alpineinstitute.com/dispatches/2026-aai-denali-west-buttress-expedition-team-5-may-26-june-15-dispatch-15/

06/08/2026

The alarm sounds long before sunrise. Headlamps glow across camp. Boots crunch on frozen snow as climbers step into the darkness beneath a sky full of stars.

On several of our programs, students spend days learning the craft of mountaineering and nights immersed in the alpine environment in the beauty of Mt. Baker. Waking high on the mountain, sharing camp with fellow climbers, and watching first light touch the glaciers is an experience that stays with you long after the climb is over.

Courses are filling quickly. If you've been dreaming about experiencing the majesty of the mountains for yourself, now is the time to reserve your spot.

06/08/2026

Congratulations AAI Denali Team #4 for tagging the summit on Saturday! Nice work!

06/05/2026

Our first Womxn's Program of the season is back from the mountains! Over the course of the program, students built mountaineering skills, traveled through glaciated terrain, and put their training into practice alongside a team of supportive and inspiring women.

Programs like this are about more than learning technical skills. They're an opportunity to challenge yourself, build confidence in the mountains, and connect with an amazing community of climbers who share your goals and passion for adventure.

There's still time to join us this season! If you've been thinking about developing your mountaineering skills, climbing Mount Baker, learning rock climbing, and spending time in the mountains with an awesome group of women, we'd love to have you out with us.

Come learn, climb, and share the experience with an incredible community of women in the mountains.

06/05/2026

Congratulations to AAI Denali Team #3 for bagging the summit!

https://www.alpineinstitute.com/dispatches/2026-aai-denali-west-buttress-expedition-team-3-may-16-june-5-dispatch-16/

06/04/2026

Pattie Gonia has offered to drop her trademark application with some conditions. A large portion of the Grand Wall in Squamish is closed for nesting peregrines. And there a lot of activity in summer ski resort additions. Read about this and a whole lot more in this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news round-up!

--Follow along with AAI's Alaska and Denali programs on our dispatches page!

06/03/2026

Build skills, confidence, and lasting connections in the mountains with American Alpine Institute's Women's Programs. Learn from expert female guides in a supportive, empowering environment designed to help you grow as a climber, mountaineer, or backcountry traveler. Adventure, education, and community await. Join us and discover what's possible.

https://www.alpineinstitute.com/programs/womens-climbing-mountaineering-programs/