American Alpine Institute

10/26/2026

DON'T MISS OUT!!!

This Sunday from 1-6pm is our Mountain Fest.

Huge Gear discounts, free seminars, and local makers.

10/23/2026

Rock or Ice? Why choose? 🧗‍♂️🧊

With AAI’s Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) programs, you can build skills in both.

🏔️ AMTL 1 introduces you to glacier travel, mountaineering fundamentals, and technical rock skills.

🧗 AMTL 2 takes things further with traditional lead climbing, ice climbing, and the technical skills to tackle more challenging alpine objectives.

🎓 Learn from amazing instructors with an AMGA-accredited guide service that puts education first. Build your skills, develop your judgment, and gain the experience to become a more independent climber.

And when it’s time to bring it all together? Our student-led Cascade Classic climbs put your skills to the test on real alpine objectives.

Rock, ice, glaciers, and bigger goals. Your alpine education starts here.

🔗 Explore our AMTL programs at alpineinstitute.com

10/21/2026

MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL, MAKER'S MARKET, GEAR SALE, AND FREE EDUCATIONAL CLINICS!

EQUIPMENT SHOP SALE: Up to 40% off new gear and tons of used mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding and climbing equipment!

AVALANCHE COUSE SALE: Buy anything and get $100 off an avalanche course.

MAKER'S MARKET: Local outdoor makers and artists will be selling their wares.

FREE EDUCATIONAL CLINICS:

2pm - Know Before You Go: Wilderness Rescue Resources and What to Expect
4:00pm - Know Before You Go: Avalanche Awareness
CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS:

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: WILDERNESS RESCUE RESOURCES AND WHAT TO EXPECT

What happens when you need a rescue in the wilderness? Who shows up? What do they do? How do they manage a situation? Do you have to pay for a rescue? Will a helicopter come? Who is in charge? How will they find me?

Wilderness rescue, search and rescue and mountain rescue are complicated topics. This is because they don't fit easily into one box. It's different everywhere you go. In this seminar, we will discuss how rescue operations work locally, how they work in other jurisdictions, and how they work internationally. In addition to that, we'll talk about tne complicated politics of search and rescue operations in a wilderness setting.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: AVALANCHE AWARENESS

This program is designed to introduce winter backcountry enthusiasts to avalanche terrain assessment, winter snowpack analysis and rescue technique. It also provides you a venue to talk frankly with our expert guides on how to create a reasonable margin of safety when climbing, skiing, or snowboarding on avalanche prone slopes.

More Info:
https://www.alpineinstitute.com/mountain-festival-gear-sale/ See less

10/19/2026

🏔️ AAI Mountain Festival is back!

Gear deals, local makers, and new skills to take into the mountains. Join us for our annual Mountain Festival at American Alpine Institute!

🛍️ Annual Gear Sale: Score deals on outdoor gear and essentials for your next adventure.

🎨 Makers Market: Shop unique goods and support local makers and outdoor creatives.

🧗 Free Workshops: Learn something new, build your skills, and connect with the local climbing community.

Whether you're gearing up for your next objective, shopping local, or just looking to spend some time with fellow mountain enthusiasts, there's something for you.

10/15/2026

A free soloist rescued a downed hang glider pilot. The National Park Service wants to hear your thoughts on what to do concerning the lodge rebuild on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. And the Blue Ridge ski resort in Ontario has installed a system in ski lifts that monitors whether you've put down your safety bar or not.

Read about this and a whole lot more in this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news round-up.

–It’s time to start thinking about climbing in the Southwest. Book a trip to Red Rock Canyon or to Joshua Tree National Park.

10/13/2026

🎨 IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!

We are looking for artists and makers to join us at our Mountain Fest on Nov 1 from 1-6pm. It's our big annual sale and we need artists to join us to sell their goods. Mountain and outdoor themed stuff is great, but not required! Send your interest to [email protected]

10/12/2026

10/09/2026

Shoulder season can be some of the best climbing of the year. With fewer crowds and the right weather window, you can still find excellent conditions and get plenty of time in the mountains.

But the margins are different.

Weather can change quickly this time of year. A sunny, dry day can turn into rain, freezing temperatures, or several feet of snow in a matter of hours. Conditions can also vary dramatically with elevation and aspect, so what you see at the trailhead may not tell you much about what you’ll encounter higher up.

And it’s not just rock climbing that changes. Fresh snow can make glacier travel significantly more difficult by obscuring crevasses and changing the surface conditions. Early season snow can cover hazards that were obvious just days before, while colder temperatures, ice, and shorter daylight can add complexity to an otherwise familiar route.

Shoulder season is a great time to get out, but it calls for more preparation and vigilance. Know the forecast, check current conditions and recent reports, understand how conditions may affect your route, and be prepared to change plans if the mountains aren’t giving you the window you expected.

There are still plenty of great days to be had. Just remember that this time of year rewards good preparation, strong mountain judgment, and the willingness to turn around when conditions change.

Get out there. Just know before you go.

10/08/2026

It has been confirmed that Yosemite's Dome Fire was sparked by an abandoned campfire. The US Department of the Interior is holding $1.2 million in wildfire mitigation funds from Joshua Tree National Park. And it's possible that Chiricahua will become Arizona's fourth national Park.

Read about this and a whole lot more in this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news round-up:

10/07/2026

Climb Ecuador's Volcanoes with American Alpine Institute

Imagine standing on a glaciated summit above 19,000 feet, watching the sun rise over the Andes.

Ecuador is one of the best places on Earth to build your high-altitude skills and tick off some iconic peaks. Join AAI's expert guides for a mountaineering expedition to the "Avenue of the Volcanoes," including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.

Learn more:

https://www.alpineinstitute.com/programs/ecuador-cotopaxi-skills-expedition/