American Alpine Institute

Specialties

We offer mountaineering and rock climbing instruction, high-​altitude expeditions, and guided climbing for all ability levels throughout the western United States and abroad. Whether it’s rock climbing in Las Vegas, learning glacier travel skills on Mt. Baker, WA, or tackling the Seven Summits, American Alpine Institute is, in Jon Krakauer’s words, «the best all-​around climbing school and guide service in North America.»

History

Established in 1975.

For more than 35 years, American Alpine Institute has pioneered the teaching of technical climbing in the United States. At a time when most American guides provided little instruction to their clients, the Institute launched a climbing school offering courses in ice climbing, rock climbing, and mountaineering skills, with a mission to grow its clients into self-​sufficient climbers. Today, the Institute continues this tradition of teaching skill mastery and self-​leadership, an approach that contributes to our extraordinary record of safety and success in the great ranges of the world. Come climb with us and launch a long career in the mountains … or just enjoy a day of thrill and challenge.

Meet the Manager

James P.

Manager

James coordinates our Cascade Programs and guides in the North Cascades. Although he was born in Kansas, he was bit by the mountain bug when he went to high school in the shadow of Wyoming’s Wind River Range. After college he moved to Olympia, WA and started climbing, racking up ascents throughout Washington and Oregon, and taking ice climbing trips to Colorado, Montana and British Columbia. James also enjoys telemark skiing in the winter, stand-​up paddling and fishing in the summer, and speaks a little German on the side.