American Alpine Institute

There is a tremendous amount of news concerning public lands in this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news round up. Read about it here:

Climbing, Skiing, Mountain Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/28/26 --AAI has several teams on Denali right now. Listen to their dispatches from the tallest mountain in North America here.

It may be almost June, but the Cascades are still holding onto winter. Our current Alpinism 1 students are getting a true alpine experience with deep snow, cold mornings, and fresh snowfall at higher elevations.

One of the biggest surprises for many climbers coming to the Pacific Northwest is just how much snow remains in the mountains well into late spring and early summer. The higher you go, the more it still feels like winter.

These early season conditions make for outstanding training grounds. Traveling through snow covered terrain, managing cold weather systems, and developing efficient mountain movement skills are all invaluable preparation for bigger objectives like Denali and other glaciated peaks around the world.

The mountains are still very much in winter mode up high, and that’s exactly why this is such a good time to be out there learning.

Our Outdoor Rock Climbing – Intensive Introduction is designed for new climbers and gym climbers ready to transition outdoors and build real-world climbing skills. Over four days, you’ll learn movement techniques, rope systems, anchor building, rappelling, belaying, route finding, and how to manage a single-pitch crag independently.

This course goes beyond simply climbing routes. You’ll learn how to read rock, move through cracks and slabs, place traditional protection, manage top-rope systems, and develop the judgment skills that outdoor climbing demands.

Whether your goal is climbing outside confidently, learning trad systems, or building toward bigger alpine objectives, this course creates the foundation.

Programs run year-round in destinations like Red Rock, Joshua Tree, Moab, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest.

(Even office dog, Etta, enjoys this program).

Strangely, there are a lot of animal stories in this week's round-up. Bees, a poodle, bears and more. Check out this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news!

Climbing, Skiing, Mountain Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/21/26 --King 5 is reporting that, "The King County Sheriff's Office performed a mountaintop rescue Saturday after a hiker fell about 50 feet and may have incurred a

Denali is a full expedition experience on one of the world’s great mountains.

From hauling sleds across the Kahiltna Glacier to establishing camps high on the mountain and moving through massive alpine terrain, climbing Denali demands endurance, teamwork, and determination. Standing on the highest peak in North America is an accomplishment earned through weeks of effort in one of the most rugged environments on earth.

Now is a great time to start planning your expedition. We are currently offering a discount on our 2027 Denali expeditions for a limited time.
Registration for our 2027 expeditions is open with early pricing:
-First 4 climbers: $11,995
-Then $12,650 through Sept 1, 2026
-Prices rise again after Sept 1

Train hard. Prepare well. Come climb Denali with us.

Big alpine faces. Long ice pitches. Complex terrain. Our Alpine Ice Course is designed to introduce climbers to the world of multi pitch alpine ice climbing in a real mountain environment.

Over the course, climbers develop efficient movement on steep ice and snow while learning the systems, techniques, and decision making required for longer alpine ice routes. From moving efficiently through technical terrain to building solid anchors and managing multi pitch systems in cold mountain conditions, this course is about becoming a more capable alpine climber while climbing incredible routes along the way.

It’s a great course to take if you want to be able to travel and climb in more complex snow and ice terrain. Unlock bigger objectives and more technical routes with our Alpine Ice Course.

A mountain guide just beat the fastest known time record on Mt. Rainier. A skier is being charged for skinning uphill in a resort after being told he wasn't allowed. And brain-eating amoeba have been found in several national parks.

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

Climbing, Skiing, Mountain Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/13/26 --SnowBrains is reporting that, "Mountain guide Simon Kearns has shattered the speed record for a round-trip ascent and descent of Mount Rainier, completing