American Alpine Institute

Apparently there are flock cameras in Yosemite. Rocky Mountain National Park is sticking to reservations and timed entries. And the bulldozers building roads and border walls in Big Bend National Park have stopped...for now.

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

Climbing, Skiing, Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 6/20/2026 --AAI's Director, Jason D. Martin, wrote an article for Cascadia Daily News on How to Stay Safe When Adventuring Alone.

Our Winter 2026/2027 Course dates are available for registration!

Check out our AIARE Avalanche programs, Backcountry Ski programs, and our new Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership series!

If you are going to want to explore the mountains in the winter, we have courses that will prepare you for any adventure!

Mountain goats make rock climbing look ridiculously easy. 🐐🧗

No rope. No harness. No worrying about footwork. Just tiny hooves, excellent balance, and an unreasonable amount of confidence.

Unfortunately, most of us did not evolve with built-in climbing shoes.

So if you want to move through the mountains with a little more goat-like competence, you have to learn the fundamentals: earning how to build and evaluate anchors, place and manage climbing gear, protect a route, belay, manage ropes, and find your way through complex terrain. These are the skills that turn a collection of cliffs and cracks into a climb you can actually navigate.

The goats have the natural ability. We have ropes, gear, and a lot of practice.

Time to catch up. 🐐

You don't have to ask our instructors twice about having class outside. In fact, it's where our classroom is. In crevasses, oftentimes.

Crevasse rescue is an essential skill for anyone traveling on glaciers, which is why it’s built into many of our introductory mountaineering programs.

You’ll get hands-on experience in a crevasse, practice rescue techniques, and learn how to move confidently through complex glaciated terrain.

Because when it comes to glacier travel, it’s better to learn what’s down there before you end up there. 🧊🏔️

Ready to take your mountaineering to the next level?

For many climbers, Alaska is more than a destination. It's where years of training come together on vast glaciers, remote ridgelines, and true expedition terrain.

Whether your goal is climbing Denali via the West Buttress, building expedition skills in our Denali Prep Course, exploring the Alaska Range, or skiing through one of the world's most spectacular mountain landscapes, there's no better time to start planning.

Denali West Buttress Early Booking Pricing
🏔️ First 4 climbers: $11,995 (only a few of these spots remain!)
🏔️ Book by September 1: $12,650
🏔️ After September 1: $13,295

Expeditions like these take months of preparation. If Alaska has been on your list, now is the time to start planning for your next big objective.

Learn more about all of our Alaska programs through the link in our bio.

There are a ton of fires burning. A rare earth company has staked a claim on the border of Joshua Tree National Park. And Mammut is being sold to a Chinese asset manager.

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

Climbing, Skiing, Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/6/26 –After a successful season in Alaska, AAI is currently booking trips for the 2027 Denali (Mt. McKinley) season. Find discounts on select trips here.

🍉❄️ Ever seen pink snow on a glacier?

That’s watermelon snow, a bloom of microscopic algae (Chlamydomonas nivalis) that thrives in cold alpine environments. It may look strange, but it’s an important part of the glacier ecosystem, helping fuel the food web and feeding one of the coolest creatures out there: glacier worms. (Yes, those are real.)

A reminder before you scoop that pink snow into your water bottle: glacier meltwater still needs treatment. Filter or boil your water before drinking. 💩

Appreciate the weirdness of the alpine world. Just don’t drink it. 🏔️

Two Karelian Bear Dogs have been employed in the Tahoe region to decrease negative human/bear encounters. A new documenary is in the works about Aron Ralston, the subject of the film 127 Hours. And an attempt to block the national teams from Israel, Belarus and Russia from competing in World Climbing Association events failed.

To read about this and more, check out this week's climbing, skiing, mountain rescue and outdoor news round-up:

Climbing, Skiing, Rescue and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/30/2026 –After a successful season in Alaska, AAI is currently booking trips for the 2027 Denali (Mt. McKinley) season. Find discounts on select trips here.