American Alpine Institute

Last updated: 09/2026

Spreading the Spirit of Alpinism for 50 Years.

AAI founder Dunham Gooding teaches alpine ice climbing, circa 1976. Note the then standard combination of full-length piolet and short alpine hammer. AAI Collection

The American Alpine Institute was founded in 1975 and since then has been dedicated to helping climbers raise their skills, protect the environments in which they climb, develop good judgment, and safely gain access to the great mountains of the world.

Though the Institute is especially well known for its advanced training and expeditions, its international reputation is based on its dedication to teaching (at all skill levels from beginners' to masters' levels), its high level of customer service, the outstanding skills of its staff, and its public service in the areas of environmental protection and public lands policy.

"The best all-around climbing school and guide service in North America."

4041 Home Road

Bellingham, WA 98226

(360) 671-1505

www.alpineinstitute.com

Admissions

(360) 671-1505

jason@alpineinstitute.com

Financial Aid

(360) 671-1505

info@alpineinstitute.com

American Alpine Institute at a glance

Private career school-cert/dipl

Academics at American Alpine Institute

Programs

Program name	Location	Length	ETPL	Workforce Pell
Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part III Certificate	Bellingham	12 Days	Yes	No
Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive Certificate	Bellingham	15 Days	Yes	No
Professionalism for the Outdoor Educator Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Alpine Rock Module Certificate	Bellingham	7 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Alpine Guide Course Certificate	Bellingham	8 Days	Yes	No
Backcountry Navigation Comprehensive Certificate	Bellingham	1 Days	Yes	No
AIARE Avalanche Level I - Snowmobile Certificate	Bellingham	3 Days	Yes	No
AIARE Avalanche Rescue Skills Course Certificate	Bellingham	1 Days	Yes	No
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership I Certificate	Bellingham	12 Days	Yes	No
Technical Self Rescue for Climbers Certificate	Bellingham	2 Days	Yes	No
Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor Certificate	Bellingham	2 Days	Yes	No
Avalanche Pro Level 1 Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Ski Guide Course Certificate	Bellingham	10 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certificate	Bellingham	3 Days	Yes	No
Alpine Mountaineer-Tech Leadership IV Ptarmigan Traverse Certificate	Bellingham	12 Days	Yes	No
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership III Certificate	Bellingham	12 Days	Yes	No
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership II Certificate	Bellingham	12 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Alpine Skills Course Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
Alpinism 2 - Intermediate Mountaineering Certificate	Bellingham	6 Days	Yes	No
Alpinism 1 - Introduction to Mountaineering Certificate	Bellingham	6 Days	Yes	No
AIARE Avalanche Level I Certificate	Bellingham	3 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Rock Guide Course Certificate	Bellingham	10 Days	Yes	No
Learn to Lead-Trad Rock Climbing Leadership Certificate	Bellingham	4 Days	Yes	No
Outdoor Rock Climbing-Intensive Introduction Certificate	Bellingham	4 Days	Yes	No
Wilderness First Responder Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue Certificate	Bellingham	3 Days	Yes	No
AMGA Alpine Snow and Glacier Module Certificate	Bellingham	6 Days	Yes	No
Alpine Ice Climbing- Introduction Certificate	Bellingham	6 Days	Yes	No
Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part I Certificate	Bellingham	4 Days	Yes	No
Backpacking and Wilderness Skills Certificate	Bellingham	2 Days	Yes	No
Advanced Mountain Rescue Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
Technical Rope Rescue - Level II Certificate	Bellingham	5 Days	Yes	No
Technical Rope Rescue - Level I Certificate	Bellingham	4 Days	Yes	No
Personal Protective Equipment Competent Person Course Certificate	Bellingham	3 Days	Yes	No
Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part II Certificate	Bellingham	6 Days	Yes	No

Details
Program name: Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part III Location: Bellingham Length: 12 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive Location: Bellingham Length: 15 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Professionalism for the Outdoor Educator Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Alpine Rock Module Location: Bellingham Length: 7 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Alpine Guide Course Location: Bellingham Length: 8 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Backcountry Navigation Comprehensive Location: Bellingham Length: 1 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AIARE Avalanche Level I - Snowmobile Location: Bellingham Length: 3 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AIARE Avalanche Rescue Skills Course Location: Bellingham Length: 1 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership I Location: Bellingham Length: 12 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Technical Self Rescue for Climbers Location: Bellingham Length: 2 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor Location: Bellingham Length: 2 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Avalanche Pro Level 1 Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Ski Guide Course Location: Bellingham Length: 10 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Location: Bellingham Length: 3 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpine Mountaineer-Tech Leadership IV Ptarmigan Traverse Location: Bellingham Length: 12 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership III Location: Bellingham Length: 12 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership II Location: Bellingham Length: 12 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Alpine Skills Course Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpinism 2 - Intermediate Mountaineering Location: Bellingham Length: 6 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpinism 1 - Introduction to Mountaineering Location: Bellingham Length: 6 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AIARE Avalanche Level I Location: Bellingham Length: 3 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Rock Guide Course Location: Bellingham Length: 10 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Learn to Lead-Trad Rock Climbing Leadership Location: Bellingham Length: 4 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Outdoor Rock Climbing-Intensive Introduction Location: Bellingham Length: 4 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Wilderness First Responder Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue Location: Bellingham Length: 3 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: AMGA Alpine Snow and Glacier Module Location: Bellingham Length: 6 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Alpine Ice Climbing- Introduction Location: Bellingham Length: 6 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part I Location: Bellingham Length: 4 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Backpacking and Wilderness Skills Location: Bellingham Length: 2 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Advanced Mountain Rescue Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Technical Rope Rescue - Level II Location: Bellingham Length: 5 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Technical Rope Rescue - Level I Location: Bellingham Length: 4 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Personal Protective Equipment Competent Person Course Location: Bellingham Length: 3 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No
Program name: Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche Leadership - Part II Location: Bellingham Length: 6 Days ETPL: Yes Workforce Pell: No

American Alpine Institute

American Alpine Institute at a glance

Academics at American Alpine Institute

Programs

Legal

Licensing or regulatory agencies

Accreditation

American Alpine Institute

American Alpine Institute at a glance

Academics at American Alpine Institute

Programs

Legal

Licensing or regulatory agencies

Accreditation

Heads up!