alpineinstitute

This edition of Weekend Warrior is a little different than others. Sometimes we focus on a particular sport, or maybe a specific area. But this time I was inspired by a particular type of athlete: the adaptive athlete. Blind climber Erik Weihenmayer was part of the first all-blind climbing team, and has also climbed big alpine lines in South America. Here is one of his harder climbs, The Naked Edge in Eldorado. I've seen quite a few adaptive skiers at Snoqualmie Pass, but nothing quite like... Read Full Story

It's not uncommon for us to get up to an anchor point only to find that we've left our cordellete on our partner's harness or to find that it is impossible to hear.  Most people will just deal with these problems without thinking outside-the-box.  One outside the box thought though is to use your rope for these things. This first photo was taken in Red Rock Canyon at the start of the "Tunnel Pitch" on Tunnel Vision (III, 5.7).  If you're not familiar with this route, it is an absolutely... Read Full Story

Northwest: --Clackamas County search and rescue crews found the body of a 32-year-old Tigard man who had been missing on Mount Hood since Monday morning on Wednesday. Clackamas County search and rescue teams found Jared Townsley’s body below an area of cliffs at about 9,200-foot elevation. The sheriff’s office said the location indicate that he likely died from a severe fall. To read more, click here . --A 35-year-old Portland woman was rescued Sunday morning from Mount Hood after... Read Full Story

NORTHWEST:  -- Roads, Routes, Trails -- The couloirs go right now! - Read the Trip Report:  Dragontail Triple Coulouirs   Ice Conditions Thread on Cascade Climbers Forest Service Road and Trail Conditions  Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Statewide Ski and Snow Report . Route and Conditions from Mt. Baker Rangers:  Mount Baker Climbing Blog . --Weather and Avalanche-- Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center  Mountain Specific  Weather  Forecasting... Read Full Story

It's not always super easy to find things to write about in this blog. So I often lurk on different websites looking for topics to write about.  This particular post on rockclimbing.com caught my attention: I am a new climber-and I've seen many climbers carry knives. Many of them are really attached to them-and consider them their favorite tool. I've met climbers that have stories about their knives and talk about them like a companion. I was thinking I should invest in one-but... Read Full Story

I scream, you scream, we all scream for.... ice climbing!  So I am the AAI guide here in Ouray, Colorado, what is often lauded as the "epicenter of American ice climbing." While I  don't need to make any overstatements, the place is amazing. Sure, there's the ice park, with over   one mile  of ice of all shapes and sizes (see recent blog entries from 1/23, and 1/31). But let's talk backcountry ice. Though, every other place in the world "backcountry" ice is simply "ice," but I digress... Read Full Story

February and March The Forest Service in Western Washington is offering Snowshoe Hikes and Cross Country Ski Tours for all ages. Scroll down to  find one in your area and make your arrangements.  2/11 -- Bellingham, WA --  NC3 Climbing Comp at WWU 2/10 - 2/11 -- Busteni, Romania --  Ice Climbing World Cup 2/16 -- Las Vegas, Nevada --  Save Red Rock Meeting at REI 2/16 -- Red Rock Canyon, Nevada -- Transportation Planning Open House 2/17 -- 2/20 -- Cody, WY... Read Full Story

His leading sponsor may be a bathroom and tile company , but you have to admit that climbing with Ueli Steck is pretty awesome! Here's Jesse Mattner inching his way up the thin ice on the second ascent of Silver Surfer, an M9 in Colorado. I know some of you out there are itching for warmer temps and can't wait to get out of the gym and back on some real rock. Now is the time to start planning your climbing trips for the year - how about some climbing in Squamish? Hopefully the prep for your... Read Full Story

At the American Alpine Institute, we spend a lot of time talking about avalanches.  We run dozens of avalanche courses a season and highlight avalanche near misses and fatalities on this blog.  But we haven't spent much time talking about another major frontcountry and backcountry danger: tree-wells Every year there are stories about people who have gone into a tree-well upside down and suffocated.  Essentially, a skier or a snowboarder takes a fall and slides into a tree-well upside down... Read Full Story

Northwest: --A lost snowboarder was found alive and well Sunday morning, January 29, after he spent the night in a snow cave on Mount Shuksan. Jakub Cink, 23, of the Czech Republic, was reported missing about 5 p.m. Saturday, three hours after he was last seen on the slopes of the Mount Baker Ski Area, said Whatcom County Sheriff's Deputy George Ratayczak.  To read more, click here . --A Washington state man who mistakenly skied well outside the the boundary of Oregon's Mount... Read Full Story