American Alpine Institute Reviews 

This company did an amazing job at safely teaching an introductory mountaineering course on Mt Baker with guides who were also very knowledgeable in crevasse rescue maneuvers. I also liked how they were helpful with gear preparation beforehand and also were available to provide 1 on 1 learning experiences during the trip. I will definitely be doing another trip with them.

I had a great time climbing with my guide Ryan. He was very knowledgeable of the area and explained all aspects of our routes and safety procedures. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who climbs!

Thoughtful, knowledgeable, professional and friendly equipment staff, guides & instructors. Undertook the Mt Baker Skills & Climb and thoroughly enjoyed it, found it very worthwhile. Have climbed with other guide services on Mt Rainier, but this experience with A.A.I really felt like the first time I was being encouraged and welcomed into the world of mountaineering.

I came into AAI’s Alpinism 1 course with no alpine experience, but with a strong backpacking and athletic background, and I thought the program was excellent. It was well structured, highly skills-focused, and our guide was phenomenal.

The pacing was especially well handled. At no point did I feel left behind or like I was being held back, and it always felt like the guide was balancing the needs of both the group and each individual appropriately.
I also really appreciated the environment that was created within the group. With a wide range of personalities and experience levels, everyone still felt comfortable contributing their perspective, asking questions, and discussing how the day was going, including risks, decisions, and successes.

Based on this experience, I would absolutely recommend AAI for skills-based instruction and guided alpine programs.

I signed up for Alpinism 2, and when the course didn't hit minimum enrollment, AAI offered to run it as a private 1:1 instead of cancelling, at the same tuition, no upcharge. Lacey in the office was responsive and straight with me about every question I asked, including the ones where the honest answer wasn't what I wanted to hear.

My guide Jim Mediatore was outstanding. He reached out beforehand, actually read what I said I wanted out of the course, and built the four days around it. When weather moved in he paused the trip and we picked it back up rather than forcing a bad day, and we ended up with bluebird conditions on the glacier. Multi-pitch rock in the Cascades, glacier travel, crevasse rescue systems, all of it taught at a pace that matched where I was rather than a fixed syllabus.

Between the office and the guides, these people clearly care about the quality of the experience over just running the program. Already thinking about coming back for AMTL 2.

I took the Alpinism 1 course with AAI Sept 2026 and it was an absolutely amazing experience! The instructors/guides were knowledgable, approachable, and kind. We went in-depth into topics such as self-arrest, crevasse rescue, leave-no-trace in the backcountry, navigation, and so much more. I can't wait to do more with AAI! And if your guides are Luke, Carter, and/or Doug, you're definitely with the best of the best!

AAI runs great courses that are very educational and fun. Every instructor I have had the opportunity to work with has been fantastic. They have the option to rent gear if you can’t afford or are not ready to buy what you need for an experience, and their gear shop has very reasonable prices. If you are interested in climbing or mountaineering I can not recommend them enough.

I had an outstanding experience with American Alpine Institute on a private climb of Eldorado Peak in the North Cascades.

From the planning and communication beforehand through the climb itself, everything was extremely well organized and professional. My guide, Jim Mediatore, was fantastic. He was experienced, calm, knowledgeable, and great company throughout three demanding days in the mountains. I always felt that safety was the priority, while at the same time he allowed me to enjoy the challenge and adventure of the climb rather than making it feel overly managed.

Eldorado turned out to be an incredible objective. What it may lack in altitude, it more than makes up for with the approach—bushwhacking, log crossings, seemingly endless boulder fields, and plenty of elevation gain before even reaching camp. The reward was an amazing high camp with spectacular views, followed by glacier travel and the airy East Ridge leading to the summit. It was exactly the kind of varied alpine experience I was hoping for.

One of the things I appreciated most about Jim was his ability to strike the right balance between being a guide and simply being a great climbing partner. He was happy to share his knowledge, never made things feel rushed, and helped make the entire experience enjoyable even during the harder sections of the approach.

It was also great getting to stop by AAI’s new headquarters and catch up with Jason Martin. The whole experience reinforced why AAI has such a strong reputation in the climbing community.

For anyone considering a private guided climb in the North Cascades, I would recommend American Alpine Institute without hesitation. The organization was excellent, the guiding was first-rate, and this was one of those mountain trips I’ll remember for a very long time.

Five stars and a huge thank you to Jim and the entire AAI team.

I had the pleasure of taking the AMTL 1 program in Sept 2026, led by Ken, Izzy, and Justin. The guides were absolutely fantastic – knowledgeable, helpful, and encouraging. I really hope to be paired up with any one of them again in future programs. They really made the experience, especially as a beginner mountaineer with little knowledge going into the course. We covered so much in the curriculum, from basic knots and rock climbing technique, to snow and ice travel, to multi-pitch climbing, and more, and the guides did a nice job meeting each student individually where they were at (skill-wise, comfort-wise, etc.). While we had to be flexible at times with the weather, the guides provided an incredible and comprehensive experience that met the needs of all seven students. We had a few days in Leavenworth, in Washington Pass, and of course on Baker, although we weren’t able to summit due to weather. Additionally, the shop and the rest of the employee crew are fantastic. They helped me get set up with all the right gear I needed for those two weeks. I am excited to return for AMTL 2 and other expeditions with AAI in the future!