Aconcagua Expedition Returns with Success February 4th
See our short report on our latest Aconcagua Expedition.
Water Ice Climbing - 2 Opportunities
Whether you have only a day or two, or more time available, if you'd like to get in some superb winter climbing you should consider joining us in California's Eastern Sierra or in Ouray in the Colorado Rockies. In either case, great Water Ice Climbing awaits you.
Winter Mountaineering - McKinley Prep
If you would like to develop your winter travel and climbing skills (and advance your skiing, snowshoeing, and/or avalanche hazard skills) - or if you would like to train for an upcoming expedition - your can still join us for Winter Mountaineering and McKinley Prep in the Eastern Sierra or in the Colorado Rockies. Programs run through mid-April.
High Altitude in Ecuador
Ecuador has been enjoying a great climbing season this year after getting off to a delayed start with the eruptions of Reventador in October and November. Climbers enjoyed great markets, an opportunity to further develop their skills, and a series of very successful summit climbs.
We have one group climbing there now (their plan is to summit Cayambe on February 6th, Cotopaxi on the 9th, and Chimborazo on the 12th), and we have two openings on our final climb of the season which runs February 21 through March 2 for the first two peaks or through March 7th for all three. This period usually offers great weather and conditions, so we hope you'll consider joining us on Cayambe (18,997') Cotopaxi, (19,348'), and Chimborazo (20,703). Airfares are unusually low right now, so consider a quick get-away.
AAI's Alpine Mountaineering and Leadership program
National Accreditation reviewers have described this program as "the most practical and complete course devoted to technical mountain leadership being offered." You can just take Part I to get a comprehensive introduction to all the skills of alpine mountaineering and general team leadership, and then have the option the same season or the next year to follow up with one or more of our foreign climbing trips or specialized courses in rock or ice climbing (5-day Intermediate Rock, 6-day Alpine Ice, 6-day Expedition Training, 5-day Waterfall Ice, etc.).
You may want to continue with Part II and Part III in order to rapidly develop well-rounded technical leadership skills. Part II focuses on technical leading (at advanced-beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels), and Part III is an expedition in Washington or British Columbia. If you want to take two or all three parts of this program, you can do them in a single season or take them sequentially over two or three years.
Alaska Climbing
This is the time to be thinking of your spring and early summer expedition climbing plans. If you would like to join us on Mt. McKinley and climb to the summit of North America, please give us a call. A few expeditions are now full, but most of them still have openings. AAI is very skilled at helping people get ready for this amazing climb, and as a result, we have the historically highest success rate on the mountain while maintaining an excellent safety record. As a team we are well prepared, cautious, tactically poised to take advantage of small weather windows, and very successful.
If your schedule requires a shorter trip, consider the 8-day Moose's Tooth Expedition, or if you want to further develop skills and do some great climbing in Alaska consider the 7-day Alaska Mountaineering - McKinley Prep program or the 14-day St. Elias Range Alpine Mountaineering and 1st Ascents program.
Upcoming Specials - Guides Choice Equipment
Every week our Guides Choice Equipment web site (www.guideschoice.com) offers a special discount on three items of gear. This week's items (February 4 - 10) include:
From February 11 through the 17th the featured items are:
From February 18 through the 24th the featured items are:
Check the Guides Choice site every Tuesday morning for the weekly specials! Bookmark http://www.guideschoice.com/weekly_sale/sale_current.htm.