American Alpine Institute

American Alpine Institute achieved the Gold Standard Outfitter and Guide designation in 2024.

“The American Alpine Institute is very proud to receive the Leave No Trace Gold Standard Outfitter and Guide designation,” said Erin-Leigh Hardy, Leave No Trace Master Educator & Program Manager. “Since our founding, AAI has been dedicated to protecting the environment and to the fostering of safe and conscientious outdoor recreation. Being good stewards of the lands that we operate on help preserve them for future generations of climbers and skiers. It is so very important to help build up the awareness of the need for care in these often fragile environments that we recreate and operate in. The more people that we can help educate in this regard, the longer that these places will be here for us all to enjoy.”

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.