Private Instruction

The American Alpine Institute offers two types of programming options. The first is participation in public group courses.  These can be found throughout the alpineinstitute.com site. And the second is private instruction or programming.

The American Alpine Institute can offer any group course as a private program.  Additionally, AAI is capable of building customized private courses for individuals and groups, including both adults and youth climbers. Customized courses can be structured around your schedule with any climbing, mountaineering, trekking, rescue, skiing or snow science objective in mind.

Advantages to Private Instruction

There are five major advantages to private instruction and private climbing trips. 

1. Complete control of your course.  If the weather deteriorates you can decide to change your curriculum or even - in some cases - your program location. The material to be covered will be customized to accommodate your needs and desires. If you'd like to spend more time on basic skills, this can be easily accommodated. If you already understand core concepts, these can be bypassed in order to provide advanced-level instruction.

2. Pace.  There are two types of pace on any program. One is the physical pace of a climb and another is the pace at which material is presented.  Some people prefer a slower climbing pace. Others prefer a faster pace.  The same is true with the speed at which material is presented.  On a private program you can move at whatever pace suits you.

3. Skills and fitness of others on the team.  Some are worried that they'll hold people back, whereas others are worried that someone they don't know will hold them back. The option of private programming provides a release from these concerns.

4. Shortened Itineraries. Many of the programs that AAI runs are done at a 5:1 or 6:1 student to instructor ratio. With smaller ratios, 1:1 and 2:1, it is sometimes possible to expedite course itineraries without cutting material.

5. Flexible Dates.  Many times the posted dates for programs will not work with your schedule. We are able to develop private programming on any date appropriate to a course's location.

 

Private Pricing

Pricing for private instructional courses is location and ratio dependant.  Following is a breakdown of major program locations and the inclusions and exclusions found in each location.

 

Cascades, WA; Sierra Nevada, CA; Coast Mountains, BC;  Bugaboo Mountains, BC; and Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Day Trips or multi-day with no group camping:

• 1 climber to 1 guide: $595 per day
• 2 climbers to 1 guide: $425 per person per day
• 3 climbers to 1 guide: $315 per person per day
• 4 climbers to 1 guide: $285 per person per day
• 5 climbers to 1 guide: $260 per person per day
•  

Multi-day programs with overnight group camping:

• 1 climber to 1 guide: $650 per day
• 2 climbers to 1 guide: $465 per person per day
• 3 climbers to 1 guide: $350 per person per day
• 4 climbers to 1 guide: $300 per person per day
• 5 climbers to 1 guide: $275 per person per day

*Two exceptions to our private pricing include a private 3-day skills and ascent of Mt. Baker and a 3 or 4 days skills and ascent of Mt. Shuksan. Once these private trips exceed 2 people the price defaults to the public rate per person as posted on the Mt. Baker Skills and Climb and Shuksan Skills and Climb program pages. 

 

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions:

• Guide
• Group Climbing Equipment
• Climbing and backcountry camping permits

 

Exclusions:

• Transportation from meeting place to program area for climber(s) and guide(s).
• Guide mileage to meeting place if outside of normal meeting locations.
• Personal camping and climbing equipment
• Personal food
• Frontcountry camping fees
• Trailhead parking permit
• Lodging before and after the trip
• Guide gratuities

Note #1 - There are some special pricing options for transportation to and from the Bugaboo Mountains.

Note #2 - Due to the cost of running some programs (e.g. Mt. Baker Skills and Climb) the minimum price does not go below the 3:1 climber to guide ratio.

 

Rock Climbing - Joshua Tree, CA; Red Rock Canyon, NV; Moab, UT; and Boulder, CO

Half-Day:

• 1 climber to 1 guide: $325 per day
• 2 climbers to 1 guide: $235 per person per day
• 3 or more climbers to 1 guide: $180 per person per day

 

Full-Day:

• 1 climber to 1 guide: $425 per day
• 2 climbers to 1 guide: $295 per person per day
• 3 or more climbers to 1 guide: $235 per person per day

 

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions:

• Guide
• Group Climbing Equipment
• Climbing permits
• Park entrance permits for Red Rock Canyon NCA

 

Exclusions:

• Transportation from meeting place to program area for climber(s) and guide(s).
• Guide mileage to meeting place if outside of normal meeting locations.
• Personal climbing equipment
• Personal food
• Lodging or camping during trip
• Guide gratuities

 

Ouray Ice Park and Ouray Ranger District

Day Trips or multi-day with no group camping:

• 1 climber to 1 guide: $595 per day
• 2 climbers to 1 guide: $425 per person per day
• 3 climbers to 1 guide: $315 per person per day
• 4 climbers to 1 guide: $285 per person per day

 

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions:

• Guide
• Group Climbing Equipment
• Climbing permits
• Park entrance permits for Red Rock Canyon NCA

 

Exclusions:

• Transportation from meeting place to program area for climber(s) and guide(s). (Often not necessary when climbing in the Ice Park.)
• Guide mileage to meeting place if outside of normal meeting locations.
• Personal climbing equipment
• Personal food
• Lodging or camping during trip
• Guide gratuities

 

Alaska Range and Wrangle-St. Elias Range

• Prices available on request. Please call the office at 360-671-1505 for more information. 

 

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions:

• Guide
• Group Climbing Equipment
• Climbing and backcountry camping permits
• Expedition tents, fuel and food
• Sleds for gear transport

 

Exclusions:

• Transportation from meeting place to program area for climber(s) and guide(s).
• Personal climbing equipment
• Glacier flights for climber(s) and guide(s)
• Park entrance fees
• Lodging before and after the trip
• Guide gratuities

 

Program Areas

AAI can offer private instructional courses in the following locations:

• Alaska Range, Alaska
• Wrangle-St. Elias Range, Alaska
• Squamish, British Columbia
• Bugaboo Provincial Park, British Columbia
• North Cascades, Washington (including on iconic peaks like Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Forbidden Peak, and Mt. Stuart)
• Washington State Rock (including Larabee State Park, Washington Pass, Mazama, Mt. Erie, Banks Lake, Peshastan Pinnacles, Leavenworth, Exit 38, Frenchman Coulee, and Beacon Rock)
• Southern Washington Volcanoes (including Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens)
• Eastern Sierra, California
• Joshua Tree National Park, California
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
• Moab, Utah
• Indian Creek, Utah
• Ouray Ranger District, Colorado (including the Ouray Ice Park, Camp Bird Road, and Red Mountain Pass)