Alaska Mountaineering School Home Courses Expeditions Instructors Schedule

Click for the new 2006 Schedule AMS Workshops AMS Workshops are short, intensive, 2-4 day courses that focus on a specific skill related to back country travel. Avalanche Awareness, Ice Climbing, Glacier Travel, and Crevasse Rescue are all workshops held throught the year. These mini-courses are taught by AMS instructors who specialize in the particular disicpline. Workshops are fun, full day experiences that usually require no prior experience. Avalanche Level I Glacier Travel AMS Courses CLICK AMS courses are self reliant expeditions and travel in remote wilderness areas. Students live outdoors, make their own meals, and care for themselves. Each course leaves for the field with a class syllabus and strategy to prepare students to lead similar expeditions on their own. Expedition format emphasizes hands-on learning with instruction by AMS field staff. Most courses do not require prior back country experience, but we expect students to be in good physical condition and have a strong desire to learn and work hard. Courses vary in length from one to three weeks. Most courses fly to their starting point in ski-equipped "bush" planes. [See comments of course graduates] Mountaineering Courses AMS mountaineering courses provide the CLICK knowledge, skills, and experience base essential for safe and enjoyable climbing in a glaciated and hazardous mountain environment. Our courses are self-reliant expeditions and travel in remote areas of the Alaska Range, the Chugach, and Talkeetna Mountains. Many of the areas we fly to in Denali National Park & Preserve were first scouted by AMS. We are always on the look out for pristine, quiet areas to teach our progression and climb high-quality mountains. Course format emphasizes hands-on learning and the application of new skills in a variety of terrain. Classes include glacier travel, crevasse rescue, winter camping, alpine climbing, and avalanche awareness. Our carefully thought out climbing progression graduates safe and competent mountaineers. Mountaineering 6 Day Mountaineering 12 Day Advanced Mountaineering Mountain Guide's Wilderness Courses Wilderness courses explore the untamed CLICK beauty of Alaska's tundra and forested ecosystems while learning the skills to be a competent backcountry user. Course locations are chosen for viewing wildlife and amazing vistas. We backpack in the Talkeetna Mountains, Brooks Range, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Our wilderness curriculum covers off-trail navigation, bear camping, and the natural history of the area. Photography, birding, wildlife viewing, fly-fishing, and moderate peak ascents are all popular activities. Wilderness Trek Wilderness Hike Wilderness Expedition Wilderness Medicine AMS offers the Wilderness First Responder CLICK 10 day certification course and 3 day re-certification courses in Talkeetna. They are held in the fall and spring. The WFR is the outdoor industry standard and is a must for all people who spend time in the back country. All AMS instructors are certified in WFR. Wilderness First Responder Wilderness First Responder Recertification Custom Courses AMS designs courses and private CLICK trips for all groups and individuals. We've had families, high school and university groups, film and television productions, and professional photographers. Past groups include: Finnish Air Borne Rangers, National Geographic, NOVA/WGBH Public Television, Discovery Channel, Road Less Traveled, America's Adventure, Boy Scouts of America, and many others. Please contact us for more information. Enrollment To reserve a space on a course, please read and fill out an application and attach a non-refundable deposit of $100. Upon acceptance, we will send you a detailed course description, equipment list, and travel/logistics information. You will also receive medical, release, and travel forms to fill out and return to us. Resumes describing your climbing background are required for advanced courses and expeditions. [Click For Course Application] [Click For Graduates' Comments]

Top of Page Travel & Lodging General Info Email Us Alaska Mountaineering School Colby Coombs & Caitlin Palmer, Directors PO BOX 566, 3rd Street, Talkeetna, AK 99676 USA phone: (907)733-1016 fax: (907)733-1362 email: info@climbalaska.org AMS top image: Alaska Range viewed from Talkeetna Mount Foraker (17,400'), Mount Hunter (14,570'), Denali (20,320')