American Alpine Institute Bellingham reviews

1609352399

Eric McRory

google

Dear Eric We're very sorry you had such a negative experience at our Equipment Shop. Thank you for taking the time to write a review and give us your frank feedback. In the past, our store policy has always been that sales are final for clearance items. However, it sounds like you may not have been properly informed of our policy, so in this case it's only right that we accept your return (with a receipt) for a full refund. In addition, we have changed our return policy to better serve our customers. We no longer have a special exception for all sale and clearance items. It's unfortunate when change requires a negative experience, but we're very grateful that you brought this to our attention. We wish you well, and hope and look forward to seeing you again. Sincerely, The American Alpine Institute Equipment Shop

1610667945

2

I bought a jacket that was on sale for my wife yesterday. I had her try it on but the fit wasnt quite right so I took it back this morning. It had all the original tags attached to the jacket and was in the same exact condition as when I bought it. They would not take it back for a refund, because it was on sale. The sales persons response in a smug tone was, We arent REI! Thats for sure. There was no policy posted in the store that would have warned me about this. I truly love to support local small business but I wont be supporting this one ever again.

1534261358

Brian McGilton

google

Dear Brian Were very sorry that you and your loved ones had such a negative experience with our company; were very glad that you were pleased with the work of our guides, Seth and Mike. We reached out to you directly by email right after your trip to apologize, to further understand your perspective, and to try to repair the harm, but have never heard back from you. We recognize that there were big problems at the conclusion of your trip. Although the safety of the participants was never compromised and our emergency communication system functioned flawlessly, a unique set of circumstances led to a breakdown in non-emergency communications, and resulted in your loved ones remaining uninformed of your whereabouts for a period of hours. We know the experience was exhausting for you and frightening for them. The morning after the trip ended, our CEO convened a meeting of all administrative, shop, and available guide staff to determine how to close the gap in our systems that your trip revealed. We immediately adopted new policies and procedures to reduce the chances that the problem would recur. We would like to correct a mischaracterization in your review. American Alpine Institute is a climbing school and mountain guide service. Our core mission is to organize, provision and guide trips into the mountains. We operate a state-of-the-art equipment shop at our Bellingham, WA headquarters as an integral part of fulfilling this mission. AAI guides are full employees of the company; most are career mountain educators, and many have worked for AAI for ten years or more. Our guides represent our company, as do our other employees. We understand that you may not wish to climb with us again, but we hope you will give us another chance. Either way, we wish you all the best. Sincerely, American Alpine Institute

1610741424

1

I went on a Mt. Baker climb with AAI and although the guides were great (Seth and Mike) the company was not. AAI is a gear shop that contracts guides but doesn't support them or their customers. We were delayed by 7 hours getting down (terrain conditions and a medical issue). The guides went above and beyond to help a member of the group with a medical issue get down the mountain. The rest of us were stuck at the trailhead in the cold and dark with no food because we were told not to bring food for the final night. AAI have people on call 24/7 to check in gear but can't be bothered to send a van 45 minutes to the trailhead to pick people up. Loved ones were very concerned after not hearing from me for 6 hours after they expected to and the AAI site and phone line don't provide any way to get information or talk to anyone. They simply give the hours of the gear shop. I recommend finding a company committed to servicing their customers instead of just renting them gear.

1567275385

Jenna Tepavcevich

google

Thanks, Jenna!

1610742377

5

I've completed both Alpinism 1 and 2 with AAI and I've had some incredible experiences. All the guides I've been with have been fantastic and I've gained so much knowledge and confidence from them. This last week's trip for Alpinism 2 with Ben and Jodi was the best. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and I will totally recommend AAI to anyone. I hope to do more programs with them in the future.

1499142895

Nathaniel Richards

google

5

Did Alpinism 1 with Calvin and then two day private rock climbing skills with Elias. Both were awesome and guides exceeded expectations. The #1 thing to know is that this is NOT a "summit factory" and they approach everything won a framework of instruction and goal of learning and skill development. I did summit both objectives but learned so much! Thanks! I will be back for more trips.

1571614030

Leanne Climber

google

You must have missed it in the summer of 2019 we ran five regularly scheduled, public courses for women only, guided by all-female staff. Thats not counting many more custom programs. Leanne, we respect your motives. The guiding industry in general and AAI in particular certainly have much room for improvement when it comes to inclusiveness, and we appreciate your desire to nudge us in the right direction. From the beginning AAI has worked hard to be an ally to women, hiring some of the most well-respected and pioneering female guides in the United States Kitty Calhoun, Kathy Cosley, and Angela Hawse, to name a few. We make a direct effort to assist the careers of female guides through our Guide Like Liz Scholarship, established in 2015 to help women climbers break into the guiding industry with technical trainings and mentorship. Scholarship recipients have taken jobs with AAI and other guide services, and have started their own businesses and non-profits. None of this means were immune to mistakes. If we genuinely deserve your one-star review, we will own it. We would reach out to you directly, but we dont know who you are. We have no record of a client with your first name participating in a group course in the last several years, and your review was not detailed enough to identify a specific program. So, we invite you to get in touch with us, in any way you feel comfortable, to provide details of your experience, to chat, or even to enroll in one of our women-specific programs for the summer of 2020. We think youll be pleasantly surprised.

1572458595

1

I had a mediocre experience with this company. AAI is not up to date with industry standards on how to act/interact with female clientele. Though they advertise female-only programs, they do not run them. This company exists to serve wealthy white men who are interested in proving themselves through peak bagging and conquering nature. Skills, basic safety, and group process go out the door as soon as a objective/bid is up for debate in order to cater to the clients's desires. Overall, unfriendly and overly competitive learning environment brought by clientele is permitted by AAI's instructors. These people have a bit of learning to do...