Upon moving to Bellingham, WA six years ago, I quickly learned that mountain climbers love mountains. Why? I've heard from mountain-climbing friends that the reasons are as varied as the people who do it, and challenge is most certainly on the list. Perhaps most of all, climbers love the beauty of the places where they climb. Little compares with the experience of climbing a technical rock route or traversing an immense glacier to the summit of an impressive peak.

For more than 30 years, international mountain climbing school and guide service American Alpine Institute (AAI) has been taking individuals to just such awe-inspiring terrain. AAI teaches beginners and experts alike the finer points of rock/ice climbing and mountaineering. With AAI, climbers can explore major mountain ranges in six states and 16 countries in a way that most people never experience. Even though we're now in "high season" for climbing, AAI leads climbing trips year-round. Recent expeditions have explored remote and unclimbed peaks near eastern Tibet, Bolivia, Peru and the French Alps.

Though I'm more of a leisurely day hiker than hard-core mountaineer, I'm impressed with AAI's commitment to protecting the mountains where they travel. In 1994, AAI helped establish the now familiar Leave No Trace (LNT) nonprofit. LNT ethics are practiced in all AAI programs, and they were instrumental in getting 44 guide services in the U.S. to adopt LNT as their official environmental ethic.

Summer is the perfect time to explore climbing. So, if you're an aspiring climber who lives for CamelBaks, crampons and compasses (or just want to learn what those are!), hike on over to www.aai.cc to learn more about AAI's expeditions, including leadership and women's programs. You can also sign up to receive their e-newsletter or submit one of your favorite mountain photos for one of their photo contests.