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Welcome To Appalachain Mountain Institute

Guided Rock Climbing


Appalachian Mountain Institute provides you with a fun and exciting outdoor adventure on the cliffs of North Carolina. AMI climbing guides are happy to work with beginning climbers and advanced climbers to provide you with a unique rock climbing experience. AMI will provide you with the climbing gear you need and the knowledge and skills necessary to have a safe fun experience. Whether you are looking for introductory climbing experience or want to climb a NC classic multipitch climbing such as "Looking Glass Rock, the Nose" AMI climbing guides can take you there. AMI can work with groups, families, or individuals of all ages. Rock climbing opportunities abound year round in North Carolina.


Guided Ice Climbing

Winter in North Carolina offers more than rock climbing; NC is home to some fabulous ice climbing as well. Ice climbing is an exciting way to experience the cliff faces of North Carolina. Ice climbing utilizes ice climbing gear to scale vertical flows of ice. AMI climbing guides can lead you on an experience to be remembered. AMI climbing guides have the experience to teach you how to use the climbing gear such as crampons and ice axes safely for maximum efficiency and enjoyment. Interested in traveling? AMI offers trips to New England ice.


AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Courses and Exams

AMI offers AMGA Single Pitch Instructor courses and exams. These courses are geared toward the outdoor professional who leads trips for camps, colleges or guide services. Individuals who find themselves leading trips for beginners in any fashion would also benefit from this course. The courses are licensed under the American Mountain Guide Association and are taught by Patrick Weaver, Certified Rock Instructor and SPI Provider.


AMI Rock Climbing Instruction

AMI offers high quality climbing instruction for those wishing to develop skills for climbing. Whether you are just starting out or looking to enhance your multipitch climbing skills, AMI will have a climbing course that you can learn from. Courses are offered in North Carolina and Kentucky.


Climbing Instructor Training

Organizations such as camps, boy scouts, and college programs will benefit from the increased skill and judgment development provided by the AMI Climbing Instructor Training course. AMI focuses on holistic instruction emphasizing technical skills, instructional skills, and judgment development.

  • AMI operates in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains near Asheville and Brevard North Carolina. NC offers some incredible climbing in a variety of places such as Looking Glass, Linville Gorge, and Rumbling Bald. If your club, gym, or university would like to schedule a course please contact us to discuss your on site options, if you need us to come to you. AMI also operates in Red River Gorge Kentucky, offering crack climbing seminars, SPI Courses and exams, and instructional courses.
  • AMI emphasizes highly experienced and trained guides and instructors with a talent for instruction. All of the AMI guides have extensive climbing experience and AMGA technical training. AMI owner, Patrick Weaver, has 20 years climbing experience, is a professionally certified American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Rock Instructor, and is an AMGA Single Pitch Provider. Patrick brings a unique set of experiences that can make a difference in the guiding and instructional experience. Patrick has a Masters Degree in Risk Management in Adventure Education with emphasis on judgment development and 13 years professional instructional experience. AMI also benefits from the experience of Rodney Lanier, who has been climbing the mountains of NC for 30 years. The AMI climbing guides bring over 100 years of climbing experience to make your climbing adventure the best it can be. Check out the bios of each guide and you will see the difference. Patrick Boland is a graduate of UI in adventure programming, is certified EMT and AMGA SPI Certified.
  • Appalachian Mountain Institute offers special trips and course in a range of locations. In Kentucky, AMI offers crack climbing weekend that teaches you how to climb cracks. This weekend combines climbing instruction, guiding and a stay in a cabin tucked away in the Red River Gorge. New England offers some spectacular ice climbing and AMI offer the North Conway Ice Fest trip during the North Conway Ice Festival.