Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Alpine Ascents International
The good tidings of the mountains have the power to transform us. To experience the technicolor hues of an alpine sunrise or to gaze into the blue depths of a crevasse is to walk away humbled and awestruck at the beauty of our public lands. For too long, these life-altering experiences have been out of reach for the many – particularly those of color who have historically had less access to the outdoors, whether it be from a lack of green spaces in urban neighborhoods to feeling unwelcome in typical outdoor recreation areas.
From our founding, environmental protection has been fundamental to our mission and the intersectionality of environmentalism and social justice can no longer be overlooked. A diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires respect for the wilderness and the unity to protect it. Cherishing and persevering our alpine environment for the enjoyment of all starts with welcoming everyone to our rope team and breaking down the barriers to access.
Inclusivity at Alpine Ascents International
At Alpine Ascents International, each of us contributes to fostering a culture of inclusion and acceptance that runs from our corporate office in Seattle to the rope team on the summit of Tahoma.
Goals
Continue to actively recruit and retain mountain guide and administrative staff from LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
Expand affinity programming to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
Provide opportunities for BIPOC climbers to gain mentorship / technical training for outdoor industry jobs such as mountain guiding.
Craft an attentive land acknowledgement statement for each domestic program and post prominently on the respective climb / course page.
Instruct our guide staff in the importance of land acknowledgement and best practices for delivering a land acknowledgement to our clientele.
Highlight at least one DEI topic in each issue of our internal newsletter.
Alpine Ascents International and the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
Alpine Ascents International is proud to sign the pledge and partner with In Solidarity.
By signing the pledge, Alpine Ascents International is committing to:
- Hire and support a diverse workforce and executive leadership.
- Present representative marking and advertising in our media.
- Engage and support broadly representative ambassador and athlete teams.
- Share our experiences with other leading companies.
By committing to The Pledge, we commit to establishing programs and initiatives around diversity and inclusion. In recognition of the greater outdoor community within which we exist, we will help other companies in their own paths to inclusive representation, and make ourselves open to real conversations about the challenges we face together.
We believe the outdoor industry will reach its full potential when it represents everyone who goes outside, and works to reverse the erasure of Indigenous communities who are the original stewards of our land. By committing to The Pledge and advocating for diversity and inclusion within our workplaces, industries, and broader business community, we create an outdoor landscape that includes and empowers everyone.
Yes, I enjoyed the course and it exceeded my expectations in every way. After completing it, I feel 100% confident on using the skills I learned and would be ready to use them on future climbs. I couldn’t have asked for better guides, and their teaching style worked well with my learning style!
