Advanced is where RMI starts requiring a demonstrated resume — documented glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and often a completed Expedition Skills Seminar. These are multi-week expeditions on the world's biggest peaks.
Serious expeditions demanding a proven glacier-travel resume.
Advanced programs include Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Mt. McKinley's West Buttress, and technical objectives like Forbidden Peak. Expect extended expedition camping, sustained technical terrain, and altitudes up to and above 20,000 feet. Every climber is expected to arrive with real glacier mountaineering experience — browse the programs below to see what each one specifically requires.
.jpg)
.jpg)
New to RMI's difficulty ratings? Read the full Program Difficulty Guidelines to see exactly what pack weight, terrain, and prior experience each level requires.
Mountaineering
A guided ski-mountaineering expedition on Mt. McKinley's West Buttress: the team ascends and descends on skis, using them for glacier travel from the Kahiltna landing strip and for the descent from high on the route.
Skill Development
An advanced alpine seminar integrating technical instruction with real North Cascades objectives.
Mountaineering
A guided multi-peak expedition in Bolivia's Cordillera Real, climbing Pequeño Alpamayo, Huayna Potosi, and Illimani across sixteen days of high-altitude alpine climbing and cultural immersion.
Mountaineering
A Seven Summits rock climb of Carstensz Pyramid (16,023'), Oceania's highpoint — a technical limestone ascent with fixed lines and helicopter access, deep in remote Papua, Indonesia.
Mountaineering
A classic, technical alpine climb featuring sustained snow and ice on Mount Baker’s iconic north side.
Mountaineering
A four-day alpine climb of Forbidden Peak's West Ridge, combining moderate glacier travel with exposed ridge climbing on one of North America's fifty classic climbs.
Mountaineering
A guided expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley via the West Buttress, the standard route on North America's highest peak.
Mountaineering
A guided ascent of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere and one of the Seven Summits, via the scenic Vacas Valley approach.
Mountaineering
A guided ascent of Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica and one of the Seven Summits.
.JPG)
Have a specific Advanced-tier objective in mind? RMI can build a custom expedition around your team, timeline, and target peak.
Advanced programs are demanding multi-day expeditions or technical routes that require significant prior mountaineering experience — extended glacier travel, cold-weather camping, and sustained physical effort.
Completed Intermediate-level objectives and solid glacier travel, rope, and self-sufficiency skills. Advanced programs are not appropriate for a first or second mountaineering trip.
Mt. McKinley's West Buttress, Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, and technical North Cascades routes like Forbidden Peak's West Ridge and Mt. Baker's North Ridge fall into this category.
Significantly more than Beginner or Intermediate — expect multiple consecutive days of sustained effort, often at altitude and in cold conditions, carrying a loaded pack.
For programs like McKinley, yes. Extended time at altitude in extreme cold is a core part of what makes these objectives Advanced.
Expert-level objectives — RMI's most demanding expeditions, at extreme altitude and on the 8,000-metre peaks — are the natural progression for climbers who've completed Advanced-level programs.
Planning guides from RMI's guide team on expedition training, building your glacier-travel resume, and what to expect above 14,000 feet.
"The combination of stable snow, bottomless powder, and flawless visibility made the whole pitch feel improbably composed"
Boost your endurance and stamina with interval workouts designed specifically for mountaineering preparation. Boost your skills—start here.
A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Your Own Progressive, Goal-Oriented Program
How Periodic Tests Can Validate Your Progress and Refine Your Plan
