American Alpine Club

As an official hospitality partner of The American Alpine Club (AAC), Destination Hotels & Resorts is excited to share with its guests and members the benefits of this partnership. In their environmental stewardship, both companies share the same core-values of giving back to the earth: The AAC inspires outdoor enthusiasts and supports the climbing community and protects its playgrounds around the world. While Destination Hotels & Resorts has been implementing "Destination Earth" preserving our environment, one destination at a time.

Partnering with the AAC also makes perfect sense as many of Destination’s properties are near some of the country’s best climbs. Below the AAC has provided information on recommended climbing and mountaineering near Destination Hotels & Resorts.

Recommended Climbs:

Destination Hotels and Resorts	Local Climbing Area	Distance to Crags
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa	Mount Woodson	27 Miles, 42 Minutes
Miramonte Resort & Spa	Joshua Tree National Park	50 Miles,51 Minutes
Resort at Squaw Creek	Donner Pass	20 Miles, 33 Minutes
The Gant Destination Resorts Snowmass The Stonebridge Inn Top of the Village	Independence Pass Maroon Bells/Pryamid Peak Rifle	15 Miles, 30 Minutes short drive/shuttle 73 miles, 75 minutes
Vail Cascade Destination Resorts Vail	Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek) Fang, Rigid Designator Rifle	15 Miles, 25 Minutes 5 Miles, 5 minutes 87 miles, 87 minutes
Inn and Spa at Loretto	Diablo Canyon	18 Miles, 40 Minutes
Sunriver Resort	Smith Rock	42 Miles, 1 Hour 4 Minutes
The Driskill Hotel	Reimer's Ranch Barton Creek Greenbelt	32 Miles, 53 Minutes Scattered Throughout Austin
Skamania Lodge	Beacon Rock Broughton Bluff	9 Miles, 14 Minutes 29 Miles, 33 Minutes
Stowe Mountain Lodge	Smuggler's Notch Bolton	Less than 1 Mile 27 Miles, 50 Minutes

 

Why The AAC
Generations of climbers have benefited from the work of the AAC. Here’s the short list of reasons that Destination Hotels & Resorts is a proud supporter and recommends that any dedicated climber becomes a member at www.AmericanAlpineClub.org.

1. Knowledge and Inspiration: For 80 years climbers have shared stories of bold new lines and epic adventure through the American Alpine Journal, the world’s most sought-after annual climbing publication. Free for AAC members, each volume inspires new climbs and reignites old dreams. Experience the Journal’s influence for yourself by joining the AAC. But be forewarned, it may rouse you to drop everything in search of new adventure.
   The AAC’s library is an indispensible resource for trip planning. Housing over 60,000 volumes, including classics that inspire the climbs of our dreams, guidebooks, maps, and DVDs, it’s the world’s largest climbing library. AAC members can search the catalog online and receive free outbound shipping. The savings, compared to buying maps and guidebooks, can easily offset the price of membership.
2. Conservation and Advocacy: For over a century, the AAC has helped protect our playgrounds around the world. John Muir, who dedicated his life to preserving Yosemite, was an AAC founder. David Brower was the club’s vice president in the 1950s. He and other AAC members helped win passage of the landmark Wilderness Act of 1964. Today AAC initiatives can be found across the country’s most iconic vertical landscapes, including Yosemite, Indian Creek, Castleton, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Tetons, the ’Gunks, and Denali. The AAC is also active internationally, from rebuilding popular approaches in Patagonia to supporting community-based conservation programs in the Himalayas. Cast your vote to protect the places we climb by becoming a member today.
3. Logistical Support: No one provides more grants for young climbers—helping many go beyond their home crag for the first time. The AAC provides its members with hut discounts all over the world. They operate the legendary Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch and are now building a much-needed campground for climbers in the ’Gunks. And the AAC supports climbers through global rescue service. As a member, the first $5,000 of a rescue can be covered. To us that makes joining the AAC a no-brainer.