Phil Powers has been the executive director of the American Alpine Club since 2005. Prior to this role, Powers worked at National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) for seventeen years.
His climbing achievements include a first ascent of the Washburn Face of Denali, the first winter traverse of the Cathedral Group in the Tetons, the first American ascent of Gasherbrum II in Pakistan, and an ascent of K2 without supplemental oxygen.
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web SOAR Act advances: A new bill that would simplify permitting for outdoor recreation on public lands has passed the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and moved to the floor of the House of Representatives. [America ...read more
The American Alpine Club has cancelled its annual benefit dinner amid the coronavirus outbreak. The event was scheduled for March 13, 2020 in Denver featuring Kris McDivitt Tompkins as the keynote speaker. Instead of hosting the live three-hour event, which was slated to be at ...read more
From a first ascent on Denali to a 70-foot fall during a staff climbing trip, Phil Powers shares about the highs and lows of his climbing lifestyle in a short adocumentary by Chispa House. The video comes only a few weeks after Powers announced he is leaving the American Alpine ...read more
When Phil Powers took over as CEO of the American Alpine Club (AAC) in 2005, his membership had lapsed, not out of any deliberate protest, but simply because he had forgotten about it. He was no doubt an active climber, although he didn't see the relevance or benefit of the club ...read more
As photos and stories of trash and waste piling up in national parks circulate, the American Alpine Club reached out with an open letter detailing another adverse affect of the government shutdown. Here is the full letter, penned by Phill Powers, Chief Executive Officer, and Mark ...read more
American Alpine Club announced today that Deanne Buck is the new president of the organization’s board of directors. Now a double-threat, Buck is also the executive director at Camber Outdoors. Buck was welcomed before the membership when she spoke at AAC’s annual dinner in ...read more
Rife with lone wolves and adrenaline fiends, the climbing community has historically operated as a loose collective rather than a united front. But in the face of rising popularity, educational inconsistencies, and political threats, that could start to change. The American ...read more
