Adirondack Winter Mountaineering School
PROGRAMS
Our Winter Hiking and Backpacking courses introduce students to the knowledge, equipment, skills, and experience needed as mountaineers, including trip planning, navigation, nutrition, moisture management, first aid, the proper use of snowshoes, crampons, and ice axes, including self-arrest training.
Link to 2026 Program Announcement
WMS will resume regular programming in 2027
As of October 2025, the Adirondack Mountain Club is no longer a sponsor of the Adirondack Winter Mountaineering School. WMS thanks the ADK for its past support and is actively seeking new sponsorships for its venerable volunteer-led programs.
The WMS Advisory Board, Instructors & Alumni are gathering privately during the 2026 season for strategic and organizational planning. We will continue to be engaged with our community as the premier Northeast resource for 4-season hikers, backpackers, and aspiring mountaineers. As we climb to new heights in 2027’s program offerings, we thank you for your patience and continued support.
WELCOME TO THE ADIRONDACK WINTER MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL
OVER 70 YEARS OF SNOW AND ICE
ABOUT US
The Winter Mountaineering School is a volunteer-directed and volunteer-staffed 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization. It originated in 1954 to promote successful and enjoyable winter mountaineering and camping in the mountains of the northeast. It is run today by an Advisory Committee composed of WMS alumni and instructors.
The school typically operates annual programs on week each winter in the Adirondack High Peaks region of New York. Past participants have included 3-season hikers and backpackers looking to expand their skills to include winter hiking, backpacking and mountaineering, 4-season hikers exploring winter overnights, adventurers building a foundation for higher objectives, and outdoor trip leaders interested in skills that they can bring back to their organizations.
The Adirondack Winter Mountaineering School offers high quality, low-cost instruction, thanks to the extraordinary tradition of WMS, the school's low student-to-instructor ratios; and cadre of dedicated volunteer instructors who regularly recreate in these mountains.
Thanks for checking us out, and we hope to see you in the mountains this winter!
CONTACT US
For questions on gear:
For questions on our programs:
Winter Mountaineering School
PO Box 34, Jacksonville, NY 14854
Tel: 518-523-8825