AWE organizes mountaineering and remote adventures for women, by women.
Our Values
Here at AWE we are about more than getting to the top. Sure, summits matter – but what’s even more important is how you get there. When you sign up for an AWE-some adventure, expect to feel welcome and supported. At AWE, you don’t have to prove that you belong – we’re all in this together.
This is what we at AWE stand for:
- Safety
- Empowerment
- Inclusion and equity
- Community
- Fair & ethical treatment of staff
- Ethical treatment of working animals
- Care for the environment
- Compliance with local rules and regulations
AWE provides an environment that is focused on skill-building, sound decision-making and supportive team dynamics. That’s why our teams are on the smaller side (often in the 3-6 climber range, but never larger than 10) and our itineraries balance the desire to cover ground with sufficient time for exploration and acclimatization, as well as skills practice where needed.
Pre-expedition support includes comprehensive gear lists, training recommendations, and of course a detailed description of each trip’s logistics and on-mountain itinerary.
Climbing and adventuring with AWE means this: instead of merely welcoming you during gear check and then focusing exclusively on leading you on the trail or mountain in conjunction with our local guide partners, AWE provides an end-to-end experience. We put great care into assembling our all-women teams and building community amongst our participants and guides, because big adventure is about so much more than ‘just’ getting to the summit or finishing a trek. That’s why every AWExpeditions adventure begins and ends with a team dinner, and includes a night in town both before and after your time on the mountain or trail. It’s why our teams are small and handpicked, and why we carefully vet our local outfitter & guide partners.
Success in our book: to have you walk away from any AWE climb having made new friends, memories for a lifetime, and feeling one step closer towards self-sufficiency in the mountains.
And because we care about making the mountains more accessible to women from all walks of life, we donate 10% of the net profits from any AWE expedition or adventure to our sister organization, the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation.
What our alumnae say
‘Every part of my experience with AWE was incredible. The guides were encouraging, skillful, and are phenomenal people. Sunny does such a fantastic job bringing women from diverse backgrounds together and creating an inclusive, exciting, and supportive environment that only makes you want to get outside in the mountains and climb some more! I joined AWE for the first time as a participant/hiker on Mt Baker in Washington, and was met with open arms by Sunny, the guides, and the other woman who quickly became friends and fellow team members. I never felt nervous around others with AWE or like I had to prove myself to climb mountains. I only ever felt supported by Sunny, her team, and inspired by all of the incredible things every woman was doing in their lives, both on and off the mountains. I’m new to the world of mountaineering, but AWE has totally changed the trajectory of my future endeavors in the mountains and I am itching to get out and climb with some rad women again, with AWE! I cannot recommend AWE enough!!’