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 our Value Statement
At AWExpeditions, we work together. We lift one another up. Our shared experiences transcend individual pursuits, fostering an open-minded culture of curiosity and learning where the mountain dictates our journey’s pace. We show up for ourselves and for our teammates when things get difficult. We are prepared and flexible.
We are a community founded on mutual support, embracing difficulty and challenge with grace. Recognizing that grand adventures sometimes bring pressure and friction, we calmly seek solutions that benefit all. Offering understanding and seeking support, we ensure our challenges don’t overshadow the team’s collective spirit. Our resolve lies in positivity and mindfulness. We listen to one another, and we find strength in togetherness.
We are open, honest, and sincere. We embody positivity, camaraderie, individual accountability, commitment, and self care.
Diversity is our strength, guiding us to approach our teammates, guides, staff, and local partners with unwavering respect and curiosity.
Our desire to create a safe space for everyone is at the heart of what we do.
This is what we 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
And what does this all mean in practice?
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 trip having made new friends, memories for a lifetime, and feeling one step closer towards self-sufficiency in the mountains and the backcountry.
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
‘Attended Glacier Travel Course II + Mt Baker summit attempt with AWE expeditions in June 2024. This trip completely exceeded my expectations and is a memory I will cherish forever. A huge benefit is that AWE partners with local climbing guide services so that the team benefits from insider knowledge on routes and conditions, local gear shops, etc. The guides were world-class–they had so much experience in the mountains to share and also were incredible teachers, supporters, and mentors. Guides consistently went above and beyond to build community, make clients comfortable, and share knowledge. Every detail of the trip on and off the mountain was thoughtfully planned. I especially loved the team dinners before and after setting off for the expedition. You’ll meet some incredible people (both clients and guides) with AWE and develop trust within your team. When you’re pushing your physical and mental limits on the mountain, that trust is everything. With AWE you’re not just another person being led up the mountain. You actually learn about mountaineering and form meaningful connections to people and place…this is what mountaineering should be and is not what you’d get with most guide services!!’
‘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!!’
