Nov–Apr
Winter & Spring
Snowsport skill-building paired with guided reflection. Daily yoga, cold plunges in an alpine lake, team-and-leadership work, and decision-making practice in real mountain conditions.
See what's included
Outdoor mentorship · North Lake Tahoe
Rise above yourself.
Small-cohort mentorship and wilderness experiences that reshape how you lead, decide, and show up, led by Al Travaglini in the High Sierra.
Philosophy
The mountains teach what a classroom can't.
Altitude Academy is built on a simple idea: sustained personal growth happens at the edge of what you already know, in situations where the stakes are real, the feedback is immediate, and a thoughtful guide is beside you. We translate that philosophy into a dedicated online mentorship initiative and small, in-person Tahoe experiences: two distinct paths designed to guide growth both within you and out in the world.
Real terrain
We use the actual mountains of North Lake Tahoe, not a conference room with a trust-fall exercise. Snow, water, rock, altitude, weather. The conditions are real, so the lessons are real.
Small cohorts
Never more than five people per Summit. Small enough that nobody disappears, big enough to learn with peers. Deep relationships form when there's no crowd to hide in.
Inner & outer
Every program is designed to move inward and outward at the same time: physical challenge paired with structured reflection, so skills you build on the mountain translate directly to the rest of your life.
Flagship Program
Summit to Self
A 12-week online mentorship cohort for teens and young adults, ready to ascend their own inner mountain. Weekly group sessions and 1:1 time with Al, covering leadership, self-esteem, emotional awareness, and the interpersonal skills that matter most during the years those skills get shaped for life. Capped at five participants per cohort.
- 12 weeks of structured personal growth curriculum
- Designed for teens and young adults
- Weekly group sessions + 1:1 mentorship with Al
- Maximum of 5 participants per cohort
- Private cohort channel for ongoing conversation between sessions
- Lifetime access to the Altitude community
Learn more & apply
$4,500 / cohort
Next cohort starts Starting soon
In-Person Ascents
Seasonal experiences in the High Sierra.
Short-form outdoor mentorship weekends and week-long immersions, held in North Lake Tahoe throughout the year.
May–Oct
Summer & Fall
Water sports, hiking, beginner mountain biking and golf, cooperative team-building, camping, and daily practice in stewarding wild places. Built for connection, creativity, and earned fun.
See what's included From the Journal
All essays
Essays from the mountain.
Parents 4 min read
What teens are asking for when they go quiet
When a teenager goes silent, it's rarely rejection. What hundreds of sessions on the snow have taught one mentor — and what parents can do differently.
Read the essay →
Foundations 5 min read
What is outdoor mentorship — and how is it different from coaching, therapy, or retreats?
Your introduction to this evolving vision, and how it stands apart from the rest.
Read the essay →
Summit to Self 5 min read
The 12-week Summit to Self curriculum, week by week
Exactly what your teen works on, and why, in each of the 12 weeks of the program.
Read the essay →
The Mentor
“My goal is to give people real opportunities to grow, to deepen their connection with themselves, and create meaning in their lives through challenge, adventure, and honest reflection.”
Al has spent over a decade guiding indoor and outdoor experiences in the Sierra Nevada, an AASI Level 3 Snowboard Instructor and Advanced Trainer (he trains other instructors), and a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, with additional certifications in freestyle, adaptive instruction, and teaching children. He has mentored hundreds of participants, and built Altitude Academy to bring real mentorship and real terrain together in a way he couldn't find anywhere else.
Read Al's full story What families say
“Al has a way of getting through to teenagers that most adults simply don't. After 12 weeks my daughter was initiating conversations with us she'd never been willing to have before.”
“We did a family Ascent in Lake Tahoe and it opened up conversations between me and my teenager that we'd been avoiding for months. The mountains help — but Al is what makes it different from a ski trip.”
“I was at a crossroads between junior and senior year of college. What I got wasn't career advice — it was learning to trust my own thinking. That shift changed everything else.”
Questions
Common questions, answered.
- What is Altitude Academy?
- An outdoor mentorship practice based in North Lake Tahoe, led by Al Travaglini. We run small-cohort programs that use adventure and guided reflection to build self-awareness, leadership, and emotional resilience.
- Who is Summit to Self for?
- Summit to Self is designed for teens and young adults. Participants under 18 are enrolled by a parent or guardian. No prior outdoor experience is required; Summit to Self is fully online.
- How many people are in each cohort?
- Summit to Self cohorts are capped at 5 participants, intentionally. In-person Ascents are 3–6 people, small enough for real mentorship, never the feel of a big group retreat.
- Where exactly do you operate?
- In-person Ascents happen throughout North Lake Tahoe, California. The Summit to Self program runs entirely online and teens can join from anywhere.
Ready to ascend your inner mountain?
Apply to the next Summit to Self cohort, or reach out about upcoming Ascents. Small groups. Real challenge. Actual change.