James "Jim" Donini (born July 23, 1943) is an American rock climber and alpinist, noted for a long history of cutting-edge climbs in Alaska and Patagonia.
[1] He was president of the American Alpine Club from 2006 to 2009,[2] and a 1999 recipient of the AAC's Robert and Miriam Underhill Award.
[3] Donini first began climbing in the 1960s while serving with the United States Army Special Forces.
[4] In 1978 Donini along with George Lowe spent 26 days climbing Latok's unclimbed North Ridge, which Donini has described as the "most awe inspiring and beautiful mountain cathedral on the planet".
[5] Survival is not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini by Geoff Powter, 2024.