The Pacific Northwest has long been considered the premier destination for beginner-level glacier mountaineering. This five-day course gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to climb glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest without a guide, and provides an opportunity to summit a glaciated peak. Examples of peaks this course prepares students to climb include Mt. Adams, Baker, Shuksan, Glacier Peak, Mt. Olympus, and Mt. Rainier by the standard routes. Climbing these peaks requires a high level of physical fitness, experience in expedition planning, and skills in navigation, glacier travel, and crevasse rescue. We will cover all of this as part of the Mountaineering course. This course includes a summit of Mt.Baker.
Skills Covered during the Mountaineering course:
- Clothing and equipment selection
- Expedition planning and the permit process
- Leave-No-Trace
- Group travel techniques
- Mountain navigation
- Travel time estimates
- Campsite selection and set-up
- Camp cooking
- staying warm in an alpine environment
- High elevation concerns
- Rope management
- Glacier travel techniques
- Knots and hitches
- Walking on snow with and without crampons
- Self-arrest with and without an ice axe
- Self-arrest on a rope team
- Placing snow protection
- Shortening and lengthening the rope
- Hazard assessment
- Basic Crevasse Rescue: Self rescue
- Basic Crevasse Rescue: Partner rescue
We will have a logistics meeting and gear check at least three days before your trip is scheduled to depart.
Duration
5 Days 4 Nights CampingGear check
RequiredPassport
Not Required for AmericansMinimum Age
13 years oldActivity
Mountaineering and InstructionAccommodation
Tents
- Stoves/Cook Kits
- Tents
- Group climbing equipment
- Guide Services
- Pre-trip Planning/Information session on packing and gear
- Backpacking, mountaineering, and general outdoor safety skills

- Transportation (We will help arrange carpools)
- Parking or entry fees
- Meals/Snacks/Drinks
- Gratuities for Guides