- Beginner Skill Level Beginner
- Ages 16+ Ages Ages 16+
This course is designed for climbers to learn fundamental mountaineering skills. Learn the basics of what it takes to climb a mountain.
Quick Details
Glacier Mountaineering Skills Course
Learn fundamental mountaineering skills and summit an iconic peak in the North Cascades! Over the course of three days and two nights camping out on Mt. Baker or Mt. Shuksan, you and your teammates will learn critical mountaineering skills. These include snow camping, ice axe and crampon use, self-arrest, mountaineering knots and hitches, rope team travel, navigation skills, and more. After learning the basics, the team will make an attempt at the summit.
The North Cascades offer a climbing experience you can only get in a few parts of the world. Whether your course is held on Mt. Baker or Mt. Shuksan, you’ll be climbing one of the most iconic peaks in America and gazing in awe into the vast expanse of snow-capped and rocky peaks that make up the North Cascades. Glacier mountaineering skills are crucial for exploring mountainous terrain in the Cascades and the techniques you will learn on this course will serve you well on all of your future alpine adventures.
This course will take place on either the Coleman-Deming, Squak Glacier, or Easton Glacier routes on Mt. Baker, or the Sulphide Glacier on Mt. Shuksan, depending on conditions. You can expect to be challenged physically and mentally and rewarded for your efforts with a summit attempt on one of the tallest mountains in Washington.
As a small, community-focused guide service, Kaf Adventures cares deeply about our guests’ experiences. We keep our group sizes small and follow a maximum 3:1 client to instructor ratio to prioritize your learning experience and maximize your safety. Our professional instructors will ensure you have an unforgettable experience that will leave you feeling accomplished and ready for the next climb.
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This is a three-day course with a mandatory online pre-trip meeting.All participants are required to attend a pre-trip meeting with their guide to check equipment, conditions and to establish a specific time and location to meet up on the morning of the climb. Pre-trip meetings are typically completed online from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 2 days before a course (Thursday evening for Saturday course), and your guide will send out an invitation for this.On the day of a climb, participants are responsible for getting to the meet up location ready and on time. We appreciate environmental considerations and ride sharing. Please let us know if you would like to coordinate a carpool with other participants.
Pre-Trip Meeting
- 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Online meeting. You will bring all personal gear and equipment to this meeting. We will go over the route and itinerary as well as go over personal and group gear to ensure everyone has what they need.
Day 1
- Meet at 7 a.m. to carpool and transport to the trailhead. Hike approximately 3-5 miles/4,000 feet elevation gain and set up our base camp for the trip. Snow skills/glacier travel skills and rest as much as possible!
Day 2
- A full day of skills practice; glacier rigs, self-arrest, crampons use, rope team travel, and more. Early to bed, to get some rest for the final day and the summit attempt!
Day 3
- Leave camp early in the morning (around 2 a.m.) to start the summit attempt. Depending on the route/conditions/weather and a myriad of other factors, it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to reach the summit. We will return to camp, have a rest, and then break down camp, and head back to the cars. At the trailhead, you can return any rental gear and group gear to Kaf and then head home! Plan to be back in Seattle by 8 p.m. on Day 3.
Out-of-Town Participants
We recommend that anyone flying into Seattle arrive as early as possible on the day before the trip. We also recommend you do not book a return flight until late (red-eye) on the last day of the trip, or the following morning.
Additional Information
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- 18+ for adult courses or 16+ with consent from a guardian and Kaf approval
- 12-18 for youth courses
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- Mountaineering: Beginner, or equivalent experience. Excellent physical fitness; the ability to hike in snow for multiple hours with short breaks for an 8 hour day with a 40lb. pack.
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- Gear Packing and Equipment Choices
- Navigation, Map, and Compass
- Snow Camping
- Mountaineering Knots and Hitches
- Rope Management and Glacier Rigging
- Snow Climbing Technique
- Ice Axe and Crampon Use
- Self-Arrest and Self-Belay
- Mountain Weather
- Mountain Hazards and Safe-Travel Practices
- Self-Care in the Mountains
- Route Planning & Summit Planning
- Basic Emergency Response
- Expedition Behavior
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- Professional instruction from full time mountaineering instructors
- Passes and Permits
- All group climbing gear
- All group camping and kitchen equipment
- Dinners and breakfasts while in the field
- Professional instruction from full time mountaineering instructors
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- Personal clothing, climbing, and camping gear
- Lunches, snacks, water carrying capacity
- Transportation. However, Kaf will assist in organizing a carpool. See further details below.
- Personal clothing, climbing, and camping gear
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You will receive a full packing list following registration, but please feel free to contact us with any gear or equipment specific questions you have. A brief list of what you will need to provide for yourself:
- Personal climbing gear – Multi-day pack, helmet, harness, mountaineering boots, glacier rig, ice tools, crampons
- Personal camping gear – Sleeping bag, sleeping pad
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Personal climbing gear – Multi-day pack, helmet, harness, mountaineering boots, glacier rig, ice tools, crampons
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We recognize that transportation can be tricky. Once registered, Kaf will provide information regarding meeting times, locations, and any required parking permits. If interested in carpooling, we will orchestrate a meeting place between participants.
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Join us for our Mountaineering: Advanced course, or contact us to create a custom mountaineering outing.
