3-day Ascent of Mount Baker (3286m) with glacier training
Join the certified guides of Alpine Ascents International for this 3 day glacier mountaineering course and summit of Mt. Baker!
Group
Cascade Range
3 Days
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fit
Beginner
Highlights
- Learn glacier mountaineering skills that will be useful for future adventures
- Low guide ratio guarantees lots of individualized instruction
- Top the trip off with a summit of the beautiful Mt. Baker
Description
Learn the skills and techniques that are crucial for any aspiring mountaineer who wants to advance toward bigger and more complex climbs during this 3 day glacier mountaineering program!
Mt. Baker (3,286 m/10,781 ft) is a dormant volcano located north of Seattle in Washington state. Its 12 glaciers offer an endless vista of white, making it the perfect place for beginning mountaineers to learn and practice glacier skills and techniques while also tackling a challenging summit.
During this 3 day program, your expert instructors/guides will teach you the basics of glacier mountaineering on the slopes of Mt. Baker. After the daylong ascent carrying full gear, we will spend a day learning and practicing the most important elements of glacier mountaineering. You will receive instruction in: glacier travel, use of ice axe and crampons, safety skills, roping techniques, and more. With a low guide ratio of 3 participants to 1 guide, you are guaranteed lots of hands on instruction and individualized attention. On the final day of the trip, we will utilize all these skills as we head toward the summit.
While we will provide group climbing equipment and tents, you are responsible for personal equipment. We will provide you a complete list and, if you would like, can coordinate gear rental for an additional charge. There will be a mandatory gear check at our Seattle office the day before we leave for Mt. Baker. No mountaineering experience is required, although advanced beginners might also find this program helpful. However, a strong fitness level is necessary for completing the demanding climb.
Book now for a rewarding 3 day program – you will learn the basics of glacier mountaineering before heading up a beautiful peak for a rewarding climb!
Check out our other exciting adventures around the world: Kilimanjaro, 12-day trip with ascent via the Machame Route, 10-Day Volcano and Culture Expedition in Mexico, or 16-Day Mountaineering Expedition to Bolivia!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Transport during the trip
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Price details
Price for joining a group with a maximum of 9 people. Includes: Transportation, group climbing equipment (ropes and technical hardware), meals excluding lunch, and tents. Not included: personal equipment (list will be provided) and lunches. We can help arrange gear rental.
Itinerary
Day 1: Climb to Sandy Camp
We leave at 7am from the Alpine Ascents office in Seattle. (Note – mandatory gear check will be conducted the previous day in Alpine Ascents office).
Vehicle transfer to Schrieber’s Meadow. From there, we trek to the base of the mountain. The approach is moderately strenuous, starting from 3,400 ft. We will be carrying full gear up to camp. We can expect to reach Sandy Camp (6,100 ft) that afternoon. Guides will cook a hot meal and we will rest for the night.
Topics for instruction: Nutrition/hydration, rest steps, pressure breathing, camp setup/Leave no Trace, as well as mountain ecology
Day 2: Training Day
We begin the training portion of the program in the morning following breakfast. We will take a lunch break, but continue through the afternoon. At the end of the day, we will review the details for tomorrow’s summit push.
Topics for instruction: Safety aspects including – glacier travel, self-arrest, glissading, crampon and ice axes, anchors, and roping. We also discuss navigation, mountain weather, and learn about local history and glaciers
Day 3: Summit
We leave camp around midnight, after enjoying a hot meal and hot beverages. We can expect to reach the summit in 5-7 hours.
We first head up the Easton Moraine (7,000 ft) until we reach the Easton Glacier. We ascend the glacier until we reach the still-steaming crater rim (9,800 ft). Next, we climb the Roman Wall, finally reaching the summit plateau where we finally reach the 10,781 ft. summit!
After our celebration, we head back down to Sandy camp, where we break camp and head back to Schrieber’s Meadow where a vehicle transfer takes us back to Seattle. Group dinner in Seattle.
Topics for Instruction: Practice of the previous days’ lessons
Details
Accommodation We will camp on Mt. Baker |
Meeting point We will meet at the Alpine Ascents office in Seattle |
About the guide
We are one of the prime guiding agencies in the US and our mountaineering school is among the most reputed in the country. We are recognized as industry leaders all across North America.
All our expeditions are carefully planned as we believe that our work prior to the start of the trip is key to helping climbers achieve their goals. We provide a wealth of important information to help participants plan more effectively and our guides are always available to answer questions.
We believe putting together cohesive groups is key and we ask participants important details about their training and climbing or hiking experience. This is key to our safety record, which stands as the finest in the industry. Injury prevention is always our top priority.
We think of climbers as modern-day explorers. Whether attending a mountaineering course or climbing Everest, you can expect us to treat every trip as a unique exploration. We know you have joined us to embrace a challenge and to learn through experience.
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