6-Day Glacier Mountaineering Course in Washington State

6-Day Glacier Climbing

Course on Mount Baker

Build real glacier mountaineering skills on Mount Baker through hands-on instruction, alpine camping, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and a guided summit attempt.

Plan Your Trip

Duration

6 Days

Level

Intermediate / Advanced

Location

Mount Baker, WA

Price

From $1,750

Trip Overview

Join us for an immersive 6-day glacier mountaineering course on Mount Baker designed for climbers and alpine adventurers looking to build real-world glacier travel and mountaineering skills. This course combines technical instruction, alpine camping, glacier movement, crevasse rescue, rope systems, and snow climbing techniques with a guided summit attempt on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic glaciated volcanoes.

Throughout the course, participants will gain hands-on experience with crampons, ice axes, rope teams, snow anchors, glacier rescue systems, navigation, and mountain risk management while traveling through real alpine terrain under the guidance of experienced Mount Baker instructors.

Ideal for: Climbers and alpine adventurers seeking solid glacier-travel and mountaineering skills, culminating in a summit attempt.


Course Highlights

  • Glacier Travel & Rope Systems

  • Crevasse Rescue Training

  • Snow & Ice Climbing Skills

  • Alpine Camping Experience

  • Guided Mount Baker Summit Attempt

Course Itinerary

    • Location: Mount Erie (nearby)

    • Focus: Knots, hitches, rope management; belaying, rappelling, fundamental rope-team techniques.

    • Evening camp: gear organization, discussion of mountaineering kit, and orientation.

    • Why this matters: Before venturing onto glacier terrain, we’ll build strong comfort with rope systems, belay/rappel skills, knots and rigging—core foundational skills for team safety that are easier to learn in a vertical environment.

    • Transition to Mount Baker (typically the Easton Glacier or Squak Glacier)

    • Hike up to camp; establish our alpine base. This hike is around 4-5 hours and approximately 3000’ of elevation gain

    • Focus: Camp-craft on snow or high-camp terrain; packing a backpack, tent/shelter setup; introductory skills as time allows.

    • Focus: Snow-anchor construction, equalization of systems, and start of crevasse-rescue fundamentals.

    • You’ll learn how to build snow anchors or deadman anchors, rig systems and begin practicing rescue scenarios

    • Focus: Crampon and ice-axe technique, self-arrest, team self-arrest, roped glacier travel, fixed-line usage, belay along steep snow/ice, and preparation for summit push.

    • We will ensure each team member is proficient in moving efficiently and safely across snow and ice, managing gear, and working within a rope team.

    • Outcome: You’ll be ready for the high-effort summit day—confident in your movement techniques, tools and team communication.

    • Summit day (weather & conditions permitting)

    • We’ll depart early (pre-dawn alpine start) from high camp, traverse glacier and snowfields, ascend to the summit of Mount Baker (10,781 ft / 3,286 m).

    • Highlights: Hours of experience roped travel, navigating numerous crevasses. Our last break is at the Sherman crater, where you can look at fumaroles before we begin the final push to the summit

    • Note: If weather or conditions require, we may adjust the schedule—moving skills days or making the summit bid on a different day to maximise success and safety.

    • Wrap up instruction: review of all skills, Q&A, de-rig camp, descend back to the trailhead, return to civilization (aiming for Seattle by dinner).

    • Focus: Reflect on the experience, ensure you’re comfortable applying the skills independently, minor cleanup and logistics, conclusion of trip.

What’s Included:

  • Experienced Mount Baker guide(s) in a max 4-1 ratio

  • 6 days instruction

  • Full gear list to prepare for the trip

  • Tents

  • Transportation to/from Seattle

What’s Not Included:

  • Meals and cooking (we will help you prepare for this)

  • Personal climbing gear (available for rent)

  • Travel insurance

  • Gratuity

Dates:

July 22-27, 2026

August 5-10, 2026

Ready to Join This Adventure?

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Before You Book

Custom Dates Available

Additional dates may be available as a custom trip, or by reaching out with 2 or more participants on a case-by-case basis.

Small Group Instruction

Courses are limited to a maximum 4:1 climber-to-guide ratio for personalized instruction.

Questions? Contact Us

Please reach out with any questions, or to reserve your spot today. Our team is happy to help you plan your adventure.

What you’ll learn

By the end of this course you will have undertaken lessons in:

  • Knot work, hitches, coils, rope management for glacier teams

  • Belaying, rappelling, both rock and snow/ice-anchored

  • Setting up alpine camps and organizing gear for glacier travel

  • Glacier travel techniques: rope team movement, travel over snow and ice, partner arrest

  • Snow anchor construction and equalization, building secure systems in snow/slope terrain

  • Crevasse rescue fundamentals: haul systems, prusiks, team rescue protocols

  • Ice-axe technique and cramponing on steep snow/ice, self-arrest and team arrest

  • Summit strategy: moving as a team, decision-making, logistics, high-camp transition, descent management

  • Mountain risk-management under alpine conditions: weather, terrain assessment, contingency planning

  • Map and Compass and GPS navigation skills

  • Avalanche forecasting and considerations of mountain climbs during mainly summer months

Why this course stands out

  • You get six full days of structured instruction

  • Located on Mount Baker, with its glacier‐rich slopes and classic routes, it offers a premier training ground for glacier mountaineering.

  • Balanced focus: skill learning AND real adventure. Not just a climb, but a course.

  • We build in flexibility: weather and condition dependent – the itinerary is subject to change for safety and summit success.

Important Details

  • Prerequisites: Good physical fitness; comfortable hiking with a large pack (up to 50lbs) and on alpine terrain. While no prior extensive glacier experience is required, prior alpine hiking/backpacking is strongly beneficial.

  • Gear & Equipment: You’ll need technical mountaineering gear—mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet, glacier travel rope system, camp gear (sleeping bag, etc). Some items may be rented; we’ll provide a detailed gear list upon signup.

  • Group Size & Guide Ratio: We aim for a small group for personal attention, limiting our courses to a 4-1 ratio.

  • Weather & Summit Disclaimer: Summit attempts depend on weather, snow/ice conditions, group ability, and team safety. It cannot be guaranteed—but our objective is to give you the best shot while prioritising safety and experience. Brian has 123 successful summits of Mount Baker and will factor everything in to give us the best shot at at summit.

  • Location & Travel: We will meet in Seattle, WA, or you are able to drive your own car to Mount Erie and Mount Baker if you would like.

  • Cancellation / Rescheduling / Safety: We reserve the right to modify route, change summit plan, or reschedule days in response to weather or conditions. Safety first.