Mt Shasta Summit Climb & Skills Seminar 5 Day
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!
- Route - We'll make our summit attempt of Mt Shasta via the Hotlum Glacier
- Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest, glacier rope travel, and crevasse rescue
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan
Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp
Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training
Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training
Day 4 - Summit Attempt
Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Basic Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Intro to Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing on Day 2
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.
- Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Tent
- Stove & Fuel
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Know Before you go
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
- Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
- Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
- Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
- Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
- AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
- Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
- Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
- Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
- Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
- Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!
Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.
Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!
Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan
4:00pm-6:30pm The guide will discuss the challenges of the route, expectations for clients and guides, LNT procedures, and perform a thorough gear check to make sure we have everything we need for the mountain and the current conditions at hand. We also divide all group gear, including food, fuel, stoves, tents, shovels, pickets, solid waste bags and other items so that you are able to pack completely for the trip.
Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp
8:00 am We’ll meet on the first day of our trip at the North Gate trailhead. We’ll do a quick trailhead check to make sure we’re not forgetting anything, and we’ll set out for Camp at North Lake Basecamp.
We’ll set up camp, discussing camp craft and the challengers of camping on an expedition, as well as some basic skills that will help us prepare for the climb and more technical training like fixed lines, glacier travel and crevasse rescue. After skills, we’ll eat a hot dinner and settle into our tents for the night.
Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training
In this course we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
- Knots
Early dinner and bed
Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training
In this course we'll cover:
- Gear for Crevasse Rescue
- Essential knots and hitches
- Rigging your rope and team for glacier travel
- Mechanical advantage systems including Simple Systems, Compound Systems, and Complex Systems
- Pragmatic solutions including Brute Haul and Dropped C systems
- Rope Ascension
Early dinner and bed
Day 4 - Summit Attempt
Alpine Start. Your guides will set the time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. We will get an early alpine start and begin climbing after a hot breakfast.
Summit Attempt. This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
Descent. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route
Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead
8:00 am On our last day on Mt Shasta, we'll rise early, pack up camp and descend to the North Gate Trailhead.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!
- Route - We'll make our summit attempt of Mt Shasta via the Hotlum Glacier
- Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest, glacier rope travel, and crevasse rescue
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan
Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp
Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training
Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training
Day 4 - Summit Attempt
Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Basic Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Intro to Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing on Day 2
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.
- Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Tent
- Stove & Fuel
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsMount Shasta Summit!
Had a fantastic experience summiting Mount Shasta with my guide, Sean! He was easy to get along with, very knowledgable, and had a calm, encouraging demeanor. The climb itself was a real challenge, but worth it. The whole experience was positive and getting to the top felt like a genuine accomplishment that will give me the confidence to start taking on more overnight camping and hiking alone.
Laura L.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsGreat value
I did the crevasse rescue course and it went great, I learned a lot and feel much more comfortable. I especially appreciated how it was a small group - 3 students and 1 guide. Our guide Jan was great - he was very knowledgeable but also kept things laid back and wanted us to enjoy the day. Highly recommend!
Molly D.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsSet me up with a perfect custom skills program - highly recommend!
I'd been trying to setup a way to learn some snow skills basics for awhile, and most companies were just not very responsive for what I wanted, and I actually couldn't make it happen. Then I emailed Blackbird - and not only was it great to finally get some conversation going by email/phone, they were able to set me up with the type of program I was looking for. I was setup with Jon as my guide and felt like I was in very capable hands the entire time - covering all the topics relevant for my goals. While I'm comfortable enough camping and hiking in the wilderness, I had zero experience with crampons, ice axes, safety aspects etc, along with navigating more challenging and steep terrain. We started off covering some initial information that went well enough to tackle a couple objectives - which were far more challenging than I'd originally thought possible for myself. But he really nailed it, and picked a plan which let me push what I could do while still feeling comfortable. Plus I appreciated his patience, encouragement and positivity as I sorted out my practice of these new skills. Overall highly recommended!
Tobin S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsIncredibly knowledgeable guides!
Incredibly knowledgeable guides. It was my first time on a serious mountaineering trip, and our guide Jason was a great resource for our attempt at the Shasta summit. Despite insanely cold and snowy weather for May we had a great time!
Thomas M.Verified Buyer
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