Intro to Alpine Rock Climbing - Crystal Crag
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- North Arete - 5.7 - A ledgy and featured climb that leads you up to the Crystal Corridor will make it clear why this classic rock formation is called Crystal Crag!
- 8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead
- 8:15am - Gear and trailhead departure check
- 8:45am - Begin the course / climb - with lessons and teachable moments along the way
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:30pm - Finish at the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps in your alpine climbing progression.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - no alpine climbing experience is required!
- Basic Rock Climbing Experience - Including proficiency with basic rope skills, belaying, rappelling, and technical climbing on 4th and 5th class rock.
- Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Alpine Climbing 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
- 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
- Transportation
- Climbing Shoes, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Alpine Climbing Gear
- Climbing Shoes
- Climbing Harness
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!
- 8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead
- 8:15am - Gear and trailhead departure check
- 8:45am - Begin the course / climb - with lessons and teachable moments along the way
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:30pm - Finish at the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps in your alpine climbing progression.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- North Arete - 5.7 - A ledgy and featured climb that leads you up to the Crystal Corridor will make it clear why this classic rock formation is called Crystal Crag!
- 8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead
- 8:15am - Gear and trailhead departure check
- 8:45am - Begin the course / climb - with lessons and teachable moments along the way
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:30pm - Finish at the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps in your alpine climbing progression.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - no alpine climbing experience is required!
- Basic Rock Climbing Experience - Including proficiency with basic rope skills, belaying, rappelling, and technical climbing on 4th and 5th class rock.
- Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Alpine Climbing 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
- 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
- Transportation
- Climbing Shoes, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Alpine Climbing Gear
- Climbing Shoes
- Climbing Harness
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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