Mt Baker North Ridge Summit Climb
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - The North Ridge of Mount Baker is a one-of-a-kind alpine ice classic. With massive relief, expansive glaciers, pitched ice climbing and incredible exposure this climb is simply exhilarating. In terms of pure fun, this climb ranks at the top of the list.
- The Route - The North Ridge balances technical skill with endurance, and entails ascending over 5,500 feet of glacier, snow, rock and ice to the summit at 10,781’. An incredible challenge with equal rewards, this climb is not to be missed!
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - After taking a few moments on the summit, it’s time to descend. The easiest way down is to reverse the ascent, and this is often as time consuming as the ascent. Be ready for engaging down-climbing and rappels.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Travel, Dinner & Gear Check in Glacier, WA - Our guides will double check that you have all the right gear for the trip and help you minimize weight, decide on the perfect layers, and choose how much food and water to bring.
- Day 2 -Approach to Hogsback or Coleman Glacier Camp - We’ll get an early start, get to camp and scout the glacier approach to the base of the route before getting to bed early for the alpine start and summit attempt.
- Day 3 - Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am early alpine start with a quick breakfast. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp.We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and hike out to the trailhead.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Intermediate Alpine Climbing Experience - Including basic rope skills, experience with belaying, rappelling and technical climbing on 4th and 5th class rock. Depending on the time of year, crampon and ice axe techniques may be required. Looking to build these skills? Join us for an Intro to Mountaineering course!
- Excellent fitness - Able to spend 12-16 continuous hours outside, moving uphill at over 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-2 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 12-15 miles, climbing 3,000-6,000 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with excellent fitness typically have a strenuous workout 4-6 days per week. Be ready for a sufferfest!
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
- Ropes & Gear
- SlingFin 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
- Transportation
- Personal Mountaineering Gear - ice axe, crampons, climbing harness
- Guide Gratuities
- Mountaineering Gear (ice ax, crampon, harness) - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Other Mountaineering Gear (sleeping bag, pad, etc.) - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Know Before you go
Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Travel, Dinner & Gear Check in Glacier, WA - Our guides will double check that you have all the right gear for the trip and help you minimize weight, decide on the perfect layers, and choose how much food and water to bring.
- Day 2 -Approach to Hogsback or Coleman Glacier Camp - We’ll get an early start, get to camp and scout the glacier approach to the base of the route before getting to bed early for the alpine start and summit attempt.
- Day 3 - Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am early alpine start with a quick breakfast. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to camp.
- Day 4 - Break Down Camp and Return Home. After some much-earned sleep, we pack up camp and head back to the trailhead to finish the trip. The descent usually takes 2.5-3.5 hours.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - The North Ridge of Mount Baker is a one-of-a-kind alpine ice classic. With massive relief, expansive glaciers, pitched ice climbing and incredible exposure this climb is simply exhilarating. In terms of pure fun, this climb ranks at the top of the list.
- The Route - The North Ridge balances technical skill with endurance, and entails ascending over 5,500 feet of glacier, snow, rock and ice to the summit at 10,781’. An incredible challenge with equal rewards, this climb is not to be missed!
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - After taking a few moments on the summit, it’s time to descend. The easiest way down is to reverse the ascent, and this is often as time consuming as the ascent. Be ready for engaging down-climbing and rappels.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Travel, Dinner & Gear Check in Glacier, WA - Our guides will double check that you have all the right gear for the trip and help you minimize weight, decide on the perfect layers, and choose how much food and water to bring.
- Day 2 -Approach to Hogsback or Coleman Glacier Camp - We’ll get an early start, get to camp and scout the glacier approach to the base of the route before getting to bed early for the alpine start and summit attempt.
- Day 3 - Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am early alpine start with a quick breakfast. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp.We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and hike out to the trailhead.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Intermediate Alpine Climbing Experience - Including basic rope skills, experience with belaying, rappelling and technical climbing on 4th and 5th class rock. Depending on the time of year, crampon and ice axe techniques may be required. Looking to build these skills? Join us for an Intro to Mountaineering course!
- Excellent fitness - Able to spend 12-16 continuous hours outside, moving uphill at over 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-2 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 12-15 miles, climbing 3,000-6,000 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with excellent fitness typically have a strenuous workout 4-6 days per week. Be ready for a sufferfest!
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
- Ropes & Gear
- SlingFin 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
- Transportation
- Personal Mountaineering Gear - ice axe, crampons, climbing harness
- Guide Gratuities
- Mountaineering Gear (ice ax, crampon, harness) - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Other Mountaineering Gear (sleeping bag, pad, etc.) - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsCoudn't have imagined a better Rainier Summit!
Blackbird Guides is the best! I've been using their services for about 3 years and every adventure has been absolutely incredible. Each of the guides are full of knowledge and incredibly good at passing along their years of expertise. I just summited Rainier with Brandon and Andrew and I couldn't have imagined a better experience all around. I refer everyone I know to Blackbird.
April H.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsHit 3 Cascade summits, truly outstanding guiding!
We did a five day trip. Hit three summits. Truly outstanding guiding by Zeb and Aaron. Their knowledge of the mountains is impressive. They knew how to modify the trip on the fly based on skill level. Pushed the right amount to get us there but still made it casual and fun. I rock climb but this was my first alpine climbing and I’d recommend Blackbird to any first timers.
Anthony V. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsBaker North Ridge was amazing!
Did a 3 day trip with Blackbird on Baker North Ridge. Was an amazing experience. Our guide, Arthur, was knowledge, and willing to teach us. Would be happy to book another trip with them again.
David S.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsFantastic climb & outstanding guide company!
A Fantastic Climb! Blackbird Mountain Guides is outstanding guide company. I had the opportunity to climb with Zeb Blais where we summited (along with two others) Forbidden Peak in the North Cascade mountain range in Washington. It was a challenging climb but well worth it. Zeb is a professional. His knowledge and calm demeanor made for a rewarding and memorable experience. One of things I like best about Blackbird is the communication. Zeb emphasized safety, training and having fun. If you're looking for a solid guide company, look no further. I can't recommend Zeb and Blackbird highly enough.
Jay R.
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