North Cascades Ski Mountaineering - Private
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level in the rugged mountains of the North Cascades!
- Objectives Include - Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Eldorado Peak, Sahale Mountain and more
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Objective Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!
Here's the schedule for your day:
- 6:00am Trailhead Meetup - Meet your guide at the trailhead and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. Your guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure/Beacon Check.
- 6:30am Tour into Objective - We'll ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
- 5:30pm Return to the Trailhead We'll give ourselves enough daylight to get back safely and recap the day.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your program:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing 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.
- Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski 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 - for ski mountaineering
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
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.
6:00 am Meet your guide at the trailhead and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. The guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.
6:30 am Tour into our objective for the day and ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
5:30 pm Return to the trailhead with enough daylight to have a margin to get back safely.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level in the rugged mountains of the North Cascades!
- Objectives Include - Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Eldorado Peak, Sahale Mountain and more
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Objective Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!
Here's the schedule for your day:
- 6:00am Trailhead Meetup - Meet your guide at the trailhead and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. Your guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure/Beacon Check.
- 6:30am Tour into Objective - We'll ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
- 5:30pm Return to the Trailhead We'll give ourselves enough daylight to get back safely and recap the day.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your program:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing 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.
- Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski 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 - for ski mountaineering
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsCan't recommend enough.
I have taken four courses with Zeb Blais / Blackbird Mountain Guides:
-AIARE Avy Level 1
-Crevasse Rescue Course
-4-day ski-mountaineering course in the Palisades
-4-day trad climbing / mountaineering in the north cascade including the north ridge of Forbidden Peak.
On each occasion, the amount of tangible experiences, pragmatic knowledge and honed skill sets gained has been so comprehensive that I have felt inspired to push for newer and higher objectives.
Moreover, these outings have been more than just a place to learn and level up but are epic and unforgettable treks into the backcountry that you don't forget.
...I keep thinking that at some point I'll be able to do all this stuff myself, but when your always looking to up your game and climb higher peaks, these guys know how to push it. Can't recommend enough.
Coby V. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAwesome day!
Awesome day tour with our guide, Will. Super knowledgeable, knew the area well and a cool guy. Highly recommend.
John G. - Rated 5 out of 5 stars100% would recommend!
100% would recommend!! I hired Blackbird for a 3 day ski of Mount Baker. Jason was very professional and friendly and made the experience stress free. He is very concerned with safety and the delivering an overall high quality guest experience. Well done! I will definitely use them again, and would recommend to my family and friends. They may be a new company in the mountain guiding world, but Blackbird is as good as any other guide service I've used- which includes the big names.
Russel G.
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
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