Custom Alpine Climbing in Washington
This is a private alpine climbing program for you and your team.
We tailor the program for your team to help you accomplish your specific goals.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your program:
- 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
- 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.
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest or North Cascades National Park Permit
- Ropes & Gear - for mountaineering training
- 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
- Mountaineering Gear - Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
The gear required for each trip varies depending on the location and objectives that you are interested in. However, our Master Alpine Gear Guide is a great place to start.
Your guide will follow up with you to outline specific gear requirements after finalizing your climb's logistics and objectives.
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!
This is a private alpine climbing program for you and your team.
We tailor the program for your team to help you accomplish your specific goals.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your program:
- 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
- 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.
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest or North Cascades National Park Permit
- Ropes & Gear - for mountaineering training
- 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
- Mountaineering Gear - Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
The gear required for each trip varies depending on the location and objectives that you are interested in. However, our Master Alpine Gear Guide is a great place to start.
Your guide will follow up with you to outline specific gear requirements after finalizing your climb's logistics and objectives.
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsLiterally the best guide I’ve come across!
Zeb at Blackbird Mountain Guides is literally the best guide I've come across. I've worked with Zeb twice now including the most recent trip up Mt. Baker with my wife. Zeb provides excellent knowledge, route finding, and pace. Most importantly, his great attitude and patience really made the trip, especially for relative climbing novices like us. Put simply, Zeb is the best. I trust him and will definitely work with Blackbird Mountain Guides again!
A B. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsPlan to climb with Blackbird again!
Zeb was great! Great planning; flexible; affordable; and customized the trip for me. Also was fun to climb with. Plan to climb with Blackbird again!
Will D. - 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 starsMuch better than expected.
BlackBird guides were professional. I highly recommend them.
Justin
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
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We’re here to help. Our FAQs or Gear Lists might have the information you’re seeking. But If you’re not finding the information you need, we’d be happy to help!