Intro to Mountaineering on Mt Shasta
- The Rest Step
- Crampon techniques for various types of terrain
- Ski Crampons
- All about Ice Axes: Anatomy of an ice axe, Various grips and applications, Team arrest (when travelling on a rope team), Self arrest
- Rope Travel: Short roping with a guide, Glacier travel
- Transitions: From skinning to cramponing, Cramponing to skiing in steep terrain
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Mountaineering Skills Review - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. Travel to a suitable area to practice the skills we need for the day. 3:30 pm Close out the day and return to town.
- Day 2 -Shasta Climb 6:00-9:00am Meet to discuss the plan for the day, then set off. 3:30 pm Trailhead debrief and program close
- No prior experience with Ice Axes, Crampons or ropes is required.
- 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 1,000-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes and Gear for training
- 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
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Mountaineering Boots are recommended, but sturdy, waterproof hiking boots will work for this course.
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.
Day 1 - Mountaineering Skills Review
- 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead - We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss where we'll travel and provide an overview of the skills to be covered for the day. The guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.
- 8:30am Hike In - Travel to a suitable area to practice the skills we need for the day. The purpose of the day is building skills, so we'll focus on that, rather than travelling long distances.
- 9:00am Skills
- We'll begin our skills session, covering basic efficiency, footwork and body position, including the rest step.
- Crampon techniques for various types of terrain Ski Crampons, how and when to use them
- All about Ice Axes
- Anatomy of an ice axe
- Various grips and applications
- Team arrest (when travelling on a rope team)
- Self arrest
- Rope Travel
- Short roping with a guide
- Glacier travel
- 3:30pm Close out the day and return to town After we finish skills for the day and establish a plan for the following day, we'll go our separate ways for the evening.
Day 2 - Mountaineering on Shasta
- 6:00-9:00am Meet to discuss the plan for the day We'll base this meeting time on the snow conditions and objective hazards for the day. After meeting up we'll discuss the plan for the day and conduct a trailhead departure check.
- We'll hike up the mountain, putting the skills we learned the previous day to use on the natural features of the mountain. Our hike will be based on the desires of the group and will focus on skills development and finding the best quality terrain!
- 3:30pm Trailhead debrief and program close - We'll wrap up the course with daylight left to spare, debriefing the skills learned and the next steps for skills development and mountaineering opportunities.
- The Rest Step
- Crampon techniques for various types of terrain
- Ski Crampons
- All about Ice Axes: Anatomy of an ice axe, Various grips and applications, Team arrest (when travelling on a rope team), Self arrest
- Rope Travel: Short roping with a guide, Glacier travel
- Transitions: From skinning to cramponing, Cramponing to skiing in steep terrain
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Mountaineering Skills Review - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. Travel to a suitable area to practice the skills we need for the day. 3:30 pm Close out the day and return to town.
- Day 2 -Shasta Climb 6:00-9:00am Meet to discuss the plan for the day, then set off. 3:30 pm Trailhead debrief and program close
- No prior experience with Ice Axes, Crampons or ropes is required.
- 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 1,000-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes and Gear for training
- 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
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Mountaineering Boots are recommended, but sturdy, waterproof hiking boots will work for this course.
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
Community Focused
ongoing support
epic reviews from adventurers
View Reviews
Awesome Experience
“Taking this course with Zeb was the best decision! He was extremely friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable and answered all our questions with great patience.
An Exceptional Course
“I took an AIARE 1 with Blackbird and couldn't recommend it more. The knowledge gained was well-worth every penny, and then some."
Too Good For Words
Just took the "lift-assisted" Avalanche Rescue course, and it was a fantastic opportunity to act out more realistic rescue scenarios. It was a great refresher and learning experience. Our instructor Evan was knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Highly recommended!
An Incredible Weekend!
Completed AIARE 1 w/ Blackbird. Instructors were very knowledgeable, experienced, patient, attentive, and down-to-earth in relating to clients across a wide spectrum of ability. Highly recommended. Great group of people!
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!