Mt Baker Ski Mountaineering Camp 5 Day
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this glaciated Cascades volcano!
- Route Options Include - Coleman-Deming and Easton / Squawk Glacier Routes.
- Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
Day 1 - Travel to & Set Up Camp
Meet your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any last minute adjustments needed. Learn winter/glacier camp craft and how to camp comfortably in the snow.
Day 2 - Glacier Travel Skills - Review of equipment necessary for safe glacier travel. Learn and conduct a crevasse rescue in an actual crevasse if conditions allow. In this course we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and
- Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
In the evening, we'll prepare an early dinner and head to bed
Conduct a short evening tour and ski touring skills refinement.
Day 3 - Alpine Climbing Skills for Ski Mountaineering
Intro to alpine climbing techniques used in ski mountaineering including:
- Belays
- Movement
- Protection
Instructor led glacial tour & glaciology lecture to understand how glaciers work.
Day 4 - Alpine Start - Instructor led glacial tour or summit attempt of Mt. Baker depending on weather, conditions, and group desires.
Day 5 - Student Led Glacial Tour - All students get time out front to lead the group and solve problems and get feedback.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Advanced Backcountry Riding Skills - Including efficient gear management, skinning, transition technique, with 30+ 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.
- 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 training
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Washington Ski Mountaineering Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
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 typical itinerary for this program and is subject to change. As guides, we do our best to adhere to the schedule described below, but the mountains are a dynamic environment that requires flexibility. We may need to shift the summit day or some of the skills sessions to achieve the best learning outcomes or give ourselves a better chance at the summit.
Day 1
8:00am Meet your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any last-minute adjustments needed. The guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.
8:30am Start the ascent to camp and on arrival we'll cover strategy for where to set camp and how to build a camp in snow or on rock that will be able to endure the elements that the mountains .
Day 2
Snow School
We'll learn all of the critical skills for moving up and down snow safely and efficiently. These skills are useful for any snow-covered mountain terrain, and we'll finish the day with a lesson geared toward glacier rope team travel.
- Ski Mountaineering Gear (Ice Axes, Crampons, Harnesses, Ropes, Carabiners, etc)
- Mountaineering efficiency including the kicking steps, the Rest Step, Crampon Techniques
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel (both glacier intervals and short roping)
- Mountaineering Knots and basic Mechanical Advantage Systems (this may be covered at camp)
Dinner and bed.
Day 3
Crevasse Rescue.
We'll find an appropriate crevasse, with a vertical or nearly vertical wall to practice crevasse rescue. With our foundation of knots and basic mechanical advantage systems, we'll dive into performing a crevasse rescue. We'll manage the crevasse hazard using a
Early Dinner and bed.
We’ll review the plan for our summit attempt before we prepare our gear and get to bed early.
Day 4
Alpine Start.
Your guides will set the wake-up time based on the weather forecast and the hazards for the day. We'll have hot drinks and a warm breakfast before starting off for the summit.
Summit Attempt.
We'll start toward the summit with 4,000' of snow and glaciated terrain between us and the top. This is a demanding day, and we may have to push through inclement weather or less-than-ideal conditions to make the summit.
Ski Descent.
Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the lines with the best snow! We'll return to camp for a hot dinner and discussion of more mountaineering skills including knots.
Day 5
Pack up camp and return to trailhead.
We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead. We’ll aim to be down by early afternoon.
Time permitting, we'll may attempt to get in a minor ski objective.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this glaciated Cascades volcano!
- Route Options Include - Coleman-Deming and Easton / Squawk Glacier Routes.
- Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
Day 1 - Travel to & Set Up Camp
Meet your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any last minute adjustments needed. Learn winter/glacier camp craft and how to camp comfortably in the snow.
Day 2 - Glacier Travel Skills - Review of equipment necessary for safe glacier travel. Learn and conduct a crevasse rescue in an actual crevasse if conditions allow. In this course we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and
- Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
In the evening, we'll prepare an early dinner and head to bed
Conduct a short evening tour and ski touring skills refinement.
Day 3 - Alpine Climbing Skills for Ski Mountaineering
Intro to alpine climbing techniques used in ski mountaineering including:
- Belays
- Movement
- Protection
Instructor led glacial tour & glaciology lecture to understand how glaciers work.
Day 4 - Alpine Start - Instructor led glacial tour or summit attempt of Mt. Baker depending on weather, conditions, and group desires.
Day 5 - Student Led Glacial Tour - All students get time out front to lead the group and solve problems and get feedback.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Advanced Backcountry Riding Skills - Including efficient gear management, skinning, transition technique, with 30+ 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.
- 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 training
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Washington Ski Mountaineering Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
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.
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