Mt Baker Summit & Ski - Private
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level on this glaciated North Cascades volcano!
- Ascent & Descent Route Options
- Coleman-Deming Glacier
- Easton Glacier
- Squawk Glacier
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training (Only for 2 and 3 Day Options) - 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.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up over 6,000' of vertical!
Not looking for a private program? Click here for our open enrollment Mt Baker Summit & Ski
Please note that a single day push summit of Mt Baker is a massive undertaking. We'll climb and ski 7,000 vertical feet in a continuous push to get up and back to the trailhead without camping or taking breaks longer than 15 minutes, with an exception for a longer stop on the summit.
1 Day Trip (Expert Level):
- 3:00-4:00am - Early Alpine Start - Meet up with your guide at the trailhead for a gear check and review of the plan for the day.
- 12:00-3:00pm - Summit Attempt - We'll make a push for the summit, stopping only to refuel, rehydrate and adjust layers on our way. We will go as long as stamina and conditions allow.
- 2:00-4:00pm - Ski Descent - Hard work and determination are handsomely rewarded as we enjoy the views and shred a continuous 7,000'+ feet back down to the trailhead!
2 Day / 1 Night Trip (Advanced Level):
- Day 1 - Tour to Camp & Ski 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 then tour to and set up camp. 12:00pm ski mountaineering skills review. 5:00pm Dinner and bed.
- Day 2 -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 and ski the zones holding the best snow! We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead.
3 Day / 2 Night Trip (Intermediate Level):
- Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to Camp - 8:00 am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any final adjustments. The rest of the day will be spent touring to camp and learning about camp craft.
- Day 2 - Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - We'll get an early start on the day, having breakfast with hot coffee or tea, and prepare food for the day before gearing up and heading out. In this course we'll cover:
- Ski 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
- Day 3 -Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am quick breakfast followed by an early alpine start. 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 and ski the zones holding the best snow! We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.
3 DAY AND 2 DAY SUMMIT & SKI
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your trip:
- 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 10+ days of backcountry experience.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills. Join our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending if you need a refresher
- 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.
1 DAY SUMMIT & SKI
You'll require the same skills as above but a significantly higher level of fitness for a one day push:
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
- Ropes & Gear - for ski 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
- 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!
Day 1
8:00am 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. 8:30 am Ascend to camp and build camp.
12:00pm Skills review. Prior experience is helpful, as we will provide a review of crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel.
5:00pm Dinner and bed. We’ll review the plan for the following day, pack what we can to prepare and get to bed early to set ourselves up for an alpine start for the summit attempt.
Day 2
Alpine Start. Your guides will set the time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Summit Attempt. This will be a long day, 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. When we get back to camp, we’ll break it down, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead. We’ll aim to be down by early afternoon.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level on this glaciated North Cascades volcano!
- Ascent & Descent Route Options
- Coleman-Deming Glacier
- Easton Glacier
- Squawk Glacier
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training (Only for 2 and 3 Day Options) - 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.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up over 6,000' of vertical!
Not looking for a private program? Click here for our open enrollment Mt Baker Summit & Ski
Please note that a single day push summit of Mt Baker is a massive undertaking. We'll climb and ski 7,000 vertical feet in a continuous push to get up and back to the trailhead without camping or taking breaks longer than 15 minutes, with an exception for a longer stop on the summit.
1 Day Trip (Expert Level):
- 3:00-4:00am - Early Alpine Start - Meet up with your guide at the trailhead for a gear check and review of the plan for the day.
- 12:00-3:00pm - Summit Attempt - We'll make a push for the summit, stopping only to refuel, rehydrate and adjust layers on our way. We will go as long as stamina and conditions allow.
- 2:00-4:00pm - Ski Descent - Hard work and determination are handsomely rewarded as we enjoy the views and shred a continuous 7,000'+ feet back down to the trailhead!
2 Day / 1 Night Trip (Advanced Level):
- Day 1 - Tour to Camp & Ski 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 then tour to and set up camp. 12:00pm ski mountaineering skills review. 5:00pm Dinner and bed.
- Day 2 -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 and ski the zones holding the best snow! We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead.
3 Day / 2 Night Trip (Intermediate Level):
- Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to Camp - 8:00 am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any final adjustments. The rest of the day will be spent touring to camp and learning about camp craft.
- Day 2 - Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - We'll get an early start on the day, having breakfast with hot coffee or tea, and prepare food for the day before gearing up and heading out. In this course we'll cover:
- Ski 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
- Day 3 -Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am quick breakfast followed by an early alpine start. 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 and ski the zones holding the best snow! We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.
3 DAY AND 2 DAY SUMMIT & SKI
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your trip:
- 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 10+ days of backcountry experience.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills. Join our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending if you need a refresher
- 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.
1 DAY SUMMIT & SKI
You'll require the same skills as above but a significantly higher level of fitness for a one day push:
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
- Ropes & Gear - for ski 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
- 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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