The Mt Baker Summit & Skill Expedition encompasses the skills you need to tackle big mountain objectives the world over. On this 4-day expedition skills seminar we'll cover:
- Camp Craft
- Movement and efficiency
- Ice Axe Self Arrest and Team arrest
- Rope Team Travel
- Snow and Ice Anchors
- Crevasse Rescue
- Fixed Line Travel
Our program will culminate in a summit attempt of this 10,781’ Mt Baker (aka Kulshan). It's an incredible big mountain climbing experience and a great way to put the skills we've covered to use. The skills learned here are the perfect foundation for any big mountain climb, from Denali to Mount Everest.
Requisite Experience
This program is an introductory course designed to provide an understanding of the techniques and tools used in classic mountaineering. There are no prerequisite skills, the only requirements are:
- high level of cardiovascular fitness
- the ability to learn athletic movements that involve your entire body
Feel free to email us f you're unsure and we can help you figure it out!
Dates
Available Dates
Prices
Refer to prices on overview pageItinerary
Day 1
Meet in Glacier, WA at 8AM. Our guides will double check that you have all the right gear for the trip and help you minimize weight, decide on the perfect layers, and choose how much food and water to bring.
Approach to Hogsback or Coleman Glacier Camp and learn camp craft and knots!
Day 2
Skills Day! We will cover:
- Movement and efficiency
- Ice axe self arrest and team arrest
- Rope team travel
- Snow and ice anchors
- Crevasse rescue
- Fixed line travel
Day 3
Alpine start and attempt to summit Mt. Baker!
Day 4
Cover any additional skills. Break down camp and return home.
Equipment
Gear Guide - Master List Alpine Climbing
Gear Guide / Packing List
Technical Gear
- Climbing Helmet - Petzl Sirocco or Black Diamond Vision
- Headlamp - LED headlamp with fresh batteries; Petzl Actik Core
- Climbing Harness - Alpine or Rock Climbing Harness; Petzl Altitude, Mammut Zephyr
- Two Locking Carabiners - Petzl Attache, etc
- Triple Action Locking Carabiner - Edelrid HMS Strike Triple FG Locking Carabiner
- Double Length Sling - Sewn Runner; Black Diamond 10mm Dynex Runner
- Belay Device - Tube Style Belay Device; BD ATC Guide, Petzl Reverso
- Climbing boots - Suitable for the Weather and Mountain; LaSportiva Trango, LaSportiva G5 or LaSportiva Nepal Cube, Scarpa Phantom Tech or Scarpa Mont Blanc
- Gaiters - Low Profile, Lightweight Gaiters; OR Flex-Tex II
- Crampons - Steel Crampons Compatible with Your Boots; Petzl Vasak
- Semi-technical Ice Tool - A Curved Tool with a Pommel for Glacier Walking and Steep Snow/Ice Climbing; Petzl Sum-Tec, Petzl Quark, CAMP XLight, Black Diamond Venom
- Technical Ice Tool - Aggressive Curved Tool for Steep Ice; Petzl Nomic, CAMP X-Dream, BD Cobra - Depending on your trip
- Trekking Poles - Lightweight, Adjustable Poles with Baskets; BD Alpine FLZ Poles
Head and Neck Layers
- Sun Hat - A Baseball Hat; Blackbird Mountain Guides Logo Hat
- Sunglasses - Dark Lens Glasses with Side Coverage; Julbo Shield
- Goggles (bring to trailhead, we may choose to leave at the car depending on weather)
- Warm Hat - Lightweight Warm Hat that Fits Under Your Helmet;
- Neck Gaiters - Light to Midweight Neck Gaiters; Buff or your favorite Face Masks
Upper Body and Hand Layers
- Long Sleeve Base Layer - Lightweight, Synthetic/Wool; Patagonia SunHoody
- 2 Insulating Top Layers - Light to Midweight Insulation Layers; Patagonia R1 & Nano Air
- Puffy - Midweight Down or Synthetic with Hood; Patagonia Fitzroy or similar
- Hardshell Jacket, Hooded - Waterproof, Gore-Tex, NOT insulated; Arc’Teryx Alpha FL
- Light Gloves - Light to Mid Weight for Warm Temps; Flylow John Henry Gloves, BD Tour
- Midweight Gloves - Mid to Heavy Weight for Cold Conditions; Flylow Super Glove
- Sports Bra - Wool/Synthetic
Lower Body and Foot Layers
- Underwear - Wool/Synthetic
- Socks - Midweight Wool/Synthetic; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
- Long Underwear - Wool/Synthetic “Long Johns”; Patagonia Capilene Air
- Softshell Climbing Pants - Breathable, Weather Resistant Pants - Marmot Scree Pants
- Hardshell Climbing Pants - Light, gore-tex pants, full zip are ideal to put on with boots/crampons on
Camping & Backpacking Gear
- Sleeping Bag - Down or Synthetic Rated to 20F; Feathered Friends Egret UL 20
- Sleeping Pad - Insulated Inflatable Air Mattress; Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X-Therm, X-Lite
- Compression Stuff - To Pack Your Sleeping Bag; Ultralight Compression Sack 10L
- Backpack - Lightweight, Simple 50 Liter Pack; Patagonia Alpinist 50, BD Speed 50
Food and Water
- Dinner - Your Favorite Freeze Dried or “Just-Add-Hot-Water” Meal for Each Night in the Field.
- Breakfast - Your Favorite Freeze Dried or “Just-Add-Hot-Water” Meal for Each Morning in the Field
- Hot Drinks - For After Dinner and During Breakfast; Instant Coffee, Decaffeinated Tea, Hot Cocoa, Tang, Whatever You Prefer
- Half Liter Nalgene Bottle - A Hard Sided Water Bottled that Can Act as your Mug For Hot Drinks and Water Bottle During the Climb; Nalgene 16oz Wide Mouth Bottle
- Soft Water Bottle 1.5L - Flexible Water Bladder; Hydrapak Flux 1.5L
- ***Please bring at least one hard sided water bottle.
- Water Treatment or Filtration - Katadyn BeFree Filter Connects to Hydrapak Flux Bottles
- Bowl - Reuse your Freeze Dried Dinner Bag as Your Bowl, or Bring Another
- Spoon - 9” Long Handled Spoon (For Eating Food in a Bag); GSI Essential Spoon Long
- Snacks & Lunch - Snacks & lunch for each day of the trip
Other Essentials
- Sun Screen (SPF 30 minimum)
- Lip Balm (with SPF)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toilet Paper
- Wag Bags (Solid Human Waste Disposal Bags)
Optional
- First Aid/blister Kit
- Chemical Hand Warmers
- Hydration System - Flexible Water Bladder with Hose; Hydrapak, Camelback, Platypus
Group Gear
- Blackbird Mountain Guides will supply all of the group gear for the trip, including:
- Slingfin Tents (Designed and Headquartered in Berkeley, CA)
- Stoves
- Fuel for Stoves
- Ropes
- Snow Pickets (if required)
- Rock Protection (if required)
- Guide’s First Aid Kits