Mt Shasta Summit Climb & Skills Seminar 5 Day

Build the skills to confidently climb big mountains on this 5 day Mt Shasta mountaineering skills seminar. The Mt Shasta Summit Climb & Skills Expedition will teach the skills to climb steep, glaciated peaks across the globe and will prepare you for Mt Rainier, Denali and big expeditions like Peru's Cordillera Blanca.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:

  • Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!

  • Route - We'll make our summit attempt of Mt Shasta via the Hotlum Glacier

  • Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest, glacier rope travel, and crevasse rescue

  • 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

Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan

Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp

Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training

Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training

Day 4 - Summit Attempt

Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • 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 on Day 2

  • 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.

  • Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your trip:

  • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
  • Ropes & Gear
  • 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
Not Included
  • Meals
  • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
  • Guide Gratuities

Mountaineering Gear

  • Ice Axe
  • Crampons
  • Climbing Harness
Overnight Gear
  • Headlamp
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Sleeping Pad
Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks

  • Know Before you go

    SKILL LEVELIntermediate Advanced
    ELEVATION7,000’-14,179’
    LocationMt Shasta

    Price $1,595.00
    Private Programs
    Duration: 5 Days
    View Full Itinerary
    Private Programs

    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.

    Contact us
    Full Itinerary

    Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan

    4:00pm-6:30pm  The guide will discuss the challenges of the route, expectations for clients and guides, LNT procedures, and perform a thorough gear check to make sure we have everything we need for the mountain and the current conditions at hand. We also divide all group gear, including food, fuel, stoves, tents, shovels, pickets, solid waste bags and other items so that you are able to pack completely for the trip.

     

    Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp

    8:00 am We’ll meet on the first day of our trip at the North Gate trailhead. We’ll do a quick trailhead check to make sure we’re not forgetting anything, and we’ll set out for Camp at North Lake Basecamp.

     

    We’ll set up camp, discussing camp craft and the challengers of camping on an expedition, as well as some basic skills that will help us prepare for the climb and more technical training like fixed lines, glacier travel and crevasse rescue. After skills, we’ll eat a hot dinner and settle into our tents for the night.

     

    Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training

    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
    • Knots

    Early dinner and bed

     

     

    Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training

    In this course we'll cover:

    • Gear for Crevasse Rescue
    • Essential knots and hitches
    • Rigging your rope and team for glacier travel
    • Mechanical advantage systems including Simple Systems, Compound Systems, and Complex Systems
    • Pragmatic solutions including Brute Haul and Dropped C systems
    • Rope Ascension

    Early dinner and bed

     

    Day 4 - Summit Attempt

    Alpine Start.  Your guides will set the time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. We will get an early alpine start and begin climbing after a hot breakfast.

    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

    Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead

    8:00 am  On our last day on Mt Shasta, we'll rise early, pack up camp and descend to the North Gate Trailhead.

    We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:

    • Push Your Limits - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!

    • Route - We'll make our summit attempt of Mt Shasta via the Hotlum Glacier

    • Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest, glacier rope travel, and crevasse rescue

    • 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

    Day 0 - Meet with Guide to Review Trip Plan

    Day 1 North Gate trailhead to North Gate Basecamp

    Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training

    Day 3 - Crevasse Rescue Training

    Day 4 - Summit Attempt

    Day 5 - Descend to North Gate Trailhead

    Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

    • 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 on Day 2

    • 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.

    • Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
    Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

    Here's what's included with your trip:

    • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
    • Ropes & Gear
    • 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
    Not Included
    • Meals
    • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
    • Guide Gratuities

    Mountaineering Gear

    • Ice Axe
    • Crampons
    • Climbing Harness
    Overnight Gear
    • Headlamp
    • Sleeping Bag
    • Sleeping Pad
    Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
  • Book Now
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    Awesome Experience

    Steve, California

    “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

    Ellen, New York

    “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

    Andrew, Washington

    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!

    Jenna, California

    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!

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