Mt Shasta Summit Climb & Skills Seminar 5 Day
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
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
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
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 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
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
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsSet me up with a perfect custom skills program - highly recommend!
I'd been trying to setup a way to learn some snow skills basics for awhile, and most companies were just not very responsive for what I wanted, and I actually couldn't make it happen. Then I emailed Blackbird - and not only was it great to finally get some conversation going by email/phone, they were able to set me up with the type of program I was looking for. I was setup with Jon as my guide and felt like I was in very capable hands the entire time - covering all the topics relevant for my goals. While I'm comfortable enough camping and hiking in the wilderness, I had zero experience with crampons, ice axes, safety aspects etc, along with navigating more challenging and steep terrain. We started off covering some initial information that went well enough to tackle a couple objectives - which were far more challenging than I'd originally thought possible for myself. But he really nailed it, and picked a plan which let me push what I could do while still feeling comfortable. Plus I appreciated his patience, encouragement and positivity as I sorted out my practice of these new skills. Overall highly recommended!
Tobin S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsIncredibly knowledgeable guides!
Incredibly knowledgeable guides. It was my first time on a serious mountaineering trip, and our guide Jason was a great resource for our attempt at the Shasta summit. Despite insanely cold and snowy weather for May we had a great time!
Thomas M.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAmazing guide service, you are in the best possible hands!
Blackbird Mountain Guides is an amazing guide service! They tailor trips based on your individual preferences and abilities and are eager to help you develop new skill sets. The guides have extensive subject matter expertise are extremely professional. I have done numerous climbs with Zeb specifically, including a recent trip a few weeks back - it was (as always) thoroughly enjoyable. There is a reason I keep coming back and climbing with Zeb - you always know you are in the best possible hands. Based on my past experiences, I am currently planning two more trips next year with Blackbird Mountain Guides. A top-notch company.
Corey R. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsFully recommend Blackbird for Mt Shasta!
We did a 3 day Shasta trip with Blackbird guides with Jason as our guide. Since we had already done Shasta we asked for a route a bit more adventurous and Jason obliged. The trip was fantastic with time for acclimatization and a lower summit Shastina then a super interesting route to the summit which was challenging but not too much. Jason was wonderful every step of the way, he was able to navigate the major obstacle which was the wind and went above and beyond to get us to the summit. Fully recommend Blackbird and Jason in particular.
Richard B.
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