Mount Baker Ski Mountaineering Course
Mount Baker Ski Mountaineering Course
Mount Baker is a perfect big mountain ski adventure for aspiring ski mountaineers. Photo: Mark Allen
overview
The Mount Baker Ski Mountaineering Course is our state of the art modern approach to glacial ski touring. This program is designed to give backcountry skiers and snowboarders the technical skills to ski and ride the volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest with the lightest gear possible. This course is designed to be an introduction to the world of ski mountaineering and focuses on technical rope-work for skiers and snowboarders, specifically modern crevasse rescue for ski mountaineers of our era.
Details
Location: Mount Baker
Ratio: 4:1 climber to guide (max. 8 participants)
Length: 4-days
Cost: 4- days $1225 per person
Dates: Custom May and June Dates Available
Itinerary
Day 1 - Students and instructors will meet in the Skagit Valley for gear check before traveling to Mount Baker. We will will approach our objective via the North side or South Side of Mount Baker. Once our winter high camp is established Base camp.
Day 2 - Learn about a good winter camping skills and prepping for a big day. Explore the glacier! The ultimate goal for the day is learning about ski mountaineering glacier travel and crevasse rescue with modern rope and systems and get in some good skiing.
Day 3 - Today will focus on navigation, route finding, crampon and ice aks climbing systems and getting in some good quality skiing.
Day 4 - Summit Day! Rolling alpine start from High Camp ascending the glaciers to the summit with light summit packs. The team will ski the famed Roman wall and the glacial slopes of Komo Kulshan to camp, pack up, followed by a full decent to the trailhead.
Team roped travel through the crevasse field on the Coleman Glacier-Photo Mark Allen
Includes
All breakfasts and dinners on the mountain
All group camping equipment (Tents, Stoves, Fuel)
All group ski mountaineering equipment (ropes ect)
Guide guaranteed to be working with in their Scope of Practice
Emergency communication
Excludes
Personal climbing equipment
Personal clothing and camping equipment
Transceivers, shovels, probes
Touring equipment
Lunches and snacks
Transportation to and from the meeting location
PREREQUISITE EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS
Backcountry Ski Touring - Efficient Movement clinic or equivalent touring experience (5+ backcountry tours) + Overnight Backcountry Ski Touring Course or equivalent winter camping experience.
Participants should be able to comfortably link turns and enjoy black diamond to double-black runs in various conditions including heavy powder, side slipping icy slopes, and jump turns in wind crusts. Skiers and riders should be comfortable spending all day outdoors engaged in moderate to intensive cardiovascular activity including 3,500-5,000 vertical feet of ascent in a day at elevation
Participants will be travel in avalanche terrain and must have taken an AIARE Rescue Course or have equivalent formal training with avalanche equipment (transceivers, probes, shovels) and its use.
Ability to carrying a heavy pack (35-to-45 lbs)
Activity Resources
Making high camp on the Glacier. Our basecamp classroom for the program - Mark Allen
Mount Baker Facts
Mount Baker, known to the Salish people as “Kulshan”, is the highest peak in the North Cascades and the 3rd highest summit in the state of Washington. It sustains more than 100 square kilometers of glaciers and permanent snow fields. When weather and glacial conditions are right, the ascents can be an extremely rewarding challenge and non-technical. However, this venue makes its own weather providing a perfect template for building lasting skills. This mountain is great for the experienced backcountry skier looking to expand their experience to big mountains.
Mount Baker (Kulshan) showing both North & South side glacier mountaineering routes and the profile of the steep North Ridge Photo: John Scurlock
All scheduled programs can also be booked with custom dates and itineraries. Please see our Custom Guiding pages for more information or Contact Us for a custom program.
All programs are subject to the Mountain Bureau LLC Terms & Conditions