Guided Mountain Adventures
in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond!
All skill levels welcome, from first-time rock climbers to experienced ski mountaineers!
Popular and Upcoming Programs
Easton Glacier
The Easton Glacier route is one of Mt Baker’s most popular and approachable glaciated climbs, offering a classic mountaineering experience with varied terrain and expansive views throughout the ascent. With low angle glacier travel, moderate snow slopes, and a straightforward line to the summit, the Easton Glacier is an excellent objective for climbers new to glaciated peaks as well as seasoned mountaineers looking for a rewarding climb.
Approached from the scenic Park Butte trailhead, this route provides stunning views of the Black Buttes, Colfax Peak, and the Deming Glacier. Mt Baker’s elevation and legendary snowfall help keep the Easton Glacier in excellent condition well into the summer climbing season, making it a reliable and enjoyable objective.
The Easton Glacier is also a fantastic spring ski mountaineering route. Long sustained snow slopes from the summit, combined with thousands of feet of fall line skiing back toward camp, make this one of the most aesthetic ski descents on the mountain. Our ski mountaineering program follows the same itinerary as the mountaineering program.
Duration: 3 days
Climber to guide ratio: 3 to 1 with a max group size of 6
Prerequisites: None
Rates: 1350 per person
Itinerary
Day 1 Approach to Camp
Goal: Hike to Sandy Camp and review essential mountaineering techniques
Approx. Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: ~4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~3,000 ft
Morning Meet Up:
Meet your guides and team at the Welcome Store in Deming, WA at 9:00 AM for introductions, gear check, trip briefing, and coffee and pastries.
Drive to the Park Butte trailhead.
Approach:
Hike through forest and alpine meadows on the Park Butte trail, transitioning onto snow as we gain elevation and approach the Easton Glacier. Continue to Sandy Camp, a classic high camp located on the moraine above the glacier.
Afternoon:
Set up tents and camp.
Skills review including crampon technique, self arrest, glacier rope travel, and crevasse rescue fundamentals.
Early dinner and rest in preparation for an alpine start.
Day 2 Climb the Easton Glacier
Goal: Summit Mt Baker via the Easton Glacier
Duration: 7 to 9 hours
Round Trip Distance: ~6 miles
Elevation Gain: ~4,700 ft
Alpine Start: Approximately 3:00 to 5:00 AM departure.
Easton Glacier Climb Overview:
Rope up and ascend the lower Easton Glacier, navigating crevasses and rolling terrain.
Climb the Easton Glacier through rolling snow slopes toward Sherman Crater,.
Continue above the crater rim and onto the Roman Headwall, which is the steepest portion of the climb and leads to the summit.
Summit:
Reach the summit of Mt Baker at 10,781 ft late morning to early afternoon.
Celebrate, hydrate, refuel, and prepare for descent.
Descent:
Descend the Easton Glacier route back to camp.
Enjoy a well earned dinner and rest.
Day 3 Hike Out and Debrief
Goal: Break camp and return to the trailhead
Duration: ~3 hours
Morning:
Breakfast and pack up camp.
Descend the Park Butte trail back to the trailhead for a debrief and celebratory high fives.
Guides provide feedback, next step recommendations, and photos.
Head home.
This is an entry-level course for climbers who are new to the world of outdoor rock climbing. It is programmed for climbers who have some experience climbing in the gym, but want to learn how to climb outside safely.
The primary focus of the day is to provide mentorship for those transitioning from the climbing gym to the crag and beyond.
Skills taught in this course
1. Safe belaying techniques
2. Basic anchor building
3. Setting up and cleaning a top rope
4. Leading outside, if applicable
5. Climbing technique
6. Crag etiquette
7. Coiling a rope
Duration: 1 day
Max climber-to-guide ratio: 6:1 with a max group size of 12
Location options: Broughton Bluff, Smith Rock, Horsethief Butte, Ozone, French’s Dome
This is an intermediate-level course focused on traditional climbing gear placements. This course is for experienced outdoor sport lead climbers who want to learn the art of placing removable protection. The objective of this course is for participants to gain experience placing and evaluating traditional climbing gear while lead climbing in a single-pitch setting.
It is required that participants have experience leading sport climbs outside before taking this course.
Skills taught in this course:
1. Passive vs. active gear
2. Placing and removing gear
3. Lead trad climbing preparation and strategy
4. Safe bailing techniques
5. Basic crack climbing technique
6. Basic aid climbing
7. Basic anchor building
Duration: 1 day
Max climber-to-guide ratio: 3:1
Location options: Broughton Bluff, Smith Rock State Park
The multi-pitch course is an intermediate-level course focused on the fundamentals of multi-pitch trad climbing. Throughout the two days of hands-on learning, you will gain the experience necessary to efficiently climb hundreds of feet off the ground and get back down safely.
The multi-pitch course is designed as a two-day course to facilitate learning skills and then applying them on a multi-pitch climb with the mentorship of an experienced guide.
Participants are required to have prior experience leading sport climbs, however, we recommend that you have experience leading on traditional gear prior to the course.
Skills taught in this course:
Multi-pitch preparation and strategy
Basic anchor building
Belaying a follower
Transitioning leaders
Rope management
Multiple rappelling techniques
Basic improvised self-rescue
Meeting Time & Location: 9 AM, Broughton Bluff Parking Lot
The technical rescue course is an intermediate-level one-day program that focuses on improvised rock rescue techniques for both single—and multi-pitch rock climbing. Participants will be introduced to and practice essential rescue skills in a ground school setting and then apply the skills to various practical scenarios off the ground.
Skills taught in this course:
1. Escaping the Belay
2. Technical rope transitions and load transfer
3. Rope ascension
4. Hauling systems (3:1, 5:1, 6:1)
5. Lowering techniques
6. Tandem rappelling
Intro to Backcountry is our entry-level course for backcountry skiing and splitboarding. This program is tailor-made for individuals who have prior experience skiing or riding in a resort and would like to expand their horizons beyond the ski area boundary and into the backcountry.
The main focus of this educational day is to develop your backcountry skillset, enabling you to explore outside of the resort with confidence and style. You'll learn how to prepare and travel safely in a backcountry environment.
Skills taught in this course
1. Basic use of avalanche safety equipment
2. Partner avalanche rescue
3. Skinning techniques
4. Uphill turns
5. Transitioning to downhill skiing and riding
6. Descending in variable conditions
7. Communication
8. Hazard identification and management
9. Backcountry self-care
After this course, we recommend participants to take the skills from this program, and get out into simple terrain without avalanche hazard (we’ll help you identify good spots), and come back for an avalanche education program.
Intro to Backcountry is our entry-level course for specifically splitboarding, taught by splitboard guide. This program is tailor-made for individuals who have prior experience riding in a resort and would like to expand their horizons beyond the ski area boundary and into the backcountry.
The main focus of this educational day is to develop your backcountry skillset, enabling you to explore outside of the resort with confidence and style. You'll learn how to prepare and travel safely in a backcountry environment.
Skills taught in this course
1. Basic use of avalanche safety equipment
2. Partner avalanche rescue
3. Skinning techniques
4. Uphill turns
5. Transitioning to downhill skiing and riding
6. Descending in variable conditions
7. Communication
8. Hazard identification and management
9. Backcountry self-care
After this course, we recommend participants to take the skills from this program, and get out into simple terrain without avalanche hazard (we’ll help you identify good spots), and come back for an avalanche education program.
This is an avalanche education course designed for everyone, from first-time backcountry users to experienced enthusiasts looking to refresh their avalanche awareness skills.
This one-day course is focused on using the daily avalanche forecast alongside real-time observations to make informed decisions about entering avalanche terrain. Additionally, a portion of the day will be dedicated to learning about avalanche rescue equipment and practicing a rescue scenario.
Prior experience with ski touring is recommended for this course. For a comprehensive introduction to backcountry experience, you can pair this with our Level I: Intro to Backcountry course. These two courses together will prepare you to safely adventure outside the ski resort for the first time!
Skills taught in this course
1. Accessing and reading the daily avalanche forecast
2. Avalanche rescue equipment: beacon, probe, and shovel
3. Partner avalanche rescue
4. Field observations
5. Identifying avalanche terrain
6. Understanding and communicating uncertainty
7. How to be an active participant in group decision-making
8. How to ski in avalanche terrain
This is a skills clinic centered around steep skiing techniques and using a rope to protect skiers from fall hazards taught by an AMGA Certified Ski Guide.
Prior experience with touring is required for this course. Folks looking to join this course should be strong riders inbounds, looking to polish their steep riding techniques. Participants will benefit from having some familiarity with basic climbing systems, but this is not a requirement.
Skills taught in this course
1. Steep snow climbing techniques
2. Downhill steep skiing techniques
3. Snow anchors
4. When and how to use a rope for skiing
Koby Yudkin & Ben Lim
From Smith Rock to Mt. Hood and up to Mt. Baker and the North Cascades, we offer guided rock climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing adventures and education, led by Portland’s only AMGA certified guides.
What Our Guests Say
"I scheduled a private backcountry ski day and could not have been more satisfied. Ben was patient, positive, and very knowledgeable in the field. I felt very safe and learned a lot in just one day. I would highly recommend Trillium Alpine Guides to everyone!"
Mary M. - First Tracks
“Koby was an expert in all topics covered. He took extra time to make sure everyone understood the skills being taught. Highlights for me were learning how to set snow anchors and crevasse rescue.”
Leslie F. - Crevasse Rescue Course
"I had a fantastic private ski tour with Ben - he was a great travel partner and we absolutely got the goods! I learn a whole lot of up-track tips & tricks from Ben's expertise. Good turns and smiles were shared!"
Sam R. - Private Backcountry Ski Tour
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