5-day Alpine Course
Our 5-day Mountaineering Course is an entry-level course designed for beginner and intermediate climbers looking for mentorship to develop strong fundamental snow and glacier climbing skills. This course is a perfect stepping stone to more technically difficult and larger expedition-style mountain climbs with Trillium Alpine Guides or on your own!
During this course, participants can expect hands-on training in risk management, route planning, glacier mountaineering skills, and technical systems like crevasse rescue. One day of this course is dedicated to a summit attempt via the Coleman-Deming or Easton Glacier routes.
Skills taught in this course:
1. Crampon and ice axe use
2. Self-arrest
3. Mountain navigation
4. Snow anchor building
5. Glacier travel rope systems
6. Crevasse rescue
7. Steep snow climbing techniques
8. Snow camping
9. Expedition self-care
Duration: 5 days
Climber-to-guide ratio: 3:1 with a max group size of 6
Dates: Custom, private dates are available in July and August
Course Itinerary
Day 0: This is an optional day offered at no extra cost. We will conduct a thorough gear check at the Mountain Shop in Portland and then travel to Bellingham, Washington, where we will stay at a hotel before starting the trip.
Day 1: If you choose this as your first day, we will meet either in Bellingham or Sedro-Woolley, depending on which side of the mountain we are heading to. After a thorough gear check, we'll head to the trailhead and begin our hike to camp. The afternoon will focus on setting up our expedition base camp.
Day 2: Our first training day will take place close to camp and will focus on ice axe and crampon movement skills, snow anchor building, and mountain navigation.
Day 3: The entire day is dedicated to glacier travel and crevasse rescue systems. We will leave camp, rope up in teams, and venture onto the glacier. Everyone will have the opportunity to practice rescuing a teammate from a crevasse.
Day 4: Summit attempt! We will wake up early and climb to the summit of Mt. Baker before returning to camp to rest.
Day 5: We will pack up camp and hike back to the trailhead. If we time it right, we can debrief and say our goodbyes over breakfast in town.
Included in seminar costs:
- Guiding and instruction
- Tents, stoves, ropes, and group equipment
- Northwest National Forest Pass
Not included in costs:
- Flights
- Hotel accommodations before and after the course
- Transportation
- Meals in town
- Food on the mountain