Advanced Ski Mountaineering

Our most demanding course, preparing students for major alpine objectives like the North Ridge. Covers alpine ice techniques, climbing self-rescue, advanced belay systems, and rope rescue. Fast-paced instruction requires previous experience. Includes one major objective; Baker’s North Ridge or the Modern Watson Traverse.

5 dayS course
Dates: June 3-7, 2026
Price: $1000 per person

Difficulty:

Advanced

day 01

8:00

Meet at the Glacier Creek Rd, gear check, permits + waivers, and Leave No Trace briefing

11:00

Arrive at high camp, lunch

11:30

Review of winter camping and camp building techniques

13:30

Skills workshop roped glacier travel

16:30

Return to camp

17:30

Dinner

day 02

7:00

Breakfast

7:30

Tour plan and gear check

8:00

Advanced crevasse rescue

9:00

Ski tour

10:00

Advanced roped crevasse rescue workshop

12:00

Lunch

12:30

Roped crevasse rescue workshop

15:30

Ski descent

16:30

Return to camp

17:30

Dinner

day 03

7:00

Breakfast

7:30

Tour plan and gear check

8:30

Alpine ice climbing training

12:00

Lunch

12:30

Belaying for alpine ice

13:00

Belay technique workshop

15:30

Return to camp

17:30

Dinner

day 04

6:00

Breakfast

6:30

Ski tour

9:30

Arrive at the base of the North Ridge, snack break

10:00

Bootpack

12:00

Arrive at the base of the alpine ice climb, lunch

14:30

Arrive at the summit

15:00

Begin ski descent on the Roman Wall

16:00

Arrive back at high camp

17:00

Dinner

day 05

7:00

Breakfast

7:30

Brief ski tour

9:30

Ski descent

10:30

Arrive back at high camp

11:00

Lunch

12:00

Final ski descent

13:00

Arrive back at the Glacier Creek Road

what you'll learn:

Overview and techniques for advanced belaying. Learn about top and bottom belaying, locking and fixed point belays, proper stance and belayer safety.
Overview of and techniques for using ice tools. Learn about assessing and testing placements, proper swinging, and matching.
Overview of and techniques for using ice screws. Learn about sizing, ice quality, attachments, and V and A threading.
Overview of and techniques for advanced crampon use. Learn about front point placements, and the triangle stance.
Advanced crevasse rescue. Learn about command and control for rescuers, problem solving, improvised systems, limited equipment and materials.
Overview of and techniques for using UIAA single and half rated ropes. Learn about their strength and application for alpine ice and steep snow climbing.

What we provide:

All ropes and isostatic glacier cords
All alpine ice climbing protection
All anchoring equipment such as snow pickets
Descent control devices and backups for our ropes
Progress capturing devices for crevasse rescue training
A triple-action captive-eye carabiner and an ice screw, if you're traveling with us on a glacier
Wag Bags for travel in wilderness areas
Sno-Park and NW Forest Permits for your vehicle

What you need besides your skis and splitboards:

A tested and trusted three-antenna avalanche transceiver
An avalanche probe and aluminum shovel
Climbing skins and ski crampons
A lightweight harness with a belay loop
Two ice tools with leash
Hybrid steel or steel crampons, technical type
Four-season tent, a winter sleeping bag rated to at least -10c, and sleeping pad
50-60 liter overnight pack, capable of carrying both skis and ice axes securely
A UIAA-rated ski or climbing helmet. Should be lightweight and stowable

What we rent:

Ice axes and technical ice tools
Lightweight harnesses
Classic and technical crampons
Four-season tents

*We can also source almost any other rental equipment needs, just let us know in advance.

Advanced Ski Mountaineering

Overview

Itinerary

Skills

Gear

day 01

day 02

day 03

day 04

day 05

what you'll learn:

What we provide:

What you need besides your skis and splitboards:

What we rent: