Intro to Mountaineering Course

Overview

Mountaineering can be both challenging and rewarding. Technical proficiency is important, but success is also a result of good decision making. Baker Mountain Guides Intro to Mountaineering Course provides students with the skills necessary for glaciated mountaineering, as well as the opportunity to lead an experiential summit climb. Our hands-on curriculum empowers students and prepares them for their own big mountain adventures.

Baker Mountain Guides Intro to Mountaineering Course is designed to be fun, engaging, and filled with practical field work. Our knowledgeable instructors strive to make your educational experience as rewarding as possible.

Questions? Speak with an instructor

Itinerary

Baker Mountain Guides offers scheduled four-day Intro to Mountaineering Courses. Custom dates available.

Day 1: Fundamentals

We’ll rendezvous at our office in Bellingham for orientation and gear check. After caravaning to the TH, we’ll ascend to high camp, and spend the afternoon covering fundamentals such as knots and hitches for mountaineering.

Day 2: Glacier Travel

Instructors will introduce snow climbing techniques such as cramponing and ice axe arrest. Students will learn how to rig a rope team for glacier travel. We’ll practice our new skills around crevasses on the Coleman Glacier. The day will finish with snow anchors.

Day 3: Crevasse Rescue

We’ll ascend the mountain and find a suitable crevasse. Instructors will introduce and demonstrate the concepts of mechanical advantage and haul systems. Students will team up and practice all aspects of crevasse rescue, as both rescuers and victims.

Day 4: Summit Day

Students will plan/prep a climb and take turns leading the group to the summit of Mount Baker! Along the way, we’ll practice identifying and mitigating crevasse hazard via rope management and route finding. We’ll summit and descend to the trailhead.