Mountaineering

Description:

ATTENTION: Due to permitting issues, we will NOT be going onto Mount Rainier until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Our mountaineering program was designed with you in mind, educational courses are in place to teach you how to successfully contribute to a teams success upon one of our volcano summits. All trips come provided with gear you will need to be safe (excluding warm clothing, sleeping bags, backpacks, etc). We are summiting 6 of the 7 volcanoes in Washington state, as well as Denali National Park, Chimborazo Ecuador, the Himalayas, and more!



Destinations:
Mountaineering Basic Course: This course is intended to train participants to operate as a rope team member on glaciated high alpine regions. This course does not certify participants to lead rope teams on glaciated terrain, it is the introduction to technical mountaineering on peaks similar to Mount Baker, Mount Hood, and Mount Olympus. This is the first part of the two part Alpine Climbing series. In order to complete the series you must also attend the Basic Climbing Field Exercise. Skills covered during this course: Mountaineering Equipment. Climbing Knots. Belay Technique. Roped Travel. Crampon Technique. Self-Arrest. Team Arrest. Nutrition. Clothing Systems. Alpine Navigation. Snow Camping. Mountain Weather. And much more!

Denali Expedition: Formerly known as Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America has been the goal of aspiring high-altitude climbers since it was first climbed in 1913. Its reputation as a highly coveted summit derives from its location near the Arctic Circle and the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Alaska) giving it some of the most ferocious weather in the world. Because of its notorious weather and ease of access, some climbers use Denali as a training ground for climbing the 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalaya and for extended expeditions in the Arctic or Antarctic. And for all you peak baggers out there, Denali is the highpoint of the Denali Borough, the state of Alaska, the United States, the Alaska Range, and North America.

Denali offers one of the world's greatest expedition challenges. While it is exceeded in elevation by peaks in South America and Asia, its great height above the Alaskan plain make it a severe test of personal strength, team work, and logistics. No peak in the world has greater relief: Denali rises 17,000 feet above its surrounding plain, Kilimanjaro 14,000 feet, and Everest 13,000 feet. Vertical elevation gain on Everest from the normal base camp for the South Col route is 11,000 feet; from the landing spot on the Kahiltna Glacier Denali's summit rises another 13,000 feet. Further, the mountain (and all mountains this far north or south) behaves like it's taller than it really is --- the reason being that the barometric pressure in the northern/southern latitudes is less than at the equator which makes climbers feel higher than they really are.

West Buttress and the climb is undoubtedly considered as an exceptional mountaineering challenge. Nowhere in the world does one travel with so much gear over so much vertical in such a hostile environment. Although there are no technically difficult sections on the route, many stretches of "The Butt" leave very little margin for error (the lower glacier in warm conditions, Windy Corner, the Autobahn, Denali Pass, and the Summit Ridge). Furthermore, the West Buttress is just as exposed as any other route to Denali's legendary weather. Prospective climbers should be highly competent in travel on moderately steep snow/ice slopes and exposed traverses.

Mount Olympus Blue Glacier: This incredible adventure takes you into the Olympic

Mountains through one of the last remaining true old growth rainforests in the continental United States. The Olympic National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and as such is in the company of such wonders as the pyramids of Egypt, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Our journey begins by hiking through impressive old growth, eventually arriving at a view of the heavily glaciated summit of Mount Olympus. The approach hike along the Hoh River is long but virtually flat, giving us ample opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the surrounding terrain. While reaching the 7,962 foot-high summit of the mountain is one objective of this trip, the abundance and diversity of natural beauty experienced on this trip make it perhaps the most complete and rewarding mountain experience we offer in the Northwest. From our camp at Glacier Meadows, we will explore the various features of the 3.8 mile-long Blue Glacier and learn the necessary glacier travel skills for our ascent. Our climbing route takes us to the top of the Snow Dome, where two large glaciers originate, and then on to the summit pyramid where we scramble up rock of moderate difficulty.

Mount Baker Coleman Glacier: Mount Baker is a spectacular volcano in the North Cascades that offers excellent mountaineering to beginners and experts, alike. Baker tantalizes the residents of Seattle on clear days and stuns ferry passengers in the San Juan Islands. Located only 55 km inland from sea level at Bellingham the volcano has dramatic relief.

Chimborazo, Ecuador: This 8 day climbing tour of Mt. Chimborazo starts in Quito with an acclimatization hike of Rucu Pichincha with an awesome cable car ride that travels up to Otovalo market for an unforgettable cultural day. During the excursion, we spend a free day in Rio Bamba. There you have the possibility to relax in the famous hot springs, do some biking or horseback riding or to visit one of the plenty waterfalls of the surroundings. All in all, you pass one week of adventure in the cultural highlands, which you surely won't forget.


Aconcagua, Argentina: Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, located in western Argentina, near the Chile border. There are about 3,500 climbers trying the summit each year. The "normal route" is non-technical, a walk-up, following the Northwest Ridge. It is the altitude that poses the most problems. That and the sense that this is an easy climb. Every year people die because they underestimate the task at hand.

How to prepare:

WE PROVIDE: Transportation, gear (technical gear, safety equipment), and instructor/guide.
YOU PROVIDE: Water, lunch/snacks, and appropriate clothing.
EXTRAS ITEMS: Camera, sunscreen/sunglasses.
CLOTHING: We recommend that you dress in layers. NO COTTON CLOTHING. COTTON IS A NEGATIVE INSULATOR, WHEN IT GETS WET IT GETS COLD AND STAYS COLD. We recommend fleece, polypro, polyester, and wool.

Go to RecTrac to see prices, get more information, and sign up for trips! See you outside!!