Which Mount Baker trip is right for me?
Here at Northwest Alpine Guides, one of the most common questions we get is whether to join our 3-Day Mt Baker Intro to Mountaineering or our 5-Day Mt Baker Glacier Mountaineering Course. If you’ve been pondering this question, then this resource is for you! Here we’ll highlight the similarities and differences between the trips, as well as the types of climbers each is geared toward.
What do they have in common?
Let’s start with the similarities. Both trips are appropriate for beginner mountaineers with no prior climbing experience. Whether you’ve climbed a mountain before or not, we start with the basics in a snow school covering mountaineering footwork, crampon and ice axe techniques, alpine knots and hitches, movement fundamentals for rope team travel, and we introduce basic snow anchors.
Both programs include a guided summit attempt on Mt Baker via one of the standard routes, typically the Easton or Coleman-Deming glaciers. On that summit attempt our expert guides will help you put into practice those techniques you learned during snow school. Due to the massive size of Mt Baker’s glaciers but relatively straightforward standard routes, the summit push offers a unique opportunity to gain experience and confidence over a lengthy climb in a safe and beginner-friendly environment.
On both trips, Northwest Alpine Guides provides breakfasts and dinners in the field, as well as group gear including stoves, fuel, shovels, climbing ropes, snow protection, and mountaineering tents. Additionally, we offer top-notch rental equipment and retail options through The Guide Hut covering much of the mountaineering-specific gear you need to bring; from ice axes to crampons, mountaineering boots, helmets, harnesses, and more, we’ve got you covered. This minimizes the cost to you in terms of the gear and supplies you need to purchase for your first mountaineering adventure.
What are the differences?
Apart from the obvious contrast in length, the major difference is the additional curriculum that is taught on the 5-Day Glacier Mountaineering Course. With the extra time in the field, this course devotes an entire day to learning crevasse rescue systems. Crevasse rescue is an essential skill for anyone venturing into glaciated terrain without a guide and there simply isn’t time on a 3-day trip to learn these systems and to climb to the summit.
In short, the 3-Day Intro to Mountaineering will teach you what you need to know to be a safe member of a guided rope team on a glaciated peak, whereas the 5-Day Glacier Mountaineering Course will cover the skills you need to begin climbing glaciated mountains independently, unguided.
So, how should I decide which trip is for me?
We encourage you to think about your goals and priorities for this adventure to help you decide:
If this is your first mountaineering adventure, and you’re not sure how much of it you’ll be doing going forward, then the 3-Day Intro to Mountaineering is probably right for you. Keep in mind that if the 3-day climb lights a fire in you for more climbing, you’ll be in great shape to join us for guided ascents of other mountains such as Glacier Peak, Eldorado Peak, Mt Shuksan and Mt Rainier. Additionally, we offer a 2-Day Crevasse Rescue Course which you can join any time after your 3-day climb and which teaches the additional skills you’d get on the 5-Day Glacier Mountaineering Course, just without a summit attempt on Mt Baker. Combining these two trips is a great way to test whether you’ll enjoy mountaineering as much as we all hope you will, before committing to a full five days in the field.
If, however, you have ambitions of climbing similar peaks independently, unguided going forward, we recommend the 5-Day Glacier Mountaineering Course. It’s hard to beat the comprehensive nature of this trip; combining all the skills training in a single program and culminating in a summit attempt with your team is an unforgettable experience. Many participants on this course have independent climbing plans already in mind and want to gain the skills they need all in one trip. If this sounds like you, we’d love to have you join us.
Still have questions or are you not sure if either trip is right for you? Contact our team and we’ll be more than happy to help. We look forward to climbing with you!
