Expedition Training

All our mountaineering courses provide breakfast, dinner and hot drinks on the mountain. We utilize the lightest high quality mountaineering tents, stoves and group equipment available to lessen pack weight. We meet in Ashford for orientation and equipment check the first day of the course. The next day we make our way to the trailhead and ascend to our basecamp. Each day is dedicated to learning expedition mountaineering skills, on day four we make our ascent to Camp Muir. Day six we return to the trailhead.

• Rest step, step kicking and pressure breathing
• Ice axe techniques and self arrest training
• Crampon usage and techniques
• Glacier travel, climbing as a rope team
• Introduction to snow & ice anchors
• Crevasse rescue
• Basic climbing knots & hitches
• Ascending fixed lines
• Belaying, rappelling, rope management
• Leave no trace skills
• Climb to Camp Muir
• Discussion topics will include: Clothing and equipment, packing a backpack, mountain weather, glaciology, acclimatization, route finding, snow camp skills. Our professional guides will follow the above curriculum, introducing the basic mountaineering skills necessary to make a successful summit climb.

Muir Snowfield

• Approach Time to Camp Muir: 5-6+ hours
• Distance: 4.5 miles, 4800 ft. gain
• Trailhead: Paradise Meadow, 5400 ft.
• Panorama Point Basecamp: 6,000 – 6,300 ft.
• Elevation Gain to Basecamp: 900 feet
• Camp Muir: 10,188 ft.
• Total Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet
• Pack Weight: 50-60 lbs. trailhead to High Camp, 20 lbs. to Camp Muir
• Trail synopsis: Our route begins at Paradise Meadows gaining elevation moderately until reaching our basecamp near tree line around 6,000 feet. The trail is snow covered during the spring season so we will utilize snow shoes and sleds for travel. We continue our climb to Camp Muir, taking a break near split rock between 7,600 – 7,800 feet. From here we ascend snow, kicking steps and moderately gaining elevation to our second (8,600 ft.) and third breaks reaching the top of Moon Rocks at 9,200 feet. We take our final break shortly before reaching Camp Muir.

Course begins and ends in Mount Rainier National Park

Plan to arrive the day before the course begins.

Meet in Ashford, WA.

Northwest Alpine Guides will provide you with a detailed PreClimb departure book upon registration including personal gear list, meeting location and driving directions.

Following introductions our guides will conduct a thorough gear check. Throughout the days guides will host discussions on numerous mountaineering topics.

Accommodations are not included: Overnight in Ashford, WA

The hike to basecamp takes 2 to 3 hours. The team will set camp between 6,000 – 6,300 feet depending on conditions. During the afternoon guides will continue instruction as time warrants, we prepare dinner and relax for the evening.

Accommodations: Tented Camp
Meals Included: Dinner (D)

Today is dedicated to learning the fundamentals of mountaineering. The course instruction includes snow climbing, use of ice axe and self-rescue, crampon techniques, rope travel, and basic introduction on knots and anchors.

Each team member will be assessed throughout the mountaineering school. You will need to demonstrate adequate fitness and proficiency in climbing skills as your safety is our priority.

After mountaineering training, we return to camp and prepare for our climb to Camp Muir. The team enjoys dinner and early to bed for the next day’s climb.

Accommodations: Tented Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)

The hike gains 3400 feet to Camp Muir and takes 5 – 6 hours. We descend the route to high camp. During the afternoon guides will continue instruction as time warrants.

Accommodations: Tented Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)

Today is dedicated to developing advanced glacier mountaineering skills, preparing aspiring climbers for expedition mountaineering. We continue building on the essential skills needed to climb higher peaks. Instruction includes navigation, crevasse rescue, snow protection, ascending fixed lines, belaying, rappelling, and rope management.

Accommodations: Tented Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)

After enjoying breakfast, we wrap of skills training and break camp, pack our gear and retrace our hike back to the trailhead. We generally arrive back to the trailhead by early-afternoon and conclude our adventure in Ashford.

Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Plan to depart the day after the course ends.

Itinerary Notes
Northwest Alpine Guides makes every effort to uphold the scheduled itinerary, although our guides are given discretion to adapt the itinerary for reasons beyond our control or due to the needs of the group. Meal schedule: (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner

10:00 am, the morning of the course, we meeting in Ashford. We will email you PreClimb info including gear list and departure details upon registration.

$1000.00 deposit per person includes non-refundable registration fee, due with application. Balance due 120 days prior to start date.

Price Includes

• Guided course and instruction
• Scheduled meals on the mountain (breakfast, dinner, hot drinks)
• Professional mountain guide
• Group equipment (including tents, ropes, stoves, sleds, etc.)
• Wilderness Permits

Participants age 16 & 17, on a fixed date group climb, and accompanied by parent or legal guardian.

Participants age 15 or under, NWAG requires a private climb, and accompanied by parent or legal guardian.

A minor climber must be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian throughout the entirety of the program. If either climber must descend at any time during the program, both climbers must descend together.

Since departures require a minimum number of participates, Northwest Alpine Guides must adhere to a stringent refund policy. The policy is intended to protect participants who have otherwise committed time and resources to the departure. Please read our Online Reservation for Terms and Conditions.

We recommend a variety of snack food for eating on the go, we do not stop for a big lunch break, we eat during short maintenance breaks throughout the day. The idea is to keep your energy level up for the climb eating small amounts about every hour or so.

Some examples of snack-lunch foods are dried meats (salami), jerky (turkey, beef, fish), tuna fish, cheese, crackers, bagels, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, candy bars, gummy candy, cookies, energy bars, GORP trail mix.

The importance of having foods that you like to eat cannot be overstated. Eating properly is the key to maintaining strength while in the mountains. A diet of sweet, sour and salty foods is recommended.

When preparing lunches, please do not bring food items that require cooking or extensive preparation.

Day 1: Course orientation
No meals provided

Day 2: Lunch & snacks for hike from trailhead to basecamp
Two or three 15-minute lunch & snack breaks

Day 3: Lunch & snacks for mountaineering school
8-hour training includes a 30-minute lunch break, two 15-minute snack breaks

Day 4: Lunch & snacks for climb to Camp Muir
Three or four 15-minute snack breaks on the ascent from high camp to Camp Muir, two 15-minute snack breaks on the descent from Camp Muir to high camp

Day 5: Lunch & snacks for mountaineering school
8-hour training includes a 30-minute lunch break, two 15-minute snack breaks

Day 6: Remaining snacks for the descent to trailhead

10:00 am, the morning of the course, we meet in Ashford. We will email you PreClimb info including gear list and departure details upon registration.