Glacier Skills Course - Baker Mountain Guides

Overview

Baker Mountain Guides Glacier Skills Course is designed for beginners interested in leading their own adventures in the North Cascades. We’ll begin with technical fundamentals at Heather Meadows in the Baker Backcountry. After students get dialed on the basics, they will learn movement skills and crevasse rescue techniques for safe and efficient travel in glaciated terrain.

Baker Mountain Guides Glacier Skills Course is designed to be fun, engaging, and filled with practical field work. Our knowledgeable instructors strive to provide you with skills that are widely applicable, and make your educational experience as rewarding as possible.

Questions? Speak with an instructor

Itinerary

Baker Mountain Guides offers scheduled three-day Glacier Skills Courses. Custom dates available upon request.

Day 1: Technical Fundamentals

We’ll rendezvous at Heather Meadows and use the Artist Point zone for technical fundamentals. Instructors will discuss gear selection and care, and introduce knots, hitches, and coils for mountaineering. We’ll finish with climbing, belaying, and rappel techniques.

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 rope travel skills on an ascent to Artist Point. The day will finish with snow anchors.

Day 3: Crevasse Rescue

We’ll find a suitable cornice or cliff that mimics a 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.