Considered the best glacier training venue in the US, there’s no better place for a fantastic glacier school and a comprehensive overview of mountaineering than Mount Baker. This all-women glacier school is actually a two-in-one experience—we’ll learn the basics of glacier mountaineering, but also summit the iconic Mount Baker, proudly standing at 10,781 ft! With an intimate climber-to-guide ratio, our professional guides offer personal and hands-on training. This will be a comprehensive glacier school, where you’ll learn essential glacier mountaineering skills and put them to use! With women of all ages and all backgrounds, this welcoming trip will create lifelong memories and maybe even friendships.
Spend five days with professional mountain guides and a group of like-minded ladies and learn the fundamentals of alpine climbing! This instructional course will teach you the basics of glacier mountaineering, proper ice axe use, and self-arrest skills. Learn how to navigate glaciated terrain and how to use basic rope techniques while summiting Mt. Baker. This training will give you hands-on experience and the confidence for future climbs and summits, while you become a part of a strong community and make life-long friendships!
All expeditions kick off with a warm welcome dinner on Day 1. Please plan to arrive at your destination by mid-morning to afternoon, with plenty of time to clear customs and check into your hotel before meeting your teammates for gear check at 3:00PM at the hotel and the welcome dinner, which typically starts around 7:00 pm local time. If you are flying in for an international expedition, your flights should land no later than 3:00 pm local time.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
We will depart Seattle and journey to Mount Baker. After a scenic drive, we will embark on a hike to our basecamp, settling in for the evening and enjoying the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
A crucial day focused on honing your essential glacier mountaineering skills. Our experienced guides will lead you through comprehensive training on proper ice axe use, self-arrest techniques, glacier travel, and basic rope work, ensuring you feel confident and prepared for the summit attempt.
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
It’s summit day! After an early breakfast, we will rope up and ascend the magnificent Easton Glacier route towards the peak of Mount Baker. Throughout the climb, you will put your newly acquired skills into practice under the watchful eyes of our guides. Once we reach the summit (weather permitting), take a moment to celebrate your accomplishment and soak in the breathtaking panoramic views. We will then descend back to basecamp and return to town for a celebratory final dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to depart from Mount Baker. With newfound knowledge and unforgettable memories, you will begin your journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that all itineraries are subject to change based on weather conditions, team progress, and local logistics.
What a pleasure to spend time in the backcountry with incredible women and two phenomenal guides. I am so happy to have found AWExpeditions and so proud of the work they are doing. Do not underestimate going into nature with women — it is powerful, rejuvenating, and inspirational.
I completed the Mt. Baker summit with Sunny and a great group of women in August 2021. This trip was fantastic! Sunny is an awesome trip leader; she was extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, kind, and dedicated to the mission of women climbing and wilderness exploration and conservation. Trip summary: We hiked up to the base camp on Day 1, and even though it was cloudy and gray everyone has in good spirits and having fun learning how to ice climb and walk with crampons. We got up early to hike to the summit on Day 2; it was not too challenging but was definitely intimidating at times. Mt.Baker has crevasses! We got back to camp after a 6.5 hour summit and 3 hours back down. We had a nice reflection on the mountain and watched the beautiful sunset over the cascade mountains. The last day we hiked out. In addition to the climb, Sunny helped build community by having a welcome dinner and a goodbye dinner and breakfast where we were able to reflect about our experiences. Last – I really appreciated being part of a group of women on the mountain! Everyone was kind and supportive and had a similar fitness/ability level while also competing only against themselves and the mountain. 10/10 would do again
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
While no mountaineering experience is necessary for this Comprehensive Glacier School on Mount Baker, very good good physical condition and previous hiking experience are required! Previous backpacking experience is highly recommended but not mandatory, and participants should be comfortable in cold and potentially wet weather conditions.
Climbing Mount Baker via the Easton Glacier Route is a moderate glacier climb that entails moderately steep terrain and crevasse crossings. Depending on the season, some sections can require exposed climbing moves. Summit day typically involves 5-7 hours of continuous effort.
You should be able to comfortably carry a 40-50 pound backpack for several hours while hiking on uneven terrain (your personal gear as well as an allotment of group gear, expect a pack weight of 40-50 lbs). For summit day, you’ll only be carrying layers, snacks, and water (typically no more than 10-15 lbs).
No prior mountaineering experience is required, but it is always welcome. Participants must be in good physical condition. Some previous hiking experience is required and previous backpacking experience is always helpful. This instructional course and the climb of Mount Baker via the Easton Glacier Route is a moderate glacier climb that entails moderately steep terrain and crevasse crossings. Above all, your instructor’s number one priority is your safety. As long as you check all the boxes above and listen to the given instructions, there is a really high chance of completing your climb.
Group camping equipment will be provided by your guiding service. Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
Here’s a list of clothes we suggest you bring:
You will need clothes for hiking during the day, resting in the evening, and for sleeping. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Your clothing should be lightweight, breathable, hand-washable, and quick-drying, which means no cotton
Yes, you can rent equipment for this all-women climbing adventure on Mt. Baker. While your guides provide group camping, cooking, and emergency gear, you are responsible for your personal climbing gear and attire. There are numerous rental shops in Seattle, check out Gear House or Ascent Outdoors.
On the way to basecamp you will need to carry all of your personal & climbing gear, as well as an allotment of group gear; expect a pack weight of 40-50 lbs. For summit day you’ll only be carrying layers, snacks and water — typically no more than 10-15 lbs.
June through September typically show low precipitation on Mount Baker. That said, the North Cascades are known for precarious weather and fast-moving storms. Always be prepared for wet weather, and temperatures that can range anywhere from the eighties as low as sub-freezing. Your gear should be dialed for 20 degree temperatures.
Group sizes and prices:
Climbing days on Mount Baker can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Private trips are possible to arrange! Even if the displayed dates don’t work for you, please contact us—we’ll work with you to arrange a trip for you and your group (even co-ed is possible in this case).
Your tour starts in Seattle. The easiest way to get there is by flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 15 minutes away from downtown.
Both glacier schools begin with a welcome dinner on Day 1. Please plan to arrive at your destination by mid-afternoon of Day 1, with plenty of time to clear immigration and customs and/or check into your hotel prior to meeting your teammates for the welcome dinner, which typically starts around 7 pm local time. If you are flying in for an international expedition, your flights should land no later than 3pm local time.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Though unlikely, an expedition may be canceled for any reason prior to departure. In that event, the deposit and expedition fees paid by the participants will be refunded. In the event of cancellation of a program and upon refund to participants of all program fee payments, the organizer shall be released from any further liability to participants, including but not limited to liability for additional costs participants may have incurred, pre-departure expenses, non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, visa fees, equipment purchases and medical expenses.
Participants agree that beginning on the first date of the program itinerary, there will be no refunds of program fees for any reason whatsoever. Expedition participants agree the cost of any search and rescue undertaken on their behalf will be their financial responsibility. Including costs incurred by the expedition leader, other expeditions, government, and/or other entities.
I completed Mt. Baker Climb with AWExpedition in August 2021. It was a great experience and I would do it again without any hesitation. The expedition was well organized and planned. All safety precautions were taken. Sunny, the founder of AWEpeditions was professional and very knowledgeable, but more importantly, she is a warm and friendly person, very inviting and welcoming. She was able to build a great climbing team and deliver an amazing overall experience. I highly recommend AWExpeditions!