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Spend 6 days in Washington and work on various techniques and climbing styles. Kick things off by learning about leading traditional routes and climb multi-pitch routes in alpine terrain. After learning about gear selection, anchor building, multi-pitch transitions, rope management, route finding, and much more, head to Snoqualmie Pass or Mountain Loop—ideal areas to conquer multi-pitch objectives and manage scrambling and low fifth class terrain.
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Once you arrive in Index, Washington, your expert guide will show you all you need to know about gear selection, traditional gear placement, and anchor building and evaluation using traditional gear, natural anchors, or terrain features. Prepare for the next day because you’ll learn a whole bunch of new techniques that will push your rock climbing skills to a new level.
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On the second and third day you’ll still be in Index and will get to hear about and apply safe leading techniques for trad climbing. Your guide will also talk about route finding and topos as well as efficient anchor building and evaluation for multi-pitch climbing with traditional gear or terrain features. You’ll see how to implement methods to belaying a follower, learn about efficient trad multi-pitch transitions, rope management, and efficient multi-pitch rappel transitions. Continue learning about route finding and topos.
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This is the last day in Index and your guide will talk about student leadership on short multi-pitch trad routes. You’ll also work on crack climbing techniques and fundamental multi-pitch self rescue including ascending, hauling, and lowering.
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Over the next two days, you’ll move either to Snoqualmie Pass or Mountain Loop highway for the final objectives of the course. Your guide will teach you how to manage scrambling and low fifth class terrain. You’ll climb some of the following multi-pitch objectives:
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- South Face, The Tooth, Snoqualmie Pass
- East Face, Chair Peak, Snoqualmie Pass
- Ragged Edges, Vesper Peak, Mountain Loop Highway
- Blueberry Buttress, Exfoliation Dome, Darrington
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Washington, please refer to the Washington State Coronavirus Response and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local rock climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 6 days of alpine rock climbing courses
What’s not included:
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- Transportation
- Accommodations
- Food and snacks
- Technical rock climbing equipment
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In order to participate in this course, you need to have a decent level of fitness and previous climbing experience. You’ll need to be able to take on various multi-pitch routes. Keep in mind that rock climbing is all about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun day, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.
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To participate in this alpine rock climbing course in Washington, you must have experience sport leading and lead belaying. You should also be able to lead 5.8 sport routes outside. This course is great for those who already have the steep snow and glacier experience and want to expand on the skills needed for climbing peaks that involve rock in the Cascades. Alternatively, if you see yourself sticking to alpine routes that don’t involve steep snow or glaciers, this course is also for you. If you don’t meet these requirements, your guiding service can arrange a sport climbing course for you.
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When it comes to technical climbing equipment, you’ll need:
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- Helmet
- Harness with a belay/rappel device with a “guide mode”, and chalk bag
- Ropes
- Climbing shoes
- Cord — 7 mm, 15 feet
- 4 locking and 4 non-locking carabiners
- Prusik cord
- Sling — 120 cm
- Climbing hardware (quickdraws, assisted braking belay device, alpine draws, trad rack) — recommended, but not required
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 30-40L bag)
- Climbing pack (20 L or less without a frame for multi-pitch routes)
- Water bottle (at least 2 L)
- Approach shoes or sturdy hiking shoes
- Lunch and food you can eat on-the-go
- Appropriate clothing for weather
- Toiletries (sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Note: If you do not have all of these items, your guiding service can work with you to find the best place to buy or rent it.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For these private and group adventures, the max. guest-to-guide ratio is 2:1.
- Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
- It takes a minimum of 2 participants for the group courses to run.
Climbing days in Washington can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to climb on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Index, WA, most people fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport about an hour away by car. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
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