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The Roosevelt and Coleman Glaciers converge below Mount Baker's North side as seen from
the Hogsback camp near 6000 feet. This will be our training ground.

If you lack some glacier skills or if you are "rusty" with them (most climbers are if they don't climb glaciated routes regularly), you can gain these highly essential technical skills in our 3-day Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue Course.

The program is presented on the massive glaciers of Washington's Mt. Baker, considered the best glacier training ground in the U.S. We cover front pointing and French cramponing techniques, the eight principal ice axe positions, self-arrest, anchor placement, procedures for glacier travel, crevasse rescue technique, and route finding. The Baker region is one of the most beautiful alpine areas in North America, so in addition to having perfect glacial terrain for developing your skills, you will also enjoy the beauty of one of America's most heavily glaciated and aesthetic peaks. This program meets in Bellingham, Washington at the AAI office.

Practicing crevasse rescue. Photo by Dylan Taylor

We recommend this program for climbers who would like to brush up on glacier travel skills in preparation for either their own climbs of glaciated peaks or for one of our intermediate-level courses, such as our Part 2 Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership program or our Alpinism 2 program.

We also recommend considering our 6-day Alpinism 1 - Intro course, as it offers a complete introduction to mountaineering, one day of rock climbing, and an ascent of Mt. Baker.

Though this course takes place on the upper flanks of Mt. Baker, we do not make a summit attempt. Instead, we maximize our instructional time and dedicate our three days to learning and practicing essential glacier travel skills. If you would like to add a Baker summit climb, we can arrange on a private basis skills training and an ascent on a four or five-day trip. Please call us to discuss scheduling.

Practicing prussiking in the icefall on the Coleman Glacier, Mt. Baker. Amos Barnes

Tuition for the program includes the guide's fee and all group climbing and rescue equipment (ropes and hardware). Personal equipment is not included in the program cost, but it can be rented from our equipment shop. A complete list of recommended and required equipment will be sent to you upon registration. Course participants will carpool to the trailhead which is approximately 45 minutes from our office.