Ice Climbing Course

The Alpine Ascents Way

Our guiding team is made up of full-time professionals known for their technical expertise, leadership, and ability to teach in demanding mountain environments. Many have earned industry awards and have spent much of their careers guiding with Alpine Ascents. But what sets our ice climbing instructors apart is that they aren’t just teaching a skill — they’re sharing a passion. These are world-class ice climbers who spend their own days off chasing steep ice and alpine routes around the world, from the Canadian Rockies to Patagonia to the Alps. That firsthand, current experience means the techniques you learn on the Coleman Glacier are the same ones our guides rely on themselves, on some of the most demanding ice in the world.

More than just strong climbers, our guides are dedicated mountain educators who provide individualized coaching and professional mentorship, helping each participant grow, gain confidence, and move closer to their climbing goals.

Instruction is inclusive, supportive, and community-focused. We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment where all climbers feel encouraged, respected, and empowered to learn.

About the Course

This course is best suited for aspiring alpinists who are already familiar with the basics of glacier travel and are ready to step into technical terrain with steep snow and alpine ice. If objectives like the North Ridge of Mount Baker or the Kautz Glacier on Rainier have piqued your interest, this course builds the foundation to get you there.

The day before your course begins, we meet in Seattle for a trip orientation and a comprehensive gear check. At this time, we’ll go through our packs and ensure that everyone is fully equipped. Our experts will review the functionality of each piece of gear and make sure climbers are set for success well before the course begins.

Our classroom is the steep ice and towering seracs of the Lower Coleman Glacier on Mount Baker. We cover site selection, assessing ice quality, belay techniques, and ice tool use. Climbers will get extensive practice climbing, belaying, rappelling, and being lowered. We also cover selection and placement of ice screws for belays and protection, as well as removal and racking for success on technical objectives. Climbers cook for themselves throughout the course, using camp stoves with guide instruction on setup and use.

If you’re interested in developing these skills but don’t yet have the prerequisite experience, consider a 1-Day Fundamentals course, a 3-day summit climb of Rainier or Baker, or a 6-Day Mountaineering course before your 3-Day Ice course. You might also consider the 10-Day Mountaineering course, which incorporates this course as part of the program.