1 Day Mountaineering Fundamentals Planning
WashingtonMeet Times & Transport
Your course begins in Ashford at 7 am
Meet in Ashford, Washington at 7:00 am for a quick gear check, introductions, and an overview of the day. This meeting will take place at the Whittaker’s Bunkhouse Cafe, where you can grab a quick coffee before we begin. Please refer to your guide introduction email for the finalized meeting time.
After our orientation in Ashford, we will leave our personal vehicles behind and drive in an Alpine Ascents Shuttle to the Paradise Visitors Center.
Once at Paradise, we will hike to the course venue. The exact location of our “classroom” will vary based on snow conditions; courses in the earlier part of the year (April-June) will have a shorter approach hike (as short as 15 mins), while courses later in the season travel farther to reach suitable snow, sometimes up to 1.5 hours.
Your course ends in Ashford at 5 pm
Expect to return to your vehicle in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on trailhead congestion and the distance travelled on Mount Rainier.
Lodging in Ashford
We will be meeting in Ashford, Washington, about 2 hours from Seattle. Many climbers choose to spend the night nearby.
Hotels Nearby:
Whittaker’s Bunkhouse | (360) 569-2439
Nisqually Lodge | (360) 569-8804
Alexander’s Lodge | (360) 569-2300
There are many excellent rentals on AirBNB. You are responsible for all transport to Ashford before and after the course.
Gear Check
Meet at Whittaker’s Bunkhouse Café in Ashford, WA at 7:00 am for a quick gear check. Please bring all of the gear on the list. Climbers who do not arrive equipped for the day will not be able to proceed with the course.
If you plan to rent gear from Alpine Ascents, you will need to pick it up in person at the Alpine Ascents office in Seattle during business hours (9am-4:30pm) on Thursday or Friday before your course. Please call or Email [email protected] to schedule a time to pick up your rentals.
Gear List
1 Day Course Gear List (opens in new tab)You are required to bring every item on this list as described so be as precise as possible when packing.
Mountain Lunch
Climbers need to bring their own lunch for this training day. Plan on bringing about 1,000 calories of food.
Sample lunch pack:
- Cold pizza, fresh sandwich, or burrito
- Bagel with meat & cheese
- Piece of fresh fruit
- Trail mix
- Cookie or baked good
- Small bag of chips or similar salty snack
- Cold drink mix for your water
Courses in the mountains demand a much higher energy expenditure than what you may be used to. Eating well and frequently sustains energy levels, improves morale, and critically helps prevent hypothermia and other cold weather or altitude-related problems.
Course Prep
Knots to Know
We recommend learning the following knots and hitches before your course. Knowing these knots beforehand will help you focus more of your course time on learning their applications.
Figure 8 Follow Through
Clove Hitch
Double Fishermans
Alpine Butterfly
Reading List
Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel
Ian Nicholson
Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills
Don Graydon (Ed.), Kurt Hanson (Ed.), Mountaineers Society, Mountaineers Books
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.
Tipping
Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. An average tip for the guide team is $25-50.
Please be aware that we are unable to process tips by card. You are welcome to tip your guides with cash or via mobile payment such as Venmo or PayPal.
