Splitboard Mountaineering Course
The real deal Splitboard Mountaineering experience with Our 4-Day Course on Mount Baker
Elevate your splitboarding skills with our comprehensive 4-day course. Whether you're aiming to conquer Cascadian volcanoes or peaks around the world, this course provides the foundation and advanced techniques you need. Register now to secure your spot and embark on a transformative mountain adventure.
Join us for an immersive 4-day Splitboard Mountaineering Course on Mount Baker or in the stunning North Cascades National Park. Over 3 nights and 4 days, you’ll learn, practice, and apply essential skills for climbing and splitboarding Glaciated Cascadian volcanoes such as Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and Glacier Peak, as well as peaks worldwide. Explore pristine runs around the Coleman-Deming Glaciers, the Squak Glacier, and the Boulder Glacier, with ample opportunities to lead the group and receive real-time feedback from our experienced guides. The course culminates in a summit attempt of Mount Baker.
- Ideal Learning Environment: Experience hands-on training in the beautiful, glaciated terrain of Mount Baker and the North Cascades.
- Experienced Guides: Receive expert instruction and feedback to develop your splitboard specific mountaineering skills. No ski anchors here
- Real-Time Skill Application: Lead group sessions and apply your skills in real-world scenarios.
- Prices: Based on a minimum of 2 participants
- Private Courses: Available for custom dates
- Glacier Travel: Master techniques for safe and efficient glacier travel by navigating around and avoiding crevasses, understanding tension and compression zones, and accumulation and ablation zones.
- Crevasse Rescue: Learn and practice crevasse rescue to ensure safety in glaciated terrain by practicing and performing 3:1, 5:1, and 6:1 mechanical advantage
- Snow Anchors: Understand how to construct and use snow anchors for various mountaineering applications. Our split specific anchors have been developed onsite in house and are not found anywhere else.
- Knots & Hitches: Gain proficiency in essential knots and hitches used in mountaineering.
- Rope Use: Learn to use ropes while riding on belay and rappeling effectively while descending steep slopes.
- Self-Arrest: Develop the ability to self-arrest on steep snow and ice while snowboarding or cramponing.
- Winter Camping: Acquire the skills for setting up and living comfortably in a winter camp by staying warm and dry, well hydrated, and fed well.
- Secure Riding Movement: Enhance your riding technique to handle variable snow conditions confidently.
This course is best suited for individuals with a strong intermediate or higher level of skiing and skinning ability, comfortable skiing or riding with a backpack, and a moderate or above level of fitness. Participants should be prepared to:
- Ascend 4,700 Vertical Feet: Climb 4,700 vertical feet over 4 miles in a day.
- Cover 7,200 Vertical Feet: Ascend a total of 7,200 vertical feet over 12 miles round trip throughout the course.
- Ski or Ride with a Backpack: Be comfortable carrying a backpack while skiing or riding.
- Maintain Fitness for 4 Days: Have the stamina and fitness for 4 consecutive days of mountain activity.
- Day 1: Meet and greet, gear check, and travel to camp on the glacier.
- Day 2: Engage in roped glacier travel and route finding, self-arrest techniques and limitations, and rappelling for splitters. Enjoy a warm-up ride before moving to the next camp.
- Day 3: Dig into splitboard specific snow anchors, crevasse rescue, navigation, belayed riding, and ride from a summit, descending to our next camp.
- Day 4: Put all acquired skills to the test during a summit climb and descent. Return to the trailhead.
This 4-day course is for strong intermediate and advanced splitboarders who already tour in the backcountry and want to build technical mountaineering skills for glaciated volcanoes and bigger alpine objectives.
Students practice glacier travel, splitboard-specific snow anchors, rope systems, knots and hitches, self-arrest, belayed riding, rappelling, winter camping, route finding, and efficient travel in complex mountain terrain.
Yes. You should be comfortable skinning, riding variable snow, carrying a pack, managing transitions, and traveling in avalanche terrain. This course adds glacier and mountaineering systems to existing splitboard touring skills.
The course is typically based on Mount Baker/Kulshan, Mount Shuksan, or surrounding North Cascades terrain. Exact venues depend on weather, access, snowpack, and group goals.
Bring a splitboard touring setup, avalanche safety gear, helmet, harness, crampons, ice axe, glacier travel equipment, overnight kit, layers, food, and water capacity. A detailed gear list is confirmed before the course.
Gear list
Gear list
Gear required varies trip to trip. Your guide helps you decide what to bring or leave during the gear check. Need to rent crampons, ice axe, harness, or helmet? Let us know when you book.
Cancellation
It is your responsibility to be familiar with our Payment, Cancellation, and Rescheduling Policies. When you book a trip with Guided Exposure, you are agreeing to our policies outlined here:
