Summer Solstice Ski & Splitboard Mountaineering Camp
4-Day Ski Mountaineering Adventure on Mount Baker
THE ONLY Summer ski camp is a 4-day, 3-night ski mountaineering course exploring the glaciated peaks of Mount Baker during the longest days of the year. With extended daylight, there is time for a complete ski and splitboard mountaineering progression with the goal of climbing and descending Mount Baker/Kulshan via the Coleman-Deming, Easton, or Squak Glaciers and nearby objectives such as Colfax, Thunder Glacier, or Bastille Peak when conditions allow.
Basecamp Style Adventure
Spend 3 nights in a basecamp setting on the Coleman- Demings Hogsback Camp, Squak at Crag View, or Easton Glacier at Sandy Camp, building movement skills, rope use, terrain assessment, and descent-planning skills while skiing or riding in a setting that few backcountry users experience. Our time allows for daily glacier ski runs and skill-building sessions. Participants have the chance to build the skills needed to move more confidently in glaciated North Cascades terrain.
With the goal of climbing and skiing Mount Baker/Kulshan to the summit, each participant receives a ski mountaineering school experience where the learning outcomes match the objective.
- Prices: Based on a minimum of 2 participants.
- Private Courses: Available for custom dates.
Comprehensive Ski Mountaineering School Course
- 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:
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Ascend 4,700 Vertical Feet: Climb 4,700 vertical feet over 4 miles in a day.
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Cover 7,200 Vertical Feet: Ascend a total of 7,200 vertical feet over 12 miles round trip throughout the course.
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Ski or Ride with a Backpack: Be comfortable carrying a backpack while skiing or riding.
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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: Glacier travel practice, route finding, movement skills, and a warm-up ski or ride.
- Day 3: Team travel, navigation, mountain movement, and a summit-style descent when conditions allow.
- Day 4: Apply the skills on a summit climb and descent before returning to the trailhead.
Join Us for the US's only Summer Ski Camp
This 4-day camp combines guided skiing or splitboarding, glacier travel instruction, snow camping, summit strategy, route planning, and skill practice on Mount Baker/Kulshan during the long daylight window around summer solstice.
The camp is best for strong intermediate or advanced skiers and splitboarders with backcountry touring experience, solid fitness, and comfort skiing or riding variable spring snow with a pack.
Mount Baker often holds snow late into the season, and the long summer days create a unique window for glacier ski mountaineering, summit attempts, route practice, and extended skill-building in one trip.
Students work on glacier travel, skinning efficiency, route selection, camp systems, mountain movement, group decision-making, and efficient ski or splitboard descents from glaciated terrain.
Bring a ski or splitboard touring setup, helmet, harness, crampons, ice axe, glacier travel gear, overnight equipment, layers, food, and water capacity. A final gear list is confirmed before the camp.
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:
