Where in the world do you want to go?

Mountaineers range far and wide within North America, venturing East, North and South from our home territory. The Pacific Northwest may be home to many wonderful places, but the rest of the country sometimes offers that little something that we can’t find locally. We venture across the expanse of this great continent to find outdoor adventure.

Mt. Everest

But why stop at the continental shelf? Take your backpack, skis or kayak to distant shores with The Mountaineers and at rates which can rarely be beaten.

Global Adventures, led by experienced leaders, have included Nepal, Bhutan, Ireland, Scotland, England, Switzerland and France. They range from strenuous ski tours to treks to walking trails.

Information about both of these types of outings is provided below as well as in the Mountaineer magazine. Global Adventures are announced anywhere from eight months to a year in advance. You must be a Mountaineers member to participate and a deposit is required.

North American Adventures

Backcountry Ski-Mountaineer Alberta’s Columbia Icefield
Backpack the Continental Divide in Wind River Range
Hike the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire

international Adventures

Three weeks hiking Italy’s Dolomites
Nepal: climb Mera Peak or trek Mt. Everest
Cross-country ski the Dolomites
New Zealand: backpacking the Southern Alps and Fjordland

Backcountry ski-mountaineer Alberta’s Columbia Icefield

April 7-15, 2012 (if weather forecast is bad: April 14-22)

April 7: drive to Lake Louise Hostel; April 8: drive to Columbia Icefield and ski up Athabasca Glacier to the Trench; April 9: ski Mount Columbia (second highest in Canadian Rockies); April 10: move camp; April 11: ski North and South Twin; April 12: ski Stutfield Peak and move camp; April 13: ski Mount Kitchener and Snow Dome (hydrographic apex of North America--snow melt flows to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans); April 14: ski Castleguard Mountain, down Saskatchewan Glacier, and drive to Lake Louise Hostel; April 15: drive home. Sign up by March 31 with Craig Miller or 206-285-2399. Limit 6.

Three weeks hiking in Italy’s Dolomites

Aug. 23-Sept. 13, 2012

The Dolomites of northern Italy, known as the “pale mounts” and renowned for their enrosadira sunsets--when the mountains turn spectacular hues of pink--encompass some of the most beautiful hiking areas in the world. Green alpine meadows--stretching between charming village-studded valleys and craggy, awe-inspiring karst mountains--provide visual feasts in every direction. Mountain walkers trod an extensive network of well-maintained and interconnecting footpaths, and visit interesting villages and well-placed rifugios (high altitude mountain huts).

Our three-week adventure begins with flights to Munich and land transport to the scenic village of Selva/Wolkenstein in the upper reaches of the Val Gardena, where we are housed in a flower-bedecked hotel. For our weeks in the Val Gardena, in the Pustertal/Val Pusteria, and near the Seiser Alm, we stay in double rooms in three-four-star hotels, where we are served bountiful buffet breakfasts and delectable multi-course dinners.

Our hiking days are spent in areas devoted to protecting and preserving the unique alpine areas of the Sesto Dolomites, the Puez-Odle, and the Schlern/Sciliar, one of the largest upland alpine areas in Europe. Following our week hiking in the upper reaches of the Val Gardena/Grodnertal area, near the huge mountain massifs of the Sella and the Sassolungo/Sassopiatta, we move to the Sesto-Sexten area in the High Pustertal region between the Austrian border and Cortina.

Our final four nights before returning to Munich find us housed in a village center under the massive wall of the Schlern/Sciliar on the edge of the alpine meadows of the Seiser Alm/l‘Alpe di Suisi.

Most of our time will be spent in the South Tyrol, scene of vicious World War I mountaintop battles which preceded the formerly German-speaking area of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ceded to Italy as the region of Trentino-Alto Adige. The German language survives as the area’s first language to this day, along with the ancient Romansch Ladin language, and Italian.

Trip classification: Upper moderate to strenuous. Hiking days are long, usually 7-8 hours, and pace is moderate. Elevation gains can be 3,000 ft. or more, although lifts and cable cars are used when practicable to ascend or descend and to spend an abundance of time at altitude. Miles traveled are of no consequence in the Alps--only elevation and travel time from place to place is of concern. Participants must be physically able to handle the requirements of the trip and participation is subject to leader approval. A valid passport is required. Lunches are generally eaten at private or Alpine Club high mountain huts (rifugios) or in simple farmers’ alm huts on summer alpine grazing pastures. During our stay, we will visit many popular and famous mountain refuges, including Rifugio Locatelli on the Tre Cime de Lavarado/Drei Zinnen circuit, as well as Rifugios Comici, Bolzano, and Firenze/Regensberger, to name a few. We may also have opportunity to walk (using lifts, cable cars, and buses) the famous ski-round of the Sella Ronda--an incredible accomplishment on foot.

Trip dates: Depart Seattle Thursday, August 23. We meet and spend the night in Munich on August 24, spend week of August 25-September 1 in the Val Gardena area, spend week of September 1-8 in the region of the High Pustertal, the week of September 8-12 in Castelrotto/Seiser Alm area, and return to Munich for one additional night on September 12. The group returns to Seattle September 13.

Trip price: $3,750 Covers three full weeks with all nightly accommodations in three-four-star hotels, generous buffet breakfasts and multi-course dinners nightly (except in Munich), all group ground transportation, maps, Mountaineers Global Adventures and leader fee, administrative and other miscellaneous fees. Not included are lunches, beverages, two dinners in Munich, basic travel/evacuation insurance (required), airfare to/from Munich/Seattle (estimated at $1,000-$1,200), and any diversions from the group itinerary. A deposit of $2,000 is required to reserve a spot after obtaining leader approval. Priority for trip spots will be given to those on the 2011 trip wait list. Applications may be obtained by contacting leader as below. Final payment of $1,750 is due on February 15, 2012.

Sign up with the leaders, Shari Hogshead and Paul Gauthier, directly by calling 425-957-4548 or by e-mail to Shari and Paul, who have resided only a few hours from this destination and have traveled extensively in the Dolomites. This is Shari’s 32nd Mountaineers outing to Europe, including six Mountaineers winter-ski outings and two summer outings to the same areas of the Dolomiti/Sudtirol.

Backpack the Continental Divide in Wind River Range

Sept. 2-Sept. 14, 2012

“The Wind River Mountains are supposed by the Indians to be the home of the spirits, and they believe a person can see the spirit land, or the land they will occupy after death, from the top of them . . . ” -- Col. Albert G Brackett, Annual Report to the Smithsonian, 1979.

Trip summary: This trip is an opportunity to challenge yourself physically while experiencing “up close and personal” some of the most extraordinary and unspoiled high country in North America -- the Wind River Range in the Bridger Wilderness, Wyoming. The Wind Rivers are a narrow mountain chain including eight summits over 13,500 feet, rising from the wide open valleys of the west and thousands of small lakes and streams in expansive alpine meadows and rocky basins below. Early September is a fantastic time to hike in the high Rockies, with crisp, cool nights, blue skies and a somewhat reduced incidence of bugs and lightning storms (plus we’ll be between the summer crowds and the later hunting parties).

On this trip we will ramble the high country for 90 miles and 11 days, much of it above 10,000 feet elevation. The trip is classified as strenuous, with a typical day involving 8-13 miles of walking with a pack. Most days will involve 1000 feet of elevation gain though we will have a couple of days with shorter mileage and more elevation. Participants will carry backpacks with their own shelter and bedding, while we share other gear and food. We will receive an on-trail resupply by pack horse midway through the route (so that participants need carry only 5-6 days of food at a time) and stay in comfortable, basic cabin lodgings at the start and the end. A local shuttle service will provide us with transport from Pinedale to the trailhead and from trail’s end back to Pinedale.

Itinerary: The group will meet in Pinedale Wyoming on Sunday, 9/2, right after lunch for a gear/supply review and any last-minute supply shopping, then spend the night in comfortable three-star lodgings in or near Pinedale (Lakeside Lodge or similar) where we will enjoy a group dinner. After a fortifying breakfast at the hotel, a shuttle will arrive early the next morning to take us to our trailhead about 50 miles north of Pinedale at Green River Lakes CG where we will start our hike. Our route will link the Highline and Fremont trails from Green River Lakes in the northwest to Big Sandy Lodge in the southeast, tracking on or closely along the Continental Divide trail. The itinerary also builds in side trips to explore high passes and glacier views from base camps in Titcomb Basin and Cirque of the Towers.

See satellite images and photos of the route. We will end our trek at the Big Sandy Lodge on 9/13, where we will have the opportunity to rest, eat a good family-style meal and take a shower. On the morning of 9/14, after a hearty breakfast, our shuttle will arrive to take us back to Pinedale and our vehicles for the drive back to Seattle.

Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to our final route during planning meetings through the spring and summer, and, of course, on-the-ground conditions could drive some adjustments as we go. Some route-finding, boulder crossing and stream crossings will be involved.

Logistics: Based on the group’s preferences, participants may choose to purchase their own trail food and bring their own stoves and cooking gear, or have the trip leader organize this at cost for the group. These details will be worked out during spring and summer planning meetings.

Black bears have become habituated to humans in some parts of the Wind Rivers. In addition, there has been an increase in grizzly bear numbers in recent years, so they are now common and can be encountered anywhere in the range. For this reason, IGBC-approved bear canisters will be required on this trip. (Pepper spray optional.) The leader can assist with canister rental and they can also be rented from the ranger station in Pinedale with prior notification.

The leader is also happy to offer assistance with food and gear planning and conditioning for the trip as well as gear rentals as needed for any participants needing such assistance. Those interested in fishing the high country lakes can bring fishing gear, though a multi-day fishing license would be required ($92 for non-residents, not included in trip price).

Limit: Minimum of 4 and maximum of 12 Mountaineers, including leader.

Prerequisites: This is a physically demanding trip, so participants should be able to demonstrate a recent history of hiking and backpacking in the strenuous category (10+ miles/day, 2,500 feet or more of elevation gain) and an ability to hike with a full pack for extended periods at 1.5-2 mph without frequent rest stops. Investment in lightweight gear is strongly recommended; participants should get their pack weight down to 35 lbs or less, including 15 lbs of food at a time to ensure their enjoyment of the trip. Participants will be expected to carry their own copies of all the trip maps and a compass, and to have the skills to use them.

About the leader: Cheryl Talbert has led several extended private backpack trips over the past five years in the mountain west, including the Washington PCT, Glacier National Park, the high Sierra (John Muir Trail), the San Juan and Maroon Bell mountains of Colorado, and Mount Rainier NP (Wonderland Trail). She has been a hike and backpack leader for The Mountaineers since 2009, and has led multiple backpack trips with Mountaineers groups as well as many day hikes. Contact Cheryl at cascadehiker@earthlink.net or 253-229-4018.

Trip price: Four people, $735 per person; eight or more, $470 per person.

Registration: Please complete the application form and email it to the leader. After the leader’s approval, a deposit of $470 will be due by April 1. If the group is smaller than eight people as of June 1, or if the group decides to have the leader organize and purchase trail food and/or rent gear for the trip, an additional payment may be requested then ($265 plus any shared food/gear costs).

Cancellations: If you cancel because of an emergency, you may receive a refund, less expenses incurred, and $100 administrative fee.

Resources:

Climbing and Hiking the Wind River Mountains. 2nd Ed. 1994. Joe Kelsey. Published by the Globe Pequot Press

Hiking Map and Guide, Northern Wind River Range. Earthwalk Press

Hiking Map and Guide, Southern Wind River Range. Earthwalk Press

http://www.visitpinedale.org/attractions/destinations/wind-river-mountians.html

http://www.backpacker.com/2010-november-best-hikes-wind-river-traverse/destinations/14935

Hike the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire

Sept. 22-29, 2012

The Mountaineers, through our Outdoor Centers, offers an eight-day adventure through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Since we will be hiking between the full-service huts and lodges of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) you will not have to carry a sleeping bag or food, except for lunch. The huts are staffed by a most energetic post-college-age group.

Nate Shedd, an AMC naturalist who has hiked with us for three years, will hike with us again. His expertise will be the crowning jewel to this hiking adventure.

If you choose to hike the Presidential Traverse, most trails will be dotted with large rocks and may include short stretches of scrambling. Otherwise, you may choose moderate hikes on trails comparable to the Northwest’s moderate trails.

We will begin the trip from Portland, Maine, at noon Saturday, September 22, taking an AMC van through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will pass through wood-covered bridges and whitewashed houses on our drive to Highland Center at Crawford Notch. We will hike from Crawford Notch to Franconia Notch on the Appalachian Trail.

While at Highland Center, a multitude of conditioning hikes are available, or you can be a tourist and ride the train up Mt. Washington. Once atop Mt. Washington, where the highest recorded winds in the states are found, one can hike down or ride the cog railroad.

On Thursday, the 27th, after a short hike from Greenleaf Hut, we will take the van to Cardigan Lodge, a stately, old, whitewashed home in the New Hampshire Lakes Region. We guarantee that you will long remember Tom Fisher, Cardigan Lodge crew chief and those engaging ambassadors of New England’s oldest and largest version of The Mountaineers.

Price: $1,175. Includes all meals and lodging, all transportation from Portland and the return to Portland. A naturalist will accompany us for additional expertise of the area.

Participant limit: Minimum of 6; maximum of 16.

Trip leader: Patti Polinsky, meanysports@me.com, 206-525-7464.

Nepal: Ultimate Mt. Everest Trek or Climb Mera Peak

Oct. 18-Nov. 9, 2012

“The panorama is superb, one of the best in the Himalaya.” -- Jamie McGuiness

Trip summary: This adventure combines Himalayan culture, spectacular scenery and the highest peaks on Earth.

We will all fly together to one of the world’s most amazing airstrips, Lukla. Then you have a choice whether to hike or climb. Trekkers will stay in lodges, hike to the Sherpa village Namche Bazaar, Buddhist Tengboche monastery, Kala Patar (classic Mt. Everest viewpoint), Mt. Everest base camp, Cho La pass, beautiful Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri viewpoint, and Renjo La pass.

Meanwhile climbers will follow the standard Mera Peak route up a low angle glacier, guided by local experienced Sherpas. The view from Mera Peak’s summit is one of the finest in the Himalaya with five 8,000-meter peaks visible: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Cho Oyo. For basic climbers, Mera Peak is a technically straightforward ascent, higher than Denali, but much easier than Mt. McKinley.

Both the Mera Peak climb and Ultimate Mt. Everest trek are rated strenuous because of the altitude, but porters will haul your overnight gear, so you carry only a daypack. We will all fly from Lukla to Kathmandu together.

Itinerary: This is a good time of year because there is usually excellent weather for views and photography. Fly from the USA to Kathmandu. Option to raft the Sun Koshi River (not sponsored by The Mountaineers). Tour Kathmandu’s three world heritage sites. Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. Hike Ultimate Mt. Everest trek or climb Mera Peak (Nepal’s highest trekking peak at 21,247 ft.). To help conserve the environment, the leader will clean the trails. Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu. Fly from Kathmandu to the USA.

For more, view and/or download the daily itinerary.

Lodging: Hotel in Kathmandu. Trekkers will stay in rustic lodges. Climbers will camp in tents. All are double occupancy.

Food: Most meals are provided. They are a nutritious variety of Himalayan and Western cuisine. In Kathmandu, some meals are on your own to give you the freedom to explore the delicious cuisines of Asia.

Limit: Maximum 13 Mountaineers.

Leader: Craig Miller has led 13 different Himalayan treks/climbs for The Mountaineers (craigfmiller@comcast.net or 206-285-2399).

Price: $3,000 (big reduction).

The price includes Nepal visa; airport transfers; Kathmandu hotel; domestic airline two flights; buses; trek permit, Trekker Information Management System card, Sagarmatha National Park fee, Mera Peak climbing permit, guide and climbing sherpas, porters, food, lodge or tent, mattress pad, climbing ropes, emergency gear, rescue insurance; The Mountaineers administrative fee; and a portion of leader cost.

The price excludes your international airfare (about $1,600), valid passport, medical immunizations, some meals, personal items, and gratuities.

Qualification: For Mera Peak, you must be a basic climb course graduate or equivalent.

Registration: Please download and complete the application form, and then email it to the leader. After the leader’s approval, please telephone The Mountaineers, 206-521-6001; provide your credit card number and pay a $1,000 deposit by March 1. After your deposit is received, the leader will send you a series of three letters with information to help you prepare for this outing. Your balance is due June 1.

Cancellations: If you cancel because of an emergency, you may receive a refund less expenses incurred and $100 administrative fee.

Cross-country skiing the Dolomites: winter 2013

Jan. 24-Feb. 10, 2013

The Dolomites, in the northern part of Italy known as the South Tirol, are well known as a walking paradise in summer. Europeans also know it as a winter wonderland, a place of sparkling snow under the warming Italian sun where you find hundreds of kilometers of ski tracks under towering rock walls, and where European cultural amenities and magnificent views make for an unforgettable experience.

Arriving at Munich airport, we begin our adventure in a small hotel near the center of the city. From here, we are transported by van through the lovely countryside of Bavaria and Austria, and over the Brenner Pass into Italy.

Our first week is spent in a four-star hotel in the interesting town of Castlerotto. locaated in the South Tirol. Here most of our skiing is done on the high plateau of the Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi at 1,700-3,000 meters (just multiply by three and add a few to convert to feet). Views are off to the rock walls of the Schlern, to the Plattkofel and Langkofel peaks, and down into the Val Gardena. Again, we enjoy hundreds of kilometers of ski tracks, along with the incredible amenities at our hotel and in our ancient village.

We may spend one day in Bozen/Bolzano at the museum to see Oetzi, the 5,000-year-old ice man, and one day skiing the Vallunga above Selva/Wolkenstein in the Val Gardena. There is also the possibility of a day trip to Venice (at additional cost).

Our second week will be spent in the High Pustertal/Val Pusteria, near the Austrian border, where we lodge in a family-owned/operated 3-4 star villa-hotel, with views into the towering mountains. Hundreds of kilometers of ski trails, machine-tracked nightly, radiate out from our beautiful village. The use of bus passes and the occasional private taxi make it possible for us to see much of this area of the Dolomites and ski to other interesting centers, such as Cortina.

We return to Munich for our final night before returning to Seattle, or you may continue your European adventure on your own from here.

Our trip includes buffet breakfasts at our hotels and multi-course dinners with salad bars (except for two dinners in Munich). Our hotels offer special evening entertainment with music and dancing. Airport transfers are accomplished in comfortable vans. Maps, bus passes, and ski passes are all provided.

Ski tracks lead you--on classic or skate skis--past villages in magnificent settings to rifugios and mountain alms serving simple midday meals. You are surrounded by rugged mountains. Horse-drawn sleighs, bells jingling, and walkers strolling on the winterwanderwegs cross your ski trail; church bells ring in the villages and there is music and singing in the gasthof. You mingle with people who, like you, love snow and relish their mountains and their natural environment. It is truly a celebration of winter.

Price: $2,450 with 12 participants, and $2,550 for 8-10 participants for this two-week-plus holiday which includes lodging in two-person rooms (with buffet breakfasts and multi-course dinners), ground transportation, ski passes, maps, Mountaineers Global Adventure fee, leader fee and basic insurance.

Reservation and Deposit: With leader’s approval, a deposit of $1,500 is necessary to reserve a space. The balance of $950 (or $1,050 with 8-10 participants) is due on or before November 1, 2012.

Cancellation policy: For cancellation notices received prior to November 1, 2012, a full refund, less a $100 Global Adventure administration fee deposit, plus any non-recoverable expenses, will be made. For cancellation notice received after November 1, 2012, there may be a cancellation fee charged for any non-recoverable expenses. Cancellation must be in writing and sent to trip leader via e-mail or post. Non-recoverable group expenses incurred due to cancellations will be borne by all participants.

The leaders: Shari Hogshead and Paul Gauthier are pleased to offer their 36th Mountaineers adventure to Europe and their 13th winter cross-country ski holiday in the European Alps. While living in Bavaria, they meticulously researched cross-country ski areas in Europe and they feel that these are two of the very best. In European holiday mode, they return often to their favorite places because of the excellent skiing opportunities and superb accommodations they offer. For additional info on skiing the Italian Dolomites in January/February 2013, contact Shari or Paul skimntr@aol.com or 425-260-9316.

We hope you can join our Mountaineers group for a wonderful winter experience.

New Zealand: Backpacking the Southern Alps and Fjordland

Feb. 18-March 7, 2013

Trip Preview: An informational meeting will be held in mid April (look for date and location on our home page!), to show photos and maps of the route and places that we will see on the trip, to provide information about logistics, costs and preparations, and to answer questions.

Trip description: Aotearoa, "land of the long white cloud." New Zealand: a life-list destination for those who seek out glorious remote vistas, wide green pastures overlooked by snow covered crags, deep fjords lined with ancient podocarp forests, exotic animal life as well as very friendly, welcoming people. Where other trips just skim the surface of the backcountry, this 16-day trip (with optional pre- and post-trip extensions) will take you deep into the South Island’s famous Southern Alps, as well as two of the region?s world-famous ‘Great Walks’: the Milford and Routeburn Tracks in Fiordland.

This is a trip designed for experienced backpackers who love a physical challenge while surrounded by staggering mountain scenery. The main part of the trip will consist of 2-4-day ‘tramps’ between huts in New Zealand’s excellent backcountry hut system; generally 8-12 miles per day and 1-2000’ of elevation gain. Participants will carry their own food, cooking gear and sleeping bags on most tramps. Between our tramps and hut-stays we will stay in some of the loveliest small towns on the South Island including Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka and Tekapo, in comfortable, three-star hotels or lodges (double-occupancy, private or shared bath) where we can enjoy the scenery and local food, resupply and rest up for the next tramp. Depending on trip extensions that are chosen, participants will fly into and out of Christchurch or Queenstown, both with easy connections through Auckland.

An optional 5-day post-trip extension will be available to give you a chance to experience one more of the world-reknowned New Zealand ?Great Walks?, the 3-day Tongariro Circuit on the North Island which circumnavigates 2291m Mt Ngauruhoe. This spectacular alpine tramp includes such striking and colorful volcanic terrain and lakes that the the area has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage area. Another optional five-day, pre-trip extension will also be available to give you a chance to explore the striking mountain and coastal country at the north end of the Southern Alps, including Arthurs Pass, the Westland coast, and Fox Glacier. Other optional activities will also be made available at cost during the main part of the trip. More details on these options will be made available to participants over the spring and summer.

Participant limit: A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 Mountaineers (including the leader).

Price: $3,500 (assuming at least 10 participants). Includes: permits and hut reservations on the Milford and Routeburn tracks and at Mt Aspiring park, and transport to-from the tracks; lodging between the tramping segments; some meals; and all transport along the way. The price also includes a guided, three-day, high-country, hut-based tramp beneath towering peaks in Mt. Aspiring park, guided exploration in the mountains around lovely Lake Ohau in the MacKenzie country with 2 nights at a working sheep station, and a fantastic guided hike along the Hooker Glacier to a high hut overlooking 12,316?? Mt Cook in Aoraki/Mt Cook National park. A later adjustment may be required in the final price if exchange rates change dramatically.
Excludes international airfare of ~$1600-1900; backpacking gear; meals while on your own in town; and any independent adventures during free days. Other optional activities will be made available at cost as the group meets to plan the final details.
A deposit of $1,000 per person will be due April 30 with the remainder due in the fall. An adjustment may be required in the final price if exchange rates change dramatically or if the group size is under 10 people.

Prerequisites: Participants must be current Mountaineers with waiver on file. Because we will be carrying our own backpack gear and food on some moderately strenuous multi-day tramps, appropriate fitness and experience with backpacking on high-country, rough terrain will be essential. Participants are asked to fill out the attached application form and send it to the leader at cascadehiker@earthlink.net for approval to go on the trip.

About the leader: Cheryl Talbert has travelled extensively with small private groups around the world including two prior trips to New Zealand, and has led several extended private backpack trips over the past five years in the U.S. west. She has been a hike and backpack leader for The Mountaineers since 2009.

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