Mount Olympus/Blue Glacier

Trip

Basic Glacier Climb - Mount Olympus/Blue Glacier

A 4 day basic glacier climb with priority given to Olympia Basic Climbing students until June 7.

  • Sat, Jun 29, 2024 — Tue, Jul 2, 2024
  • Olympia Basic Alpine Climbing
  • Climbing
  • Basic Alpine
  • Adults
  • Technical 3, Strenuous 4, Basic Glacier Climb
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 44.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 7,400 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 7,980 ft
  • Pace: 1.5-2 mph

6:00am at the Hoh River trailhead on Saturday, June 29th. Sorry for the early morning, but we need to beat the crowds and make sure we can get past the entrance station before the parking lot fills up. You are encouraged to car pool, and welcome to crash at my house in Port Angeles on Friday, or get a hotel room in Port Angeles or Forks. 

Be prepared for a long backpacking trip followed by 2 days of glacier travel, topped with a pitch of rock climbing and rappelling. We will traverse Blue Glacier on day 2, and camp at CalTech Rocks. Plan to start climbing on summit day at 3:30 am to beat the crowds on the summit climb. We may use fixed line travel to approach Snow Dome, depending on how icy it is.

Route/Place

Mount Olympus/Blue Glacier



  • Green Trails Seven Lakes Basin/Mt Olympus Climb No. 133S

    Custom Correct Mount Olympus Climber's Map

    USGS Mt Olympus
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

  • The Ten Essentials
  • Mountain boots that can accept crampons (not hiking boots)
  • Crampons
  • An ice axe (not technical ice tools)
  • A sleeping bag rated to +30 degrees or colder
  • A sleeping pad
  • A back pack (40 to 60 liters)
  • Webbing and accessory cords
  • 6 straight gate carabiners
  • 2 locking carabiners
  • Large pear-shaped carabiner
  • Belay/ rappel device
  • Climbing harness
  • Helmet
  • Rescue pulley
  • Fleece or puffy jacket
  • Rain jacket and full-zip rain pants
  • Warm gloves or mittens
Trip Reports