Field trip: Intermediate Glacier Travel and Winter Mountaineering
Intermediate Glacier Travel Field Trip - Mount Baker/Coleman Glacier
Intermediate Glacier Travel Field Trip for Kitsap's Intermediate Glacier Travel course where you will lead a rope team to the Mount Baker summit. We will bring additional basic climbing students (Kitsap priority for several weeks leading up to the climb) or other climbers to take full advantage of this trip.
Contacts
- Sat, May 23, 2026 — Mon, May 25, 2026
- Kitsap Branch Climbing Program
- Climbing
- Basic Alpine
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Technical 3, Strenuous 3, Basic Glacier Climb, Basic Experience Climb
- Challenging
- Mileage: 11.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 8,100 ft
- Pace: Expect 800-1000 ft/hr
- 5 (8 capacity)
- FULL (4 capacity)
- Thu, Mar 26, 2026 at 8:07 AM
- Thu, May 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
Focus of this trip is developing glacier rope leaders - physical and decision making skills. Summit is desireable, but not essential. We will take what is available on the mountain - for our team - this trip. As such, I will push the group to come to the decisions required to complete the trip as best we can. We may practice additional skills to what is required to just complete the climb - running belays, rappels, snow anchors among the skills developed in the course. We should be able to accommodate student basic climbers with emphasis on those needing the climb to complete course requirements.
Expect a pace that will keep us on time, but we will not be "fast and light" in this climb. Efficient as possible - yes.
Priority registration for the basic climber spots to Kitsap students - this or prior years needing the climb to complete the course - until April 25. All others contact me to be placed on waitlist for the spots - if any - available after that date.
We will narrow this down closer to the trip date. For many of us from Kitsap County, the easiest method is to drive the evening before the trip and camp near the trailhead.
But, plan to step off from the trailhead at 0900 on Saturday, May 23.
Mount Baker/Coleman Glacier
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USGS Mt Baker
Green Trails Mount Baker Wilderness Climbing No. 13SX
Green Trails Mt Baker No. 13 - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
- 2 Pickets per rope leader; 1 picket for other rope team members
- Harness
- ?? Avalanche Gear (beacon, shovel, probe) - will determine this closer to the climb ??
- 12 point steel crampons
- Single ice axe - ice tools not required
- Climbing helmet
- Hydration system that does not involve exposed hoses due to the potential for freezing conditions on the climb
- Cooking system with sufficient fuel to accommodate melting snow for hydration in addition to cooking food
- Sleeping and camping systems suitable for snow camping