Basic Glacier Travel - SIG In-Town Practice

Field trip: Basic Glacier Travel Course

Basic Glacier Travel - SIG In-Town Practice - Snoqualmie Summit Ski Areas

Field Trip - SIG Snow Travel/Ice Ax/Roped Travel Outing

  • Sat, Mar 31, 2018
  • Seattle Climbing
  • Climbing
  • Basic Alpine
  • Adults, Youth
  • Moderate
  • Elevation Gain: 800 ft
  • Pace: Moderate - Instructional Pace

Leader: Steve Russell  (206) 632-3266

Meeting Place: West Summit Exit 52, Snoqualmie Pass, Eastbound I-90.  Take a RIGHT at the bottom of the off-ramp, then turn into the first available parking to your right.  Look for my rather beat-up silver-grey PT Cruiser.  Be sure to check the highway conditions as well as the weather report to plan for safe driving.

Meeting Time: We plan to be booted and geared up and walking out of the lot by 8:00 a.m., so please plan to arrive no later than 7:45 and, again, take driving conditions into account.

Gear: Harness, helmet, crampons, mountaineering boots, ice ax, and full glacier gear ('biners, slings, cords including prusiks and hero loops, rescue pulley).  No overnight gear is necessary but we will be putting in a full day (plan on 8 am to 4 pm, minimum), so please bring lunch, water, sun protection, and so on.

You'll be outside all day in the snow and sometimes down or sliding on the snow while holding an arrest, performing arrest maneuvers, and glissading. Please insure that you have adequate outer rain/wind-resistant layers and ample insulating inner layers. Extra pair(s) of gloves and warm headgear/balaclava recommended.

Topics will include: ice axe use, snow travel, roped travel with crampons, picket passing, team arrest, crampon practice, a crevasse rescue demo, etc.  The instructors will provide two climbing ropes and one glacier rope. This compares with the overnight snow events that some other SIGs are running, except we won't be digging a kitchen or camping overnight or getting roped up at 4 in the morning.

Any questions should be to the named instructor, but not to the generic "glacier travel" leader.  Steve is listed in the Mounty website as "Stevie Russell," his email is drawndreams@comcast.net, and his phone/text is (206) 632-3266.

Route/Place

Snoqualmie Summit Ski Areas



  • Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207

    Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass Gateway No. 207S

    USGS Snoqualmie Pass
  • See full route/place details.
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Required Equipment

Required Equipment

See your gear matrix (and above) for what gear to bring.

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