Komo Kushan / Mount Baker Climb and Mountaineering Course – Itinerary

Itinerary

Komo Kushan / Mount Baker Climb and Mountaineering Course – Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Approach to Base Camp & Snow Skills Training

6:30 a.m. orientation begins with an initial meeting and full equipment check, followed by a drive to the Mount Baker trailhead. From there, we begin the approach to base camp. This approach is very strenuous, typically taking 4–6 hours, depending on route choice, snow conditions, and group fitness—this is where your training pays off.

You’ll skin through ancient forests and snow-covered alpine meadows en route to our Komo Kushan / Mount Baker basecamp. After camp is established, instruction focuses on foundational snow and mountaineering skills, including:

• Proper ice axe use and positioning

• Traveling in balance on snow

• Self-belay and self-arrest techniques

• Placing snow protection and constructing snow anchors

• Basic belay techniques

Day 2: Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue on Komo Kushan / Mount Baker

Day two begins with instruction on crampon use and steeper snow climbing. The focus then shifts to the skills required for safe and efficient glacier travel on Komo Kulshan / Mount Baker, including:

• Roped glacier travel techniques

• Proper rope spacing and team management

• Self-rescue and prusiking techniques

• When to rope up while traveling on skis versus snowshoes or crampons

We continue building glacier travel skills and dive into crevasse rescue training. Students gain hands-on experience with:

• Placing effective snow anchors and bollards

• Equalizing anchors to create strong, redundant systems

• Crevasse rescue pulley systems, from fundamentals to advanced techniques

After learning proper rope team travel techniques, the group completes a short glacier tour, reinforcing the day’s lessons in real terrain.

Day 3 (Summit Day): Mount Baker Ascent & Descent

After an alpine start and early breakfast, the group begins the climb toward the summit of Komo Kushan / Mount Baker. This is where participants apply the full range of skills developed throughout the course while ascending a classic Cascade volcano.

Depending on conditions and group pace, the ascent typically takes 8-12 hours. After enjoying summit views, a snack, students lead their rope teams back toward high camp, finishing with a well-earned descent.

We then break camp, pack up, and return to the trailhead.

Itinerary Note

While we strive to follow this itinerary, mountaineering on Mount Baker requires flexibility. Weather, snow conditions, and route safety may require adjustments to ensure a safe and rewarding alpine experience.