Name: Mt. Hood Glacier Mountaineering Skills Course
Brand: Kaf Adventures
Price: 1999.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Mt. Hood Glacier Mountaineering Skills Course

$1,999.00

2025 SCHEDULE COMING SOON

Client to Guide Ratio

1:1

2:1

3:2

Similar to our Glacier Mountaineering Skills Course on Mt. Baker, this course will teach you all you need to know to navigate glacial terrain safely. Over the course of three days and two nights, you and your teammates will learn critical mountaineering skills. These include snow camping, ice axe and crampon use, self-arrest, mountaineering knots and hitches, rope team travel, navigation skills, and more. After learning the basics, the team will make an attempt at the summit.

The Pacific Northwest offers a climbing experience you can only get in a few parts of the world. You’ll climb one of the most iconic peaks in America, but on the side that's much less traveled. Your summit will be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and even Mt. Rainier! Glacier mountaineering skills are crucial for exploring mountainous terrain in the Cascades and the techniques you will learn on this course will serve you well on all of your future alpine adventures.

This course will take place on the Sunshine route on Mt. Hood's north side. You can expect to be challenged physically and mentally and rewarded for your efforts with a summit attempt on one of the tallest mountains in Washington.

As a small, community-focused guide service, Kaf Adventures cares deeply about our guests’ experiences. We keep our group sizes small and follow a maximum 2:1 client to instructor ratio to prioritize your learning experience and maximize your safety. Our professional instructors will ensure you have an unforgettable experience that will leave you feeling accomplished and ready for the next climb.

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Duration

3 days
2 nights

Season

Spring
Summer

Client:Guide Ratio

2:1

Minimum Participants

1

Day 1 - Arrive at your designated meeting location by 8am to go over equipment, distribute group gear, and finish loading your packs before driving to the trailhead. The approach to basecamp is 3-5 miles and up to 4,000 feet of elevation gain. After setting up basecamp, you'll spend the afternoon working on proper footwork and crampon techniques and getting comfortable with an ice axe. Celebrate all your hard work so far and rest up for what's to come with a hot meal and a good night's sleep.

Day 2 - This is a full day of skills practice: more crampon use, self-arrest, glacier rigging, rope team travel, belay & rappel skills, anchor-building and more. After a long day of new information, you will be happy to go to bed early to get some rest for the final day and summit attempt!

Day 3 - Leave camp around 2am to start the summit attempt. Depending on the route/conditions/weather and a myriad of other factors, it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to reach the summit. Enjoy the views and sense of accomplishment - you earned it! After a short celebration, be prepared to plunge step several thousand feet back to camp. We'll have a bit of a rest, then break down camp, and head back to the cars. You can expect to be back to the trailhead around 6pm.

Knowledge of basic climbing knots is recommended.
Any backcountry or mountaineering experience will enhance your ability to learn, but is not required.
Ability to hike for 6-8 hours and ascend up to 4000' with a 40 lb pack, several days in a row.

Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email full of important information - make sure to read it thoroughly!
7-10 days before your trip you will receive an email from your guide containing even more details, including the exact meetup location and time.
Plan to attend a virtual pre-trip meeting in the evening a few days before your course begins. This is required and a great opportunity to meet your guide, review gear, discuss your trip plan, and ask any last minute questions. The exact time of your meeting will be set by your instructor and noted in their welcome email.
Leading up to your course, make sure to eat healthy, drink extra water, and get plenty of sleep.
Please arrive on time and ready to go at your pre-arranged meeting location. Upon arrival, we'll distribute any group gear and finish loading our packs. From there we will caravan to the trailhead.
All along the way, our office team is available via email or phone to answer any questions you may have.

This trip will leave you with knowledge and practical application of:

Gear packing and equipment choice.
Self-care on the mountain.
Using crampons and ice axe.
Self-Arrest and self-belay.
Ascending and descending steep snow slopes.
Basic knots used for mountaineering.
Rope-handling skills.
Self-care in the mountains.
Mountain weather.
Mountain hazards and safe travel practices.
Route planning and summit planning.
Basic emergency response.

PLUS:

A fun experience you’ll remember forever!
A sense of accomplishment in achieving your goals for the trip.
Confidence in your newfound skills and where to take them next.
Tips and tricks to add to your toolbox from our professional and knowledgeable guides.

Equipment List

Payment & Cancellation Policies

Travel Information & Trip Insurance

Meet the Team

Gratuities

FAQs