Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb
Glacier Peak Summit Climb

Glacier Peak Summit Climb

Starting from

$1,199.00
/

CALL TO BOOK:
(206) 413-5418

Client to Guide Ratio

Custom Climbs

The Pacific Northwest is well known for the glacier-covered volcanoes that dominate the landscape and attract the attention of climbers from all over the world. But beyond the big names of Tahoma, Kulshan, and Wy'east lie thousands of other peaks worthy of exploration. The Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges are steep, rugged, and will take you to high alpine meadows, rocky ridges, and icy glaciers that most people can only dream of. 

Whether you are a local climber looking for your next challenge or have honed your skills elsewhere and are visiting Washington for the first time, Kaf Adventures would love for you to join us on some of the greatest experiences the PNW has to offer. We have carefully chosen a selection of featured objectives that offer the perfect training ground to push your skills to the next level under the tutelage of our professional guides. 

Custom climbs:
  • Are booked on a custom basis, meaning your group on your schedule (subject to backcountry permit availability). 
  • Have a maximum client to guide ratio based on management strategies that cannot be exceeded.
  • Incorporate movement on snow and glaciated terrain, as well as varying degrees of 3rd, 4th, and 5th class rock. 
  • Each have their own requirements for incoming skills and fitness. Please see the "Walk in With" tab below for specifics and be prepared to discuss further with us if needed.
  • Are not limited to this selection. If you dream it, we can help you do it! For other ideas, see guidebook resources such as Beckey’s 100 Favorite North American Climbs, Kearney’s Classic Climbs of the Northwest, Steck & Roper’s 50 Classic Climbs of North America, and Nelson & Potterfield’s Select Climbs in the Cascades.


Glacier Peak

The most remote of the five Washington volcanoes, Glacier Peak sits in the middle of its namesake Wilderness and is an apex adventure for any Cascade mountaineer. At 36 miles round trip and over 8,000 feet of elevation gain, this is typically booked as a 5 day adventure, allowing you to get into the flow of the backcountry rhythm. Due to the long approach, in many ways this is a backpacking trip with a flair of mountaineering. The action comes on day 3 when you follow snowfields and glaciers to the summit of the 4th highest volcano in Washington.

Duration

  • 5 days
  • 4 nights

Season

  • Summer

Client:Guide Ratio

3:1

Minimum Participants

1

Because this is a custom climb, parts of the itinerary can be suited to your preferences. Here is a sample based on our previous successes:

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 North Sauk River trailhead. 5 miles along the river is a great warmup for the 2,000' of switchbacks to come. You will be relieved to reach a rising traverse that leads you to White Pass, your camp for the night.
(~9 miles, 3,800' gain)

Day 2 - After breakfast you'll set off for higher sights. Today you'll wind up and down over passes and across meadows and snowfields until reaching high camp at Glacier Gap. If there's time, you can spend part of the afternoon practicing crampon and ice axe techniques, self-arrest, glacier rigging, rope team travel, and more. After a long day, you will be glad to have a hot meal and go to bed early to get some rest for the summit attempt!
(~5 miles, 1,500' gain)

Day 3 - Wake up early for an alpine start. Follow the Gerdine and Cool Glaciers as they wrap around Disappointment Peak and lead you to the summit. Depending on the route/conditions/weather and a myriad of other factors, it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours to reach the summit. Enjoy the views and sense of accomplishment - you earned it! After a short celebration, you will reverse course and return to camp for a well-deserved meal and rest.
(~3.5 miles, 3,000' to summit)

Day 4 - Break down camp and say goodbye to the close up view of Glacier Peak. Retrace your steps back to White Pass. Some groups will choose to continue down to the riverside for the final camp.

Day 5 - Last day! Enjoy every last view and appreciate the experience you just had. You can expect to be back to the trailhead by 4pm (earlier if camping at Mackinaw Shelter).

  • Mount Hood Skills Course or equivalent experience.
  • Ability to safely travel on moderate snow slopes with crampons and ice axe.
  • Experience with glacier travel is recommended.
  • Any additional mountaineering experience will enhance your ability to learn, but is not required.
  • Excellent fitness - ability to hike for 8 hours and ascend or descend up to 4000' with a 50 lb pack, 5 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. For Sat-Sun AIARE courses plan on Thursday 6:30-8:30pm; otherwise 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:

  • Pre-trip planning.
  • Route finding and navigation in glaciated terrain.
  • Snow camping.
  • Ascending and descending steep snow slopes using crampons and ice axe.
  • Glacier rigging, rope team travel, and rope management.
  • Safe travel techniques in a snowy and icy environment.


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

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Glacier Peak Summit Climb

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