Climbing Mt. Shuksan and North Cascades Summits

Courses and Climbs in the Heart of America's Alps

Towering over Artists' Point and the upper Nooksack Valley, Mt. Shuksan is one of the most photographed peaks in the world, recognized visually by millions of people who do not know its name or location. As a climbing objective, this fairy-tale summit offers an extraordinary variety of routes, from rock climbs on Shuksan's challenging greenschist to hanging glaciers and steep snow climbs. East of Mount Shuksan, North Cascades National Park holds dozens of peaks over 8,000 feet, including Eldorado, Sahale, Forbidden, and the Liberty Bell group. The programs listed here all include one or more of these outstanding climbs.

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  • Mt. Shuksan and the Nooksack Cirque
  • Mt. Shuksan from Picture Lake
  • Mt. Shuksan in the clouds
  • Summit Ridge on Mt. Shuksan
  • Mt. Shuksan in early morning light

  Mt. Shuksan Skills and Climb

  Climb the striking Mt. Shuksan via the Sulphide Glacier, Fisher Chimneys or the North Face. Join us on the Sulphide for a low ratio, beginner/intermediate group climb that incorporates introductory glacier training and rock scrambling; or join us for a more advanced private ascent of the scenic Fisher Chimneys or the challenging North Face.

  • Location:North Cascades National Park, WA
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:3 or 4 days
  • Cost:$1075 or $1385, Sulphide Group Course; $1395- $1950 Fisher Chimneys or North Face

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  • Beckey Route, Liberty Bell
  • Sahale Peak, Quien Sabe Glacier
  • Liberty Bell
  • South Early Winters Spire, South Arete
  • Inspiration Glacier
  • Early Morning Start
  • Crampon Technique
  • Eldorado Camp

  Alpinism 2 - Intermediate Mountaineering

  This course provides a thorough introduction to alpine rock climbing at a moderate standard. Take this course to raise your skills to the intermediate level while climbing a series of spectacular North Cascades alpine summits such as South Early Winter Spire, Liberty Bell, Eldorado Peak, and Mt. Shuksan. Taken together with Alpinism 1, this course is the equivalent of our Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership, Part 1.

  • Location:North Cascades, WA
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:6 days
  • Cost:$1995

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  • Ropeteam on the Quien-Sabe Glacier
  • Starting up South Early Winter Spire
  • Crevasse Rescue Practice
  • Climbing Kangaroo Temple
  • Starting up Beckey Route Chimney Pitch
  • Climbers at Crater Rim
  • Multi-pitch Climbing Systems at Fun Rock
  • Mt. Baker from the East

  Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership, Part 1

  Journalists have called AAI's four-part mountain leadership program "the country's most respected and thorough rock and mountaineering course." Part one (12 days) introduces glacier skills and alpine rock climbing at a moderate difficulty level. After training on the Easton Glacier, we climb Mount Baker, make ascents in the Washington Pass area, and conclude with a student-led ascent of a major North Cascades summit.

  • Location:North Cascades, WA
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:12 days
  • Cost:$3395

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  • W. Ridge of Forbidden
  • Climbing on Dome Peak
  • Alpine ice climbing
  • Rappelling on Mt. Triumph
  • Climbers passing Mt. Baker's crater
  • Alpine rock climbing
  • Rapelling into a crevasse
  • Alpine Ice Climbing 2
  • Practicing ice climbing
  • Alpine Rock South Early Winter Spire
  • Alpine Mixed Climbing
  • Drytooling Introduction
  • Student Led Objective
  • Alpine Ice Climbing 3
  • Alpine Ice Climbing 4
  • Snow Belaying
  • Traditional Climbing in Leavenworth

  Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership, Part 2

  Part 2 of AAI’s four-part mountain leadership series introduces rock and alpine ice leadership skills. We then put those skills to the test on student-led ascents of the challenging peaks around Boston Basin, such as Forbidden Peak and Sharkfin Tower, and on an alpine ice climb on the massive glaciers of Mount Baker.

  • Location:North Cascades, WA
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:12 days
  • Cost:$3455

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  • Shuksan Summit Ridge
  • Stuart Range
  • Washington Pass Alpine Rock
  • Mixup Summit
  • Whiterock Lake Camp
  • Phenomenal Exposure
  • Liberty Bell
  • West Ridge of Forbidden Peak
  • Pickets Sunset

  Guided Alpine Climbing in the Cascades

  The glacier and rock ascents in the North Cascades offer beginners and experts alike the opportunity to experience some of the best alpine climbing in America.

  • Location:Northern Cascade Range, Washington
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:Varies
  • Cost:Price varies. See details.

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  • Washington Pass Alpine Rock
  • Chablis Spire
  • Washington Pass Summit
  • Topping out on Spontaneity Arete

  Guided Alpine Rock Climbing in the North Cascades

  The clean granite of Washington Pass and the Liberty Bell Group provides some of the best and most accessible alpine rock climbing in the Pacific Northwest. Classics like the Southwest Buttress of South Early Winter Spire make for rewarding outings for intermediate climbers, while the spectacular Liberty Crack challenges the most advanced.

  • Location:North Cascades, WA
  • Season:May - September
  • Length:1 day and up
  • Cost:$595/day for 1:1; lower rates for larger parties.