Curriculum

On our Mount Shuksan climbs, you’ll gain hands-on experience in essential alpine skills. Learn basic rock climbing techniques, glacier travel, and rope management while navigating stunning terrain.

Students Will Learn:

  • Gear selection and care
  • Belaying and rappelling
  • Movement on rock
  • Basic knots
  • Leave No Trace
  • Glacier travel concepts and skills
  • Self-arresting and crampon techniques
  • Summit strategies, route finding, navigation, and hazard assessment

The 3-Day option eliminates the day of rock climbing at the program start.  The rest of the itinerary and curriculum are the same.

This program is designed as a summit-focused skills course, not a comprehensive technical course. It will not make you an independent climber, but rather prepare you to be an effective and contributing member of a guided ascent.​
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Details

Prerequisites

3-day Option
  • Backpacking experience
  • Multi-pitch alpine rock climbing experience
  • Rappelling experience
  • Good physical condition
4-Day Option
  • Backpacking experience
  • Good physical condition​

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions: Included in the course cost are group technical climbing equipment like ropes and pickets, transportation to the climbing areas from AAI headquarters, all permits and camping fees, and the guide fee.

Exclusions: Not included in the course cost are all personal clothing and climbing gear, rentals, gratuities to the guide, meals while on the course, or travel insurance.

 

 

Course Options

Which Course is Right for You?

While the Shuksan experience focuses on introductory rock scrambling and glacier travel, Alpinism 1 builds on those skills with more advanced glacier navigation and crevasse rescue.  If you want to expand your alpine capabilities, tackle more challenging terrain, and gain the confidence to lead classic North Cascades climbs, Alpinism 1 is the ideal course.​

Three or Four Days

We offer 3- and 4-day Mt. Shuksan climbs to give climbers flexibility and a more custom experience on the mountain. The extra day allows for those with no rock climbing experience to get a day of basic rock climbing instruction to be able to climb the summit pyramid of Shuksan.   The 3-day option is for those with previous rock climbing experience.   Both options are excellent; it’s simply a matter of choosing the course that’s right for you.

Take on Shuksan’s More Challenging Routes

If you have more experience as a climber and would like to tackle one of the more difficult routes, such as the Fischer Chimneys or North Face, we can arrange that on a private basis as well.

Reservations for these climbs can be made before May 31st.  After that, climbing permits are obtained on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to limited availability.

Prerequisites for Fisher Chimneys and the North Face Routes

  • Backpacking skills
  • Good physical condition
  • Rock climbing skills
  • Ice climbing skills
  • Glacier travel skills

Read more about Shuksan’s routes in this article here.

When to Climb in the Cascades

Every month in the Cascades tells a different story. Early, mid, and late summer each bring unique conditions that affect your climb. See how the season you choose can shape your route, snow conditions, and overall experience in this article.