Welcome to the Alpine Ascents blog—where we share stories, knowledge, and inspiration from the mountains. From expedition updates and climbing conditions to training advice, gear tips, destination highlights, and stories from our guides and climbers, this is a place to stay connected to the world of mountaineering. Whether you’re preparing for your first climb, planning your next big expedition, or simply dreaming about the mountains, we hope you’ll find useful information, new ideas, and plenty of inspiration for the adventures ahead.
Hello climbers, The summer climbing season is almost wrapped up, and the weather is making a shift in the mountains. This upcoming weekend looks like light precipitation with the freezing levels hovering around 7000-8000 ft, so the tops of some peaks should get a light dusting of snow. Following the weekend some late summer sunshine…
Hello climbers, It felt like the switch to fall happened in the mountains this week! Cool temperatures and precipitation have returned to the mountains. New snow returned to mid and upper elevations over the last couple days, and a handful of inches is expected over the next few days and leading into the weekend as…
Hello climbers, Conditions continue to stay phenomenal around the mountains in Washington. Smoke forecasts look really good throughout the rest of the week and into weekend. We are starting to see some mid to late August weather patterns start to creep in, with blip of cooler temperatures and light precipitation working its way into the…
Summer keeps on rolling and climbing in the Cascades is still going strong. Forecasts for the next week look promising. There will be a slight dip in the freezing levels over the weekend which should help keep things nice and cool higher up in the mountains. There’s also a slight change of picking up some…
Hello climbers, It’s hard to believe, but the first week of August is almost finished! Climbing conditions throughout the state haven’t changed much since last week. Smoke has moved in the last couple of days throughout the area, but thankfully hasn’t impacted trips or teams up high. We expect a lot of the smoke to…
Hello climbers, Summer continues in full swing around Washington. Temperatures should hover around seasonal norms for the rest of the week before a slight disturbance over the weekend. There will be a slight dip in the temperature and there may even be a bit of precipitation in the mountains. It should be a nice break…
Hello climbers, It’s been warm over the past week, but that is all hopefully about to change. A weather system will push inland over the weekend, bringing cooler temperatures and additional chances of showers to the mountains. Cooler temperatures will then persist through the first half of next week, making ideal climbing conditions again. Even…
Hello climbers, We enjoyed a great week in the mountains and weather continues to be stable throughout the Pacific Northwest moving forward. Freezing levels will float around seasonal norms for the upcoming week. Combined with forecasted sunny skies and low to moderate winds, everything should shape up for another stellar week of climbing all across…
Hello climbers, Summer mountaineering in the Cascades remains exceptional. Mild temperatures, clear skies, and light winds look like they continue to be the trend throughout the mountains. Overnight freezing levels remain low enough to preserve glacier integrity and maintain excellent route conditions across the range. Given the high atmospheric stability and ideal temperatures, this stands…
Greetings climbers, Summer continues to deliver prime climbing conditions throughout the Cascades. After a stretch of minor precipitation, the forecast is calling for several days of mild temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and only light winds. Overnight freezing levels remain favorable for glacier travel, helping preserve route conditions across the range. With stable weather, moderate temperatures,…
