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, Summer is in full swing here in the Cascades. Last week, we saw freezing levels above normal for this time of year, but we are about to shift to much cooler temperatures and slight amounts of precipitation in the coming week. We anticipate the frontal system to begin on Friday and persist until…
Hello climbers, Climbing conditions in the Cascades are shaping up beautifully as we head into the summer season. Recent warm weather has accelerated snow melt, opening access to more routes and improving conditions across many alpine objectives across the region. With the Summer Solstice just around the corner, we’re enjoying the longest days of the…
Greetings Climbers, Happy Monday from Alpine Ascents! The past week on Mount Rainier has been a reminder of just how quickly conditions can change in the Cascades. Late last week, a strong storm moved through the region, depositing an estimated 2–3 feet of new snow above 10,000 feet. Guides reported winter-like conditions on the upper…
While the calendar technically says June, the Cascades have recently been reminding climbers that winter is not quite ready to let go. Over the past week, Mount Rainier received nearly two inches of precipitation at Paradise in 36hrs! Much of that precipitation falls as as snow at the higher elevations. Alpine Ascents guides reported significant new…
The Cascades climbing season continues to move forward, with teams enjoying generally favorable weather and good climbing conditions throughout much of the state. Guides are beginning to observe the seasonal changes that come with warmer temperatures and longer days. The current forecast suggests continued periods of stable weather intermixed with typical spring systems moving through…
Hello climbers, The past week has brought a mix of classic spring Cascade conditions, with warm temperatures early in the week followed by a return to cooler weather, stronger winds, and periods of precipitation across the range. While snowpack remains below average for this time of year, climbers continue to find good climbing conditions on…
Greetings Fellow Climbers, The Cascades climbing season is in full swing! This is our favorite time of year as we have climbers exploring all over the Pacific Northwest. In addition to our climbs in Cascades we also have several expeditions already deep in the Alaska range making moves up Denali. Internationally, our Everest expedition led…
Greetings Fellow Climbers, The Cascades climbing season is now fully underway, and overall climbing conditions across Washington remain quite good for mid-May. Over the past two weeks, our teams have been active on Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and throughout the Cascades, with guides reporting generally favorable travel conditions, strong route coverage on the upper mountains,…
Rainer is in Full Swing! This past week has been a gorgeous one here in the PNW with ample sunny skies across the region. Our guides have been calling in great conditions from all around the state, with lots of people climbing and skiing off the tops of the peak in the Cascades. As a…
Here we go! We’ve begun the summer season and our teams are already in the field. Our first Mount Rainier climb reached the summit on April 28, and our first mountaineering course on Mount Baker also successfully summited yesterday. It’s a strong start to the season. While there has been considerable discussion around a low…
