10:00 a.m. Gear Check Day Before Climb Begins
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 9:45 a.m. for a mandatory gear check beginning at 10:00 a.m. the day before your climb is scheduled to begin. This gear check will last about 2 hours. You are required to attend this meeting. Please review the Gear Check information and come prepared.
FOR SUMMER 2021, AS PART OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS PLEASE NOTE THESE CHANGES:
1. Climbers will need to self-drive to and from the mountain until further notice.
2. Day 1 of the climb, the team will meet at Hoh River Ranger Station at 8:00 AM.
3. To shorten the drive on Day 1, climbers should strongly consider staying closer to the mountain the night before the climb rather than staying in Seattle. The closest town to the Hoh River Ranger Station with hotel options is Forks, WA.
4. The gear check time and location is unchanged.
5. The team will de-issue gear at the trailhead at the conclusion of the climb. Climbers will not return to the Alpine Ascents Office after the climb.
Getting to Seattle
If you are flying into Seattle, SeaTac is the closest airport to our office. You are responsible for transportation between the airport and your hotel.
Getting from the Airport to the Office
Our office is 30-50 minutes from the airport (depending on traffic). Most climbers take a Lyft, Uber, or taxi directly from the airport.
Other options are taking Shuttle Express or the Light Rail (public transit) from the airport station to Westlake Station, followed by a Lyft/Uber/taxi the last 1.8 miles to the office. The Light Rail is $3 for this one-way trip.
6:00 AM Departure Day 1 of Climb
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 5:45 a.m. for a 6:00 a.m. departure. Please be on time. Alpine Ascents provides transportation to and from the Hoh River trail head.
Parking
Free long-term parking is difficult to locate in the vicinity of Alpine Ascents. Parking options include 2-hour metered street parking, pay-by-day lots, or limited 72-hour free parking (4-6 blocks away). If you live locally or plan to rent a vehicle, we recommend parking your car at your home or hotel and commuting to our offices via taxi or app-based transit.
Due to our location in the heart of Seattle, Alpine Ascents does not offer parking for climbers. Please allow sufficient time to park your vehicle if driving to our office.
Evening Return Day 5 of Climb
You will return to the Alpine Ascents Office between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on the last day of the climb.
Air travelers are strongly advised against booking flights out until the day after your climb concludes. Trip schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate return flights booked on the same day your climb concludes.
In Seattle
FOR SUMMER 2021: We recommend booking a room for the night before your climb and for the night your climb concludes. To shorten your drive on Day 1, we strongly recommend staying closer to the mountain the night before rather than staying in Seattle. The closest town to the trailhead with hotel options is Forks, WA.
We de-issue rentals at the trailhead at the end of Day 5, so you are free to book lodging wherever you prefer that night. We strongly advise against flying out until the day after your climb concludes.
We recommend booking a room for the night before your climb and for the night your climb concludes. We will return to our office late on Day 5, between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., and you can return to your hotel. We strongly advise against flying out until the day after your climb concludes. Trip schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate return flights booked on the same day your climb concludes.
Recommended Forks Hotels
Hoh Valley Cabins at Elk Meadows
360-374-5111
Miller Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast
(360) 374-6806
Huckleberry Lodge
(360) 477-7232
Recommended Seattle Hotels
The MarQueen Hotel: One block from our office and often able to offer a discount for our climbers. They are helpful and familiar with our programs. Please book early as Seattle hotels can be fully booked in summer months.
Reserve by phone: (206) 282-7407 (888) 445-3076. Mention you are with Alpine Ascents to get a discount, if available.
Reserve online: The Marqueen Hotel. Use promotional code “Alpine” to get discount.
We are located in lower Queen Anne, downtown Seattle, and are a short walk or taxi ride away from many other hotels. You may elect to stay in any one of the numerous hotels in the area. You will be responsible for getting to our office for your gear check the day before your climb and morning departure on Day 1 of the climb.
Other Hotels Nearby:
Mediterranean Inn
(206) 428-4700
Inn at Queen Anne
(206) 282-7357
The Maxwell Hotel
(877) 298-9728
10:00 a.m. Gear Check (Day Before Climb Begins)
FOR SUMMER 2021: Due to COVID-19, Alpine Ascents is making every effort to limit the amount of time our team is gathered indoors. Pre-Gear Check materials will be sent to climbers to supplement a shortened gear check process, which will be held on our outside patio and last 60-75 minutes.
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 9:45 a.m. for a mandatory gear check beginning at 10:00 a.m. This takes place the day before your climb is scheduled to begin. This meeting will last approximately 3 hours.
You are required to attend this meeting, so we can distribute and fit rental gear, do a thorough check of your gear, provide packing instruction, check personal lunch items, review the climbing route and trip itinerary, and answer any questions you may have.
You may attend the gear check in your normal street clothes. We have storage for reasonably sized luggage while you are on your climb, so please bring a duffel bag/suitcase to store any personal items you do not wish to take on your climb. This luggage can be dropped off the morning you depart for the mountain.
What to Bring: Please bring all of your gear to gear check. Note that you do not need to pack carefully, as we look at every item together. Rental gear will be picked up at the gear check. You are responsible to bring all gear on the gear list except what you rent from Alpine Ascents.
Menu Planning
FOR SUMMER 2021: As part of our COVID-19 protocols to operate in Olympic National Park, we will provide dehydrated breakfast and dinner options in lieu of our traditional menu. Climbers will choose from a selection of meat, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options from Mountain House and Good-to-Go during the gear check. Climbers are welcome to bring their own freeze dried/dehydrated food (4 breakfasts, 4 dinners) if preferred.
You are required to bring your own lunches. On-mountain breakfasts and dinners are provided on the climb. If you have any food allergies or requirements, please notify us in advance. Your climber application features a place to input this information, or we are always happy to speak with you directly.
Overview
Food is one of the basic pleasures of wilderness travel. There are countless options for putting together healthy and delicious meals for your trip. For most climbs in the alpine environment, we eat approximately every hour during brief rest breaks. This constant intake is the most efficient way to fuel our bodies and meter our energy output as we climb. We do not stop for long “lunch breaks.” Your lunches should not require the use of a stove while on the mountain.
Basic Principles
A climbing or backpacking outing in the wilderness requires higher energy expenditure on a daily basis than what you may be used to. Eating well and frequently not only sustains energy levels but also boosts morale and attitude. In addition, mountains often challenge climbers with inclement weather. It is important that caloric intake be high and regular to help avoid hypothermia and other cold weather or altitude-related problems.
- Your food should consist of a well-balanced selection of food groups. It is best to plan most meals with high levels of complex carbohydrates to provide the most efficient long-term energy production.
- Refined sugars and simple carbohydrates, found in candy and other items, provide quick, short-term energy.
- Proteins are necessary for good health, but not in the quantities that most eat. On a short trip (3–4 days) lower protein intake levels do not cause problems.
- Fats require much more oxygen and time to metabolize (especially at high altitudes) which can be an important consideration.
Consider foods which are light and compact. Balance this consideration with nutritional needs and packing foods which taste good to you. Packaging should be minimal, but without sacrificing good organization and weather-protection.
Alpine Ascents provides breakfasts, dinners, soups, and hot drinks for summit climbs. You will be responsible for providing your own lunches for 3 days. Listed below are sample lunch menus and a packing list for your climb. It is extremely important to bring the listed calorie amounts, though the exact items you bring may vary according to your preferences.
5 Day Climb Daily Menu Sample
Here is a sample of the types of things people bring with them for their daily lunches.
Day 1: Hoh Ranger Station – Olympic Guard Station – 9 miles, 370′ gain
Plan to bring approximately 1000 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Cold pizza or fresh sandwich
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• Your favorite candy bar
• Piece of fresh fruit
• Cold drink mix for your water
Day 2: Olympic Guard Station – Glacier Meadows – 8.2 miles, 3,252′ gain
Plan to bring 600-800 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• Your favorite candy bar
• Some hard candies or chocolates
Day 3: Summit Day! – 8-10 hours round trip, 3,765′ gain,
Plan to bring approximately 1200 calories of lunch food for this day.
• 4 energy bars
• 2 energy gels
• Your favorite candy bar
• Canister of Pringles
Day 4: Glacier Meadows – Olympic Guard Station – 8.2 miles, 3,252′ loss
Plan to bring approximately 500 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• 2 energy gels
• Your favorite candy bar
Day 5: Olympic Guard Station – Hoh Ranger Station – 9 miles, 370′ loss
Plan to bring approximately 500 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• 2 energy gels
• Your favorite candy bar
Sample Lunch Packing List
This list is intended as a sample packing/shopping list to create a complete “lunch bag” suitable for a 5-day climb. These items can be used in conjunction or as a substitute for the above menu sample.
Jerky (Beef, Turkey, or Soy) 8–10 oz Bag
Trail Mix 3 cup
Salty Snack Mix 1 qt
Energy Bars 3 Bars
Corn Nuts 2 Packets
Large Cookies 3 Packs
Candy Bars 3 Bars
Granola Bars 3 Bars
Crackers (Peanut butter or Cheese 3 Packages
Bagels (1 per day) 5 Bagels
String Cheese 4 sticks
Cheddar Cheese Squares 3 Squares
Mini Cheese Rounds 3 Rounds
Mixed Dried Fruit 1/2 qt Bag
Hard Candy 1/2 qt Bag
Cold Drink Mix (w/ electrolytes) 5 Packets
Energy Gel 4 Packet
Gallon Zip-lock Bag 2 Bags
Caloric info: www.whatscookingamerica.net/NutritionalChart.htm
On the Mountain
FOR SUMMER 2021: Single occupancy tents are provided for those not in the same household.
All Nights of Climb
Sleeping arrangements: 2 per tent.
Bathroom: Go Anywhere Waste Kits (pack it out).
Cell coverage: Sporadic service with various providers. Clear days offer better cellular reception.
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Before your climb, please become familiar with Leave No Trace:
7 Principles of Leave No Trace
As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before.
Conversely, there is nothing more disheartening than working hard to climb a mountain, reaching a site and encountering trash, food waste, and toilet paper. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.
Tipping
Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. Your guide team is composed of three guides. They will pool all tips received. An average tip for the full guide team is $150-200.
Please be aware that we are unable to process tips by card. You are welcome to tip your guides with cash or via mobile payment such as Venmo or PayPal.
COVID-19 Protocols
While we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we do carry out a variety of measures designed to mitigate the risk of illness for climbers and staff. It is important we work together with the same team-oriented perspective we rely on in climbing, and we greatly appreciate your partnership. Please take a few moments to thoroughly read the information below and know that we look to improve our operation as additional information about the virus becomes available.
Screening
If you experience fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea please immediately contact Alpine Ascents. Anyone experiencing these symptoms within 14 days of their trip date will be asked to reschedule their trip. All climbers are verbally screened for these symptoms on arrival to Alpine Ascents, and all staff are screened daily
Face Masks
For your safety and the safety of staff, cloth or surgical face masks are required at all times on Alpine Ascents’ premises. If you arrive without a mask, staff will provide one for you. We strongly recommend reviewing proper mask wearing procedures prior to your arrival.
While climbing and traveling in the mountains, all climbers are required to have a face mask easily accessible in a waterproof bag (Ziploc, etc.). When social distancing measure are not feasible, such as at a belay, you will be requested to wear your mask.
Transportation
In line with local restrictions, you and/or your household need to arrange transportation to/from Alpine Ascents, and also to/from all trailheads, hotels, etc. All necessary trailhead parking permits will be provided.
On Mountain Food Service
Alpine Ascents will provide “add water” meal service to reduce potential COVID-19 exposure due to cooking. You remain responsible for bringing your lunch/snack foods as outlined in your trip material. While we truly enjoy providing gourmet backcountry meals, we believe this course of action mitigates COVID-19 transmission risks and are committed to it.
Accomodation in the Field
For the duration of the 2020 and 2021 season, Alpine Ascents will provide single tent options for all. Those traveling with members of their own household, or otherwise wishing to, may share tents.
Climber Orientation/Gear Check
Prior to your arrival at Alpine Ascents, you will receive pre-gear check materials designed to prepare you for your climb. These materials will include video versions of certain components of our renowned gear checks, enabling you to receive the same training and advice with less time spent inside our headquarters. Please thoroughly review your learning package prior to arrival.
Expect an approximately 1-1.5-hour gear check experience at Alpine Ascents. Gear check will be conducted at appropriate physical distance on the patio area of Alpine Ascents Seattle headquarters. There are no adjustments to your gear check/orientation start time. During your gear check, you will receive/fit rental gear, have each item you plan to bring checked by trained staff, and leave with sufficient resources to pack your bag at your local lodging of choice.
Mitigation Measures at our Office
Hand washing and hand sanitizing facilities are provided at every entry point, in every gear check area, and of ourse within every restroom. We encourage you to regularly clean or sanitize your hands while at Alpine Ascents, especially after touching your face, sneezing, coughing, using the bathroom, eating, or drinking.
Common areas, high-touch surfaces, and restrooms are sanitized regularly. We are committed to keeping our environment clean for your protection as well as ours.
All equipment at Alpine Ascents is disinfected in line with CDC protocols, using EPA-registered disinfection supplies certified to mitigate COVID-19.
Alpine Ascents’ staff are trained in recognizing signs and symptoms of COVID-19. This training comes in addition to thousands of hours of first-responder or other medical experience.
The entire trip was spectacular. Reaching the summit was exhilarating but only a portion of the fun. From registration to final check-in, the Alpine Ascents team did a great job. I have used multiple guide services in the past but this team ranks at the top of the list.
