Logistics

8:00 a.m. Course Location

We will meet at 8:00AM the morning of our course at our designated venue. You guide will send out meeting location details prior to the trip.

Please be aware that the course venue may be forced to change due to weather, conditions, or road closures.

Transportation

Transportation is not provided.  If you are renting a car, please be aware that most car rental agencies do not permit you to use chains with their vehicles.   However, you can try to rent a car from Turo and select “all-wheel drive, ski rack, and snow tires/chains,” to find a vehicle that is already winter-ready. If you are in this situation, we recommend checking Turo well in advance to try and secure an appropriate vehicle to drive safely to your course.

Winter Travel Advisory

Mountain road and mountain pass conditions can change dramatically over the course of a day. Please check the WSDOT website for conditions reports. Participants are responsible to ensure their vehicle meets WSDOT travel standards which could include required snow tires, chains, and/or AWD or 4WD. We strongly encourage participants to carpool when possible.

Mount Rainier Courses
For courses at Mount Rainier, the group will meet in Ashford, WA. Alpine Ascents will provide transportation from Ashford to the Paradise trailhead in Mount Rainier National Park.

Mount Baker Courses
Between November 1 and May 1, all vehicles on Hwy 542 up to Heather Meadows  are required to carry tire chains. This requirement applies to all vehicle types in all weather and road conditions.  Weather on Hwy 542 is notoriously quick to change, and sudden storms can appear with little or no warning. Please check the WSDOT website for current condition reports.

Stevens Pass Courses
For courses at Stevens Pass, chains/all weather tires are encouraged but not typically required unless mandated by the Washington Department of Transportation.  Please be sure to check the WSDOT Twitter feed for the latest information.

AIARE Online Curriculum

We’re excited to offer pre-course online curriculum to complement your AIARE 2. You will be sent these online learning materials and assignments upon registration for your course.  You’ll want to allocate ample time to review AIARE Level 1 course materials, check your understanding with review quizzes, and complete pre-course activities prior to the field sessions.

*The online review is an integral part of this course; it is mandatory, not supplementary. You may find yourself significantly behind if you do not complete the online portion of the course, and will not receive a course completion certificate.*

Please contact [email protected] with any technical questions.

Additional Online Resources

Prior to your course, we recommend becoming familiar with your local avalanche forecast center.   In Washington, we are fortunate to have the North West Avalanche Center.   If you are unsure of your local avalanche center, Avalanche.org can help you find the nearest avalanche center.

Interactive Online Educational Resources

• Know Before You Go
• Rescue at Cherry Bowl
• Snow Fall – The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
• Avalanche Education Tutorial

Field Sessions

Prior to the course, your instructor team will outline detailed logistics on meeting time and location for our three field sessions. Please plan on each field session starting at 8am and running until 5pm. It is critical you arrive prepared with the required equipment. If you have any equipment questions please reach out to [email protected].

Please be aware that the course venue may be forced to change due to weather, conditions, or road closures.

Rainier

Mt. Rainier (14,410 ft), is the highest volcano and largest glaciated mountain in the contiguous U.S. This alpine giant is famous for its superior climbing as well as its pristine wilderness. The vast glaciers and alpine ridges of Mount Rainier offer endless stunning backcountry touring options.  With the parking at Paradise a lofty 5,400′ above sea level, we are transported right into Rainier’s legendary deep snowpack.

• The Paradise area at Mount Rainier is known for its snowfall which attracts skiers and snowboarders from across the country to its slopes.
• We are one of the few guiding services that is able to operate in Mount Rainier National Park and our guides are deeply familiar with the terrain and the best snow stashes.
• Mount Rainier is one of the most popular ski mountaineering areas in the Cascades – and for good reason. There is abundant snow and huge variety of backcountry and skiing opportunities for those that travel past the parking lot.

Baker

Mt. Baker (10,781 ft.), the highest point of the North Cascades, is a heavily glaciated dormant volcano. The twelve active glaciers of Mt. Baker cover an area exceeding 20 square miles. Mt. Baker is unique in its great mass of snow and ice and easy accessibility. This combination creates a perfect training ground for backcountry skiing and riding.

• Setting the world record for recorded snowfall in a single season (1,140′ in 1999), Mt. Baker remains one of the snowiest spots in the Pacific Northwest and the world, attracting skiers and snowboarders from far and wide.
• The Heather Meadows area offers a plethora of prime ski tours for skiers/riders of all ability levels. From wide bowls, to tight trees, with no shortage of spiny lines, the Baker backcountry is the stuff of legend.
• On a clear day, backcountry travelers can bask in panoramic views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker.

Stevens Pass

Stevens Pass (4,062 ft), set deep within the Cascade Mountains off of Highway 2, is best known for deep snow and amazing tree skiing.

• Yodelin, a retired ski area just northeast of Stevens Pass, is a favorite zone featuring open glades and liberally spaced trees.  Plus, the approach is wonderfully short.

Rainier

The closest town to our Rainier courses is Ashford, Washington. A few options are below, but many others exist. There are many excellent Ashford rentals on AirBNB as well.

Whittaker’s Bunkhouse
Phone: (360) 569-2439
Website 

Nisqually Lodge
Phone: (360) 569-8804
Website

Alexander’s Lodge
Phone: (360) 569-2300
Website

Baker

The closest town to our Baker courses is Glacier, Washington (~ 22 miles).  It’s a very small town and there are not traditional hotels.  However, there are excellent and affordable rentals on AirBNB. Bellingham, Washington is farther away (~60 miles) but is a much larger town and has more lodging options and restaurants. We recommend finding a hotel on your preferred travel booking site at a price point that works for you.

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 AIARE course students 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.

Vaccinations & Testing

We expect all climbers attending this program to be vaccinated.

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.

Face Masks

While 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, you may be requested to wear your mask.

Rental Equipment

All equipment at Alpine Ascents is disinfected in line with CDC protocols, using EPA-registered disinfection supplies certified to mitigate COVID-19.