This is your opportunity to climb three of the most iconic peaks in the North Cascades in one week. Come and climb Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan and Sahale Peak with us. None of these peaks are very demanding on a technical level, but they offer a level of introduction into alpine climbing that would be hard to match in a different area of the Lower 48 states.
The North Cascades Trilogy is an unforgettable trip:
Peak 1: Mount Baker is a heavily glaciated volcano and the route up the Coleman and Deming Glaciers is scenic, technically entertaining and physically strenuous enough so that you will feel challenged but ready for the next step. Besides climbing a very cool glaciated peak, you will be introduced to roped glacier travel and crampon technique up to 40 degrees of steepness. Mount Baker tops out at 10780 feet, which is just high enough to start feeling the altitude a bit, but prior acclimatization is not a big topic, which is a huge plus.
Peak 2: Mount Shuksan is arguably the most photographed mountain of North Cascades National Park. At 9135 feet it is not as high as Mount Baker, but the slightly lower starting elevation up and more technical summit tower certainly make the effort comparable. We will be climbing Mount Shuksan via the well known Sulphide Glacier route, which can be divided into three very distinct parts. You start out via a nice hike up through the forest. This leads to the lower reaches of the expansive Sulphide Glacier, which in turn leads to the famous rocky summit pyramid. Here the mode of climbing switches from moderate glacier travel to exposed scrambling on 4th class terrain all the way to the lofty summit.
Peak 3: Sahale Peak has it all. At 8631 feet, Sahale is the "lowest" of the three summits, but maybe the most diverse in what the route has to offer. We will climb up into the famous Boston Basin and camp below Forbidden Peak. The route will take us up the Quien Sabe Glacier to the Boston-Sahale Col and from there to the summit. The summit views are considered the best in the Cascades by many climbers.
A few words about this Trilogy Trip: You will be climbing over 20'000 feet of vertical over the course of 6 days of climbing. Even though not technically demanding, this trip is physically demanding, since the terrain is uneven, you are sleeping outside and for more than half the time you will be carrying an overnight pack. Very good physical fitness is a must for proper enjoyment of this amazing mountain experience.
Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult.
Technical Difficulty: Moderate. You should have good basic coordinative abilities, be comfortable with exposure and be ready to use crampons in terrain up to 40 degrees of frozen snow and/or ice.
Fitness Requirement: Very good fitness required. This trip is very strenuous due to its length and objective of summiting three peaks in a row.
Try to fit your gear into a 50 liter pack.
No, you are responsible for your own food. We are glad to help with food suggestions though.
