Basic Glacier Climbing Course
The application window for the 2026 Glacier Course will be open during the month of February. Applicants will be notified of results in the latter half of March.
Want to learn some basic climbing skills? Looking to have fun in the mountains and make new friends?
The Basic Glacier Climbing Course will provide the instruction of glacier travel skills
that you will need to climb the big volcanoes of the Cascades. The
course will also introduce you to a fun and friendly climbing community. If
you are a hiker, backpacker or gym climber dreaming of new heights, the
Bushwhacker Glacier Course is a great start!
The course consists of Tuesday evening lectures, plus four field trips - see schedule below.
The classroom lectures are from 7:00pm-9:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm and we must be out of the building by 10pm..
There are three sections, each section composed of six students, assistants and one instructor. Each section
has its own outings. All sections will be together for the evening lectures.
The first and second field trips are full-day
outings. The third field trip is an overnight. The fourth field trip
is four days and three nights in the mountains. Weather permitting, the four-day field trip
features hands on crevasse practice and a summit attempt of Mt Baker. All field trips require
full days of activity. Do not plan to do something else the day of the field trips.
Course Requirements
Applicants should have some basic hiking and backpacking experience as well as comfort moving on steep terrain. Some outings will be strenuous with long days and applicants should be in good physical condition. Collaboration and effective communication are essential aspects of working in a team, particularly when it comes to rope travel.
Students will need the following equipment to participate in this course. We will talk a great deal about specific gear in the lectures - we advise course participants to hold off on new gear purchases until after the classroom discussions. Some gear can be rented, as well:
- Mountaineering boots
- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Climbing harness
- Climbing helmet
- Compass (simple base plate compass preferred)
- Suitable outdoor clothing
- Overnight camping equipment & backpack (the club provide stoves & tents)
Application
Applications for our glacier course are accepted in February (2025). Please note that the number of available seats is based on the Club's ability to support two sections.
Selected applicants will be notified in early March and all other applicants will be on a wait list. There is a wait list every year.
Note: You do not have to join the club in order to submit your application. If you take the class or you would just like to join the club, then you need should fill out the club membership form.
Location
For 2025, the lectures will be held at The Good Shephard Center located in Wallingford.
Prussik Practice is typically at Marymoor Park in Redmond
Weather and conditions permitting, the field outings are held along highway 90, highway 2 and on Mt Baker.
Cost
The course costs $475 (2026). In addition, club membership is required, which costs $35. Students provide their personal gear, clothing, food, and transportation. The club provides group gear such as tents, ropes, stoves and fuel.
2026 Course Schedule
The Basic Glacier Course includes Tuesday night lectures. Outings are every other weekend in May and June. The course pretty much follows this routine every year. We always deliberately avoid Memorial Day weekend.
Here is the draft 2025 schedule:
Apr 14
|
Classroom |
Introduction, Physical Conditioning, Gear I |
| |
|
|
Apr 18
|
Mt Si |
Field Outing I (Team 1 & 3), Team Building |
Apr 19
|
Mt Si |
Field Outing I (Team 2), Team Building |
|
|
Apr 21
|
Classroom |
Gear II
Navigation Part 1 |
|
|
|
Apr 28
|
Classroom |
Gear III
Navigation Part 2
|
| |
|
|
| May 2 |
Stevens Pass |
Field Outing II (Team 1 & 3), Snow Travel Skills |
| May 3 |
Stevens Pass |
Field Outing II (Team 2), Snow Travel Skills |
|
|
May 5
|
Classroom |
Roped Travel Skills |
| |
|
|
May 12
|
Classroom |
Expedition Gear and Food |
| |
|
|
May 16
May 17 |
Cascades |
Teams 1,2,3 - Field Outing III, Roped Travel Skills, overnight |
|
|
May 19
|
Classroom |
Z Pulley
|
|
|
|
| May 23 |
- |
Memorial Day Weekend |
| May 24 |
- |
Memorial Day Weekend |
| |
|
|
May 26
|
Park |
Prusik Practice
Team 1 Pack Check
|
|
|
|
| May 28 - May 31 |
Mt Baker |
Field Outing IV, Glacier Travel Skills (Team 1) |
May 29 - Jun 1
|
Mt Baker |
Field Outing IV, Glacier Travel Skills (Team 3) |
| |
|
|
| Jun 2 |
Classroom |
Hazard Recognition & Avoidance, Glaciology
Team 2 Pack Check |
|
|
|
| Jun 4 - Jun 7 |
Mt Baker |
Field Outing IV, Glacier Travel Skills (Team 2) |
|
|
|
| Jun 9 |
Park |
Course Completion Graduation Night |
| |
|
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