Day 1: Technical Training Day

8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.     Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.

Check-in 8:30 a.m. Please dress casually and bring your climbing equipment and clothing.

The Rainier BaseCamp facilities in Ashford open at 7:00 a.m. Climbers may register with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., pick up rental equipment and purchase last minute items from Whittaker Mountaineering during this time. Pre-ordered trail lunches and meals may also be picked up.

 We begin the morning with a welcome and introduction of team members and guides. The Technical Training Day provides an intensive learning opportunity in a classroom setting with a focused introduction to a variety of topics. This includes a detailed personal equipment discussion and gear check, instruction regarding Leave No Trace practices and environmental considerations, a discussion of mountain medicine, mountain weather, expedition logistics, and navigation and route finding. This helps prepare us for our adventure on Mt. Adams, and increases the likelihood of a safe, successful ascent of the mountain.

Please make your own arrangements to stay in the Ashford area on this evening.

Days 2 - 6: The Climb

7:00 a.m.     Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.

Day 2: Team assembles in preparation for the day.  Guides will offer some final packing and clothing suggestions, and answer any questions before loading up all of our gear and driving to the Killen Creek Trailhead on the North side of Mt. Adams. The drive takes approximately two and a half hours, with a brief stop in the small town of Randle to register at Forest Service Ranger Station, use the restrooms, and buy any last minute snacks.

The hike from Killen Creek Trailhead (4,600’) climbs through timber and open meadows until reaching our first camp on the moraine just below the Adams Glacier (7,000’). The approach takes approximately three and a half hours, and we plan to arrive in camp by early afternoon. After setting up camp, we will practice basic mountaineering skills including; efficient mountain travel (rest-stepping and pressure breathing), various safety practices including use of helmets, harnesses, and avalanche transceivers, cramponing, climbing in balance, proper use of our ice axe, self and team arrest, and moderate cramponing. Evening discussions focus on mountain camps and knot tying skills.

Day 3:  We ascend to approximately 8,200’ on the Adams Glacier, and establish our High Camp that serves as our base for the week. This camp is situated right below the North Ridge and the Adams Glacier, providing terrific views and access to training sites. We spend the rest of the day continuing to build a solid mountaineering skill foundation with topics including; roped glacier travel, the use of running belays, self care, steeper cramponing techniques, and anchors.

Day 4:  We practice our rope travel and route finding skills as we climb up the Adams Glacier to our training area to practice crevasse rescue and ice climbing. We spend the entire day away from camp as we learn to ascend steeper terrain, rescue a companion from a crevasse fall, practice belaying and rappelling, and ascend fixed lines. We return to camp in the afternoon and get into our sleeping bags early in anticipation of our upcoming summit attempt.

Day 5:  Summit Day! This big day begins with an alpine start and we climb either the North Ridge or Adams Glacier depending on the current route conditions. Both are challenging climbs with 4,000’ of mountain between us and the summit. We return to High Camp by mid afternoon and spend our final night on the mountain.

Day 6:  The final day of the program includes time for additional training before descending our route from High Camp, and returning to Killen Creek Trailhead.  Our shuttle will then take the team back to Rainier BaseCamp, arriving in Ashford by the late afternoon. After all the group gear is unpacked and checked in, we celebrate our adventure with a presentation of certificates.