5 Days
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Mountaineering
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$2,375
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$400
Deposit
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Intermediate
A five-day climb of Mt. Olympus via the Blue Glacier in Olympic National Park.
Day-by-day program overview.
Fitness, experience, and preparation.
Gear requirements for this program.
Meals and nutrition on the mountain.
Getting there and local logistics.
Booking, cancellations, and requirements.
Common questions, direct answers.
What climbers are saying.
Two climbers per guide on the Blue Glacier, the steep snow, and the summit rock, for closer coaching at every step.
The route starts beneath old-growth trees in the Hoh Rain Forest and ends on glaciated alpine terrain at the top of the Olympics.
Roughly 45 miles on foot into the heart of Olympic National Park, on a peak that can only be reached by a long wilderness approach.
Mt. Olympus sits at the heart of Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and reaching it is a journey in itself. The climb starts beneath the moss-draped old-growth of the Hoh Rain Forest, follows the Hoh River deep into the park, and finishes on the Blue Glacier, steep snow, and the rocky summit of the highest peak in the Olympic Mountains. In five days you travel from temperate rainforest to glaciated alpine terrain, covering roughly 45 miles on foot.
RMI runs this climb at a 2:1 climber-to-guide ratio, with a maximum of six climbers. The terrain makes the case for it: a roped crossing of the Blue Glacier, steep snow on the Snow Dome and summit massif, and a short section of roped alpine rock to the top. With a guide for every two climbers, rope teams stay small, coaching stays personal, and each climber gets the attention that glacier, snow, and rock terrain call for.
The climb is built for fit climbers who already have some glacier experience, often from Mt. Rainier, and want a wilderness objective that asks for more than a single summit day. You come away with a five-day backcountry expedition behind you, a crossing of the Blue Glacier, and more confidence moving on glaciers, snow, and rock as part of a rope team.
Mt. Olympus asks a guide service to manage a long wilderness approach and technical summit terrain on the same trip. The approach is roughly 45 miles round trip, summit day crosses the Blue Glacier and climbs steep snow, and the final stretch to the top is roped alpine rock. RMI built this program around those demands, starting with the decision to guide it at 2:1, where 3:1 is common on this route.
RMI's mountain managers chose the 2:1 ratio because the terrain warrants it. Smaller rope teams move more efficiently on the glacier and the summit rock, and each climber gets more direct coaching on crampon technique, ice axe use, and rope-team travel. RMI guides lead climbs on Mt. Rainier and across the North Cascades, and they bring that glacier experience to every rope team on Olympus.
Risk management in remote terrain depends on preparation. Every guide holds Wilderness First Responder and technical rescue certification, and guides carry communication and rescue equipment on every program. Far from the trailhead, guide judgment on weather, route conditions, and team readiness drives every decision from the first camp to the summit and back.
To learn more about RMI's history and guiding philosophy, visit our About page.
The climb follows the Hoh River deep into Olympic National Park, moving from rainforest camps into subalpine forest before a full summit day on glacier, snow, and rock. The return retraces the valley at an easier pace, with a last night along the river before the hike out.
Hoh Rain Forest, WA
7,973' / 2,430 m
5 Days
Blue Glacier
~45 Miles
2:1 (Max 6 Climbers)
The climb begins at the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, where we complete a final equipment check, divide group gear, and start up the Hoh River Trail. The trail follows the river beneath enormous old-growth trees and makes a relatively gentle start to the trip. After roughly 9 to 10 miles, we set up our first camp and settle into the rhythm of backcountry travel.
We continue up the Hoh River Valley, then turn uphill and climb steadily to Glacier Meadows, our camp for the summit attempt. Despite the name, Glacier Meadows sits in subalpine forest, well below the snow and ice. At camp, guides walk through the plan for summit day and review the skills it calls for, with brief hands-on practice fitting crampons to your boots and working on the rest step, and a discussion of ice axe technique and roped glacier travel.
An early alpine start begins our attempt on Mt. Olympus. We cross the moraine above Glacier Meadows and descend onto the Blue Glacier, where we rope up for the glacier crossing. From there, the route climbs the Snow Dome and continues through increasingly alpine terrain to the summit massif. The final stretch combines steep snow with a short section of roped alpine rock to the 7,973-foot summit, with views across the Olympic Mountains toward the Pacific coast. We descend the same route and return to Glacier Meadows after a full day on the mountain.
After summit day, we break camp and start back down the valley. The descent runs from our forest camp at Glacier Meadows to a lower camp, where the trees grow larger and the vegetation lusher, and our final camp sits alongside the Hoh River for a last evening in the backcountry.
Our final day follows the Hoh River through old-growth forest to the trailhead. We typically reach the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in the early afternoon, completing roughly 45 miles of wilderness travel over five days.
Excellent physical condition is required for five consecutive days of sustained effort, including long approach days with a heavy pack and a full summit day on glacier, snow, and rock.
Previous climbing experience is required, including working familiarity with crampons, ice axe use, and roped glacier travel.
The 7,973-foot summit is moderate in elevation, so altitude is rarely the limiting factor; endurance over long days and comfort on steep snow and exposed rock matter more.
The Mt. Olympus climb is a demanding five-day wilderness expedition that assumes you arrive with some mountaineering experience already in place. Climbers need a working familiarity with crampons, ice axe use, and roped glacier travel, because the camp below the summit sits in the forest with no snow nearby, and there is little opportunity to practice before summit day. Guides review these skills at camp and coach them on the route, building on what you already know rather than teaching them from the start.
Physically, the climb combines long days on trail with a heavy pack and a full summit day that crosses the Blue Glacier, climbs steep snow, and finishes on a short section of roped alpine rock. Training should emphasize uphill endurance with a loaded pack, consecutive days of hiking, and the leg strength to stay efficient on steep snow late in a long day. The closer you get to your program date, the more your training should look like multi-day backpacking with real weight.
If you have not yet climbed on a glacier with crampons and a rope team, build that experience first, for example on a guided Mt. Rainier climb.
Recommended climbing experiences include:
Your climbing resumé should include:
Previous roped glacier travel experience*
Working familiarity with crampons on moderate to steep snow*
Ice axe use, including self-arrest*
Multi-day backpacking with a heavy pack*
Comfort on exposed terrain, including a short section of roped alpine rock
Consecutive long days on foot, including 9 to 10 miles with a loaded pack
Items marked with an Asterix (*) are considered mandatory prerequisites for this program.
Mountaineering places sustained demands on your body and your ability to stay composed under effort. Even very fit people find that moving uphill with weight, for long hours, in variable weather is a different kind of challenge than most everyday training.
Preparation matters. Fitness directly affects how well you move, how much you learn, how the team functions, and how enjoyable the experience is overall.
Start early. Begin training well in advance of your program with the goal of arriving rested, resilient, and confident in your capacity for sustained effort.
Train intentionally. Emphasize aerobic endurance, uphill movement, and strength that supports long days on your feet. Core stability, balance, and mobility all play an important role in efficiency and injury prevention.
Train specifically. The closer you get to your program date, the more your training should resemble the demands of mountaineering: hiking uphill with weight, moving steadily for hours, and recovering well enough to do it again the next day.
Across RMI programs, strong preparation typically means being comfortable with long days of continuous movement, carrying a pack appropriate to the objective, and maintaining focus and decision-making when tired. Technical skills are taught or reviewed as appropriate to each program, but fitness is something you bring with you.
Nothing contributes more to a successful and rewarding experience than arriving well prepared. Plan to be in excellent physical condition and ready for a demanding day in the mountains.
Our guides have decades of experience training for alpine objectives, and we've done our best to put together relevant resources to help you with your expedition preparation.
Mountaineering is both an individual challenge and a team endeavor. Before any program begins, RMI works directly with prospective climbers to confirm that everyone joining a team is genuinely prepared for the demands ahead. Depending on the program, this may involve conversations with our office staff, a review of your climbing history, or feedback from guides and other climbers who know your abilities. The goal is straightforward: to ensure that every person on the rope belongs there. We ask that each climber hold themselves to the same standard:
The standards we set exist to protect everyone on the team. RMI holds all climbers accountable to them, and we take seriously our responsibility to build teams of people who are ready to be in the mountains together. RMI reserves the right to remove a participant from a program or send them to a lower altitude if our guide staff determines, in their sole discretion, that the participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared or capable of participating, or for any other reason that may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the participant or the group. In such cases, no refunds or credits will be issued, and the participant will be financially responsible for any additional costs associated with an early departure, including evacuation, transportation, lodging, and meals.
The Mt. Olympus climb requires a complete mountaineering kit that can handle a long wilderness approach, a glacier crossing, steep snow, and a short section of roped alpine rock. This gear list reflects decades of RMI guiding experience on Pacific Northwest glaciers and is built for wet rainforest trail days as well as the alpine terrain above camp.
Every experienced mountaineer refines their kit over time, but this list represents what RMI expects climbers to bring. Not every item may be used during the climb, but all required equipment must be carried and available. With roughly 45 miles on foot, choosing lightweight gear without sacrificing durability or warmth makes a real difference.
Each RMI program includes a required personal equipment list built around the specific terrain, conditions, and objectives of the climb. Every item serves a purpose and supports safety, efficiency, and comfort in the mountains.
Guide Picks™ are examples that meet our performance standards and illustrate the type of gear we recommend. Each year, our partners at Whittaker Mountaineering survey our staff of 70+ guides to get a consensus on the best gear for the job. You do not need to purchase the exact item shown, but any alternative must offer comparable function and durability.
All listed items are required for the gear check. Final adjustments may be recommended by your guide based on conditions and team needs once the expedition begins.
Most of the required equipment is available for rent or purchase from our affiliate Whittaker Mountaineering. RMI climbers receive a 10% discount on new clothing and equipment items ordered from Whittaker Mountaineering.
A technical climbing pack large enough to carry personal gear, layers, food, water, and a share of group equipment including tent portions. You will not need a separate summit pack. For ski programs, a pack with ski-carrying capability is recommended.
We recommend a bag rated between 20° and 0° F. Allow ample room for movement. We recommend down over synthetic for its light weight, warmth, and packability. If you know you sleep cold, consider a 0° F bag.
A comfortable, adjustable alpine climbing harness. Removable, drop-seat, or adjustable leg loops are recommended for managing layers and bathroom breaks in the mountains.
10- or 12-point adjustable steel crampons with anti-balling plates for general mountaineering and glacier travel. Automatic, semi-automatic, or strap-on attachment depending on boot compatibility. Ensure crampons are compatible with your specific boots before your program.
Glacier glasses are protective sunglasses that provide close to 100% frame coverage (wrap-around frames and side shields ensure no light can enter from the top, bottom, and sides of the glasses) and transmit less than 10% of visual light.
We recommend a minimum of five upper body layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Two of these should be insulating layers, one light, and one medium, that fit well together. Today there are many different layering systems to choose from, including fleece, softshell, down, and synthetic options.
A lightweight, breathable long-sleeve shirt in synthetic or merino wool for sun protection and moisture management during active climbing.
One step up in warmth and bulk from a baselayer. A technical fleece makes an ideal light weight insulating layer.
An insulated jacket or softshell for warmth during low-output activity and extended rest breaks. Should fit over baselayers and midlayers, and under a shell.
A waterproof jacket with a hood for protection against wind, rain, and snow. Should fit comfortably over all insulating layers.
An expedition-style down parka that extends below the waist with an insulated hood, designed to fit over all other layers. Worn primarily in camp, during rest breaks, and on summit day. Down fill recommended over synthetic.
We recommend a system of four layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Products which combine several layers into one garment, such as traditional ski pants, don’t work well as they don’t offer the versatility of a layering system.
Lightweight synthetic or merino wool baselayer bottoms for moisture management and temperature regulation during active climbing.
Softshell climbing pants can be worn in combination with a base layer on colder days, or alone on warmer days.
Non-insulated, waterproof shell pants must be able to fit comfortable over your baselayer bottoms and softshell climbing pants. Full side zippers or 7/8 side zippers are required so that shell pants can be put on while wearing boots and crampons.
Insulated, full-shank, crampon-compatible leather or synthetic boots designed for general mountaineering. Lighter and more comfortable than double boots but with less insulation for extreme cold.
Lightweight approach shoes or trail runners for hiking on rugged terrain and use as camp shoes. Particularly useful after snowmelt on lower-elevation approaches.
A knee-length pair of gaiters, large enough to fit over your mountaineering boots. This will protect you from catching your crampon spikes on loose clothing. Not needed if using a boot with an integrated gaiter.
Either wool or synthetic. Whatever sock combination you are accustomed to wearing during your training or previous adventures (whether single medium weight socks, a medium weight with a liner sock, two medium weight socks together, etc.), should work just fine for this program.
Our guides carry comprehensive medical kits, so keep yours small and light. We recommend a selection of adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, Moleskin and blister care, medical tape and/or duct tape, basic pain reliever, and personal medications.
Meals provided vary by program. See the Food tab for what’s included and suggestions for anything you’ll need to bring.
This will be your personal trash bag.
Heavy-duty trash compacter bags for use as waterproof pack/stuff sack liners. You can also use a waterproof pack liner.
Disposable or reusable ear plugs for sleeping in shared tent or hut accommodations.
Spare prescription glasses if you wear contact lenses/eyeglasses.
Many smartphones have excellent cameras. Action cameras, small point-and-shoots, and compact dSLRs are lightweight and work well at altitude.
A small power bank, enough to charge a phone or e-reader several times.
We recommend bringing a selection of clothing to wear while traveling, sightseeing and dining.
If Glacier Glasses are not required, regular sunglasses will suffice on this program.
Purchase travel insurance.
Purchase airplane tickets.
Arrange transportation and lodging - see more on the Travel tab.
Reserve rental equipment.
Be in the best shape of your life!
On the Mt. Olympus climb you will need 5 mountain lunches, 4 dinners, and 4 breakfasts while on the mountain.
Nutrition while training and nutrition while climbing are two very different things. You may follow a pretty specific nutrition regimen while you are training to aid your desired outcomes, but once it comes to the climb, calories are what count the most. While climbing, you are trying to maximize energy and performance over a short period of time.
Our food priorities when climbing are:
Caloric requirements will vary widely from climber to climber based on physical size and metabolism. It is important for you to know what your body requires. One of the normal, albeit disconcerting, adjustments to altitude is a slight loss of appetite. Bring food you enjoy. If you don't love a food at home, you certainly won't like it on the mountain!
At camp, hot and cold water will be provided for your meals, drinks, and refilling water bottles. When planning your menu, don't bring any items that require extensive preparation, cooking, or simmering. We are able to provide you with boiling water but do not have the ability to actually cook food items.
Things to keep in mind as you plan your meals:
Consider repacking items into smaller Ziploc bags to minimize the space in your pack. Your food will get crammed into your backpack, jostled around, exposed to extreme temperatures, and even sat on (by you, of course!). What holds up better in these conditions, two slices of bread or a bagel? When packing, it is essential to consider the waste you will produce on the climb; after all, you have to carry it off the mountain. We've already mentioned repacking items to minimize space. Repacking items can also eliminate waste!
Mountain lunches, aka snacks, are eaten during short breaks throughout the day. We continually snack to keep our energy levels up while we climb. We typically take rest breaks every hour or so to adjust our clothing layers, eat, and hydrate. Avoid packing any items that require preparation or hot water at each break. In terms of quantity, aim to bring 1 lb. of climbing food per day. We suggest using snack or sandwich size Ziploc bags to portion out snack food.
The importance of having foods that you genuinely enjoy cannot be overstated. Eating properly is the key to maintaining strength while in the mountains. To combat the loss of appetite at altitude, we aim to have a variety of foods that stimulate the whole palate, from sweet to sour to salty. Here are some ideas but be sure to see the sample menu and packing list below for more ideas!
PRO TIP: Feel fancy! Charcuterie (cured meat, cheese, and crackers) makes a great mountain lunch!
Single-serving instant oatmeal, Cream-of-Wheat, or granola make a good main course fare. A variety of granola bars, pastries, fruit, and a hot drink mix of coffee, tea, cocoa, or cider are suggested. Plan on eating a breakfast that tastes good, and you find filling. Here are some ideas but be sure to see the sample menu and packing list below for more ideas!
PRO TIP: Think outside the box. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (on bagels) or ramen make great breakfast options!
This meal will give your body the initial fuel it needs during your summit attempt. Spend time considering your options so that you go to bed nourished and ready for the climb ahead of you. Freeze-dried entrees are very convenient mountain dinners. Pay attention to the caloric quantity – it varies from meal to meal. Here are some ideas but be sure to see the sample menu and packing list below for more ideas!
PRO TIP: Have a tasting party of freeze-dried entrees to test them out before your climb.
Staying hydrated on the climb is crucial. You will have access to ample cold water while at camp for drinking and replenishing water bottles. When you are climbing, you will want to ration how much water you drink at each rest break to ensure you have water throughout the entirety of your climb. You can expect breaks to occur approximately every hour or so of climbing.
Just as with food, it is important to have a variety of things to drink that excite your taste buds. You may love water, but it may not sound good at 10,000'! Drink mixes such as Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Liquid IV, Nuun, etc., are great for flavor. Hot beverage options are also an important component to consider while at camp. Instant coffee, tea, cocoa, and cider are great ways to warm up in the evening before bed, when you wake up for your alpine start on summit day, and to recharge once back at camp.
PRO TIP: Skip the water bladder and practice rationing your water while training.
This page covers the practical details you’ll want to review before your trip, including travel logistics, entry requirements, local considerations, and required policies. Taking time to understand these details ahead of departure helps ensure a smoother experience once you’re on the ground and focused on the climb.
The climb begins at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park. You are responsible for your own transportation to the trailhead.
Note: Every air traveler 18 years of age and older needs a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.
Your travel insurance policy should include trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, baggage loss or delay, medical expenses, and evacuation.
Navigating through the different options for travel insurance can be challenging. When purchasing Travel Insurance, here are a few items to consider:
In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer Travelex Insurance protection plans to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.
For more information on the available plans visit Travelex Insurance Services or contact Travelex Insurance (800) 228-9792 and reference location number 47-0370.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC #16535, state of domicile: New York). RETWEB
Harbor Travel Insurance covers the following critical benefits:
Harbor Travel Insurance is powered by Redpoint Resolutions, a medical and travel security risk company. Their team is comprised of special operations veterans, paramedics, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, former intelligence officers, insurance actuaries, and global security experts with dozens of years of experience in theaters around the world. The Redpoint network covers the globe, making them uniquely equipped to provide elite rescue travel insurance – in every sense of the word.
RMI has partnered with Erin Rountree to provide travel planning support. Erin is an independent agent with extensive experience booking travel for adventure programs worldwide and understands the specific needs of RMI expeditions.
Phone: (208) 788-2870
Email: [email protected]
It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance policy provides appropriate coverage for your specific program and activities. Review policy details carefully before purchasing, and confirm coverage well in advance of your departure.
Our guides put considerable effort into ensuring your wellbeing and success on the mountain. If you had a positive experience, leaving a gratuity is a wonderful gesture to show your appreciation. The amount is up to you and should reflect how much you enjoyed the service. Typically, tips for excellent service range from 10% to 15% of the program cost. Guides can accept gratuities in cash, Venmo, or by check. If you prefer, you can also pay tips using a credit card through the RMI Office.
Olympic National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Hoh Rain Forest, where the climb begins, is one of the park's temperate rainforests, and Mt. Olympus, at 7,973 feet, is the highest peak in the Olympic Mountains. The Blue Glacier, crossed on summit day, flows from the mountain's upper slopes.
The following policies are applicable for this expedition.
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. reserves the right to modify the land cost of a trip at any time before departure.
Deposit Payments: A non-refundable deposit of $400 per person is required to secure your reservation.
Balance Payments: The remaining balance is due 120 days before your program's start date.
*Note: A 3% surcharge applies to all credit/debit card transactions.
**Wire transfers must include all fees charged by your bank. The amount received by our bank must match the deposit amount.
The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
We do not offer refunds. Please remember this before registering for this program. Due to the time-sensitive nature of this program, no exceptions will be made to the cancellation policy.
Date changes are subject to availability and can only be applied to the current climbing season. Changes must be requested at least 90 days before the departure date and will incur a $200 fee per person. No date changes are allowed within 90 days of departure.
Please clearly understand that mountaineering is inherently hazardous. Managing risk is RMI’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in mountaineering, but they cannot eliminate them. Objective hazards include rockfall, icefall, avalanches, slides or falls by individuals and rope teams on steeper slopes, weather-related problems including cold, heat, high winds, and other unnamed dangers that can occur while climbing.
You are choosing to engage in an activity in which guided and non-guided climbers have been injured or killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risks and hazards of mountaineering and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in this activity.
Mountaineering is both an individual challenge and a team endeavor. Each Participant is required to share in the responsibility of the safety and success of the team. For this reason, we ask that each Participant:
RMI reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a program or to send the Participant to a lower altitude at any time if the RMI Guide Staff determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for, or capable of participating in the program, or for any other reason that may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the Participant or the entire group. If this decision is made, the Participant will not receive any refunds or credits and will be financially responsible for all additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to, evacuation, transportation, hotel reservations, meals, etc.
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) does not tolerate harassment or mistreatment of our participants or employees. Inappropriate conduct under this policy may include conduct that creates a disrespectful, intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for a participant or employee. Engaging in such conduct is a violation of this policy.
RMI may consider conduct to violate the policy even if it falls short of unlawful harassment under applicable law. When determining whether conduct violates this policy, we will consider whether a reasonable person could conclude that the conduct created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or demeaning environment.
Violation of this policy may result in removal from a program, as well as refusal to provide services indefinitely. We place the utmost value on the safety of our participants and employees. Please report any incidents to RMI management.
All participants must be 18 years old at the time of registration.
RMI’s Photo Release outlines the terms and conditions for using your likeness in photographs, videos, or other digital media.
I hereby grant Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) or its affiliates permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any and all of its publications, including web-based publications. By granting permission, you allow RMI to utilize these media for lawful purposes.
Here are the key points:
RMI cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities, or the abilities of other climbers may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire group may have to turnaround without reaching the summit.
Failure to reach the summit due to a person’s own lack of fitness or to any of the events associated with mountaineering (such as weather, route conditions, avalanche hazard, team dynamics, etc.), are not Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.’s responsibility and will not result in a refund, credit, or reschedule.
RMI’s program schedule and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, group strength, terrain, or other environmental factors, and many other factors. RMI has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including but not limited to, increases in program fees, changes to program schedule or itinerary, and changes to guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. Once the program has started, the Lead Guide will decide on any changes to the itinerary, including ending the program early if the continuation of the program may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the group.
We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather, route conditions, or for any other reason. In such a case, we will make every effort to reschedule the Participant on a different program date. If rescheduling is not possible, we will issue the Participant a refund for all program fees paid to RMI, less any non-refundable payments made on behalf of the Participant to secure any of the included land costs provided for this program, including but not limited to, hotel accommodations, transportation, transfers, tours, group equipment and food, permits, and local outfitter services, prior to the cancellation of the program. Additionally, RMI cannot be responsible for any non-refundable expenses the Participant incurred in preparation for the program (i.e., airline tickets, hotel reservations, rental cars, equipment purchases or rentals, etc.).
Once a program begins, there are no refunds or credits for weather-related cancellations or for a program that may end early due to weather, route conditions, or any other circumstances that may compromise the health, safety, or well-being of the group. Furthermore, if the Participant decides for any reason not to begin a program or discontinue a program at any time, no refunds or credits will be issued. The Participant will be responsible for all additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to evacuation, transportation, hotel reservations, meals, etc.
Land Costs are provided as a package, and refunds or credits will not be issued for any unused meals, accommodations, group transportation, or other unused costs. Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A Single Supplement Fee will be charged to those Participants occupying single accommodations either by choice or circumstance. If you are willing to share a room, we will make every effort to pair you with another same-gender team member. We will match willing same-gender team members based on the order of registration date. If we are unable to match you with another same- gender team member, a single supplement fee will be charged. The availability of single accommodations is limited in most of the hotels where we stay, and single accommodations are not available while in the mountains.
The Participant understands and agrees that RMI assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any travel and hospitality services provided to the Participant by other companies in connection with the program, including but not limited to, the services provided by airlines, hotels, rental cars, and transportation companies. In addition, RMI is not responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay, irregularity, or danger by a supplier of travel or hospitality services to the Participant in connection with the RMI program. The Participant will be responsible for all costs associated with any travel delays, missed connections, or missing baggage that requires additional arrangements (separate transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, etc.) to be made on your behalf for you or your baggage to rejoin the program.
The Mt. Olympus climb raises different questions than a standard Cascade volcano climb. The approach is long, the camps sit deep in the forest, and summit day covers glacier, steep snow, and alpine rock in a single push. The answers below cover how the climb works, how to prepare, and what to expect over five days in Olympic National Park.
The climb begins at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park. You are responsible for your own transportation to the trailhead.
The climb is guided at a 2:1 climber-to-guide ratio, with a maximum of six climbers and three guides.
The terrain warrants it. Summit day includes a roped glacier crossing, steep snow, and a short section of roped alpine rock, and smaller rope teams move more efficiently through that terrain while giving each climber more direct coaching.
The climb runs from June through early September.
Yes. You should have a working familiarity with crampons, ice axe use, and roped glacier travel. Glacier Meadows, the camp below the summit, sits in the forest with no snow nearby, so there is little chance to practice these skills before summit day.
Roughly 45 miles over five days. Day 1 covers about 9 to 10 miles along the Hoh River with a full pack, and the approach continues on Day 2 to Glacier Meadows.
On the approach and descent you carry a heavy multi-day pack with your personal gear, your food, and a share of the group equipment. On summit day, you carry only what you need for the climb.
At Glacier Meadows, guides walk through the plan for summit day and review the skills it calls for, with brief hands-on practice fitting crampons and working on the rest step. Ice axe technique and roped glacier travel are discussed at camp and coached on the route itself.
Despite its name, Glacier Meadows is a camp in the subalpine forest, well below the snow and ice. It serves as base camp for the summit attempt.
Summit day starts early with a crossing of the moraine above camp and a descent onto the Blue Glacier, where the team ropes up. The route climbs the Snow Dome, continues to the summit massif, and finishes with steep snow and a short section of roped alpine rock to the 7,973-foot summit. The team descends the same route to Glacier Meadows.
On Day 4 the team descends from Glacier Meadows to a lower camp along the Hoh River, where the forest grows larger and lusher. Day 5 follows the river back to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, usually arriving in the early afternoon.
All meals are your responsibility. Plan on 5 mountain lunches, 4 dinners, and 4 breakfasts. Guides provide boiling water at camp but do not cook food, so choose meals that need only hot water.
Guide leadership, all required climbing permits and fees, and the group climbing equipment used during the program. Travel, lodging, meals, personal gear, and gratuities are not included.
Guide gratuities are not included. If you had a good experience, tips typically range from 10% to 15% of the program cost.
Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended and is not included in the price. RMI partners with Harbor Travel Insurance; details are on the Travel tab.
Climbers rated RMI with an average of 5 stars across 0 ratings
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