Which IMG Mt. Rainier Climb and Mountaineering Course is Right for You?
Please browse the list below to compare the level of mountaineering instruction and climb difficulty, expedition length, and prices of the International Mountain Guides Mt. Rainier programs and click the trip names to get more climb details. We are proud to offer among the lowest client to guide ratios available and believe this maximizes our clients' training experience and success rate.
NOTE: Dates displayed on this page do not reflect real time availability. Click the Sign Up Now! button to view current availability.
Mt. Rainier Climbs with Basic Mountaineering Instruction
Scheduled Dates*:
*Scroll to see all scheduled dates.
May 18 - 21, 2026
May 20 - 23, 2026
May 24 - 27, 2026
May 26 - 29, 2026
August 18 - 21, 2026
August 22 - 25, 2026
August 24 - 27, 2026
August 26 - 29, 2026
August 30 - September 2, 2026
Our 3.5 Day Summit Climb is designed for those looking to experience the elite alpine world of Mount Rainier with a training-based approach. We maximize training by beginning the program with a half-day instructional orientation at IMG's Headquarters in Ashford, WA, just outside Rainier National Park. The training continues on the mountain during the ascent of Mt. Rainier via the Camp Muir and the Disappointment Cleaver Route to the summit of Mt Rainier. Our program has more training and time to acclimatize than the typical 2-day climbing program, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the majestic alpine environment with your climbing team.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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May 16 - 19, 2026IMG’s Custom 3.5 Day Summit Climbs via Camp Muir and the Disappointment Cleaver Route to the summit of Mt. Rainier. For you and up to 8 total participants, IMG will put together a program to suit your needs. The trip cost includes the fees for up to 8 climbers. This is a program well suited to those seeking unique and personalized experience.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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Scheduled Dates:
June 14 - 18, 2026Our 4.5 Day Summit Seminar is designed for those looking to experience the elite alpine world of Mount Rainier with a training-based approach. This program gives climbers an opportunity to practice glacial climbing skills such as cramponing, ice axe arrest, and rope team travel before beginning the climb itself. The benefits are three-fold: maximizing learning, easing into the climb, and opening opportunities for a more restful day before you take on the summit. Climbing Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver route is well suited to beginners and experts alike and has served as a training ground for much bigger climbs, from Denali to Everest and everything in between.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1 and the night of Day 2.
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The 4.5 Day Emmons Glacier Climb is an excellent basic mountaineering training program. It's perfect for anyone desiring a slower paced summit experience in a more remote alpine environment, away from the bigger crowds found on the South side of the mountain. The focus of this group climb is on fundamental mountaineering skills training, self-sufficiency and teamwork. While suitable for a beginner climber, this climb is more physically demanding than the standard 3½ Day Summit Climb due to the heavier loads, the longer distance traveled, and lower elevation start. All group equipment is carried by the team, resulting in an average pack weight of about 45-55 pounds. The Emmons Route incorporates significant roped glacier travel, which the team prepares and trains for each day during the approach to Camp Schurman. Despite being longer than our other novice-level climbs on Mt. Rainier, this route is popular due to its consistently moderate snow and relatively few objective hazards. The Emmons Route is a great choice if you are looking for a more complete mountain experience, training as a team on a less frequented route on the largest glacier in the lower 48 States.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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Sign Up Now!Mountaineering Seminars and Training
Scheduled Dates:
April 27 – May 3, 2026September 2 – 8, 2026
September 16 – 22, 2026
Our Mt. Rainier Expedition Prep & Summit Seminar is one of IMG's comprehensive training programs combined with a summit attempt via the Disappointment Cleaver Route. It is designed as an in-depth skills and training seminar for climbers looking to develop a greater depth of climbing skills. This program provides excellent hands-on training to prepare climbers for any of the big, high-altitude, glaciated, technical peaks such as those found in Alaska, South America, the Himalayas and elsewhere. This seminar is expedition style, working its way up from camp to camp, teaching you the fundamentals of expedition climbing and logistics, eventually putting the team in position to summit. Training and skills sessions include anchors, self and team crevasse rescue, ice climbing, route finding, glacier travel and fixed line ascension. The seminar is specifically scheduled on the shoulder season to capitalize on a variety of conditions for glacier training.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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Sign Up Now!IMG's 7 Day Baker Rainier Seminar is one of IMG's comprehensive training programs, combining a summit attempt of Mt. Baker followed by a summit attempt of Mt. Rainier via the Disappointment Cleaver Route. The initial training and experience gained on Mt. Baker sets our climbers up for success when attempting the bigger and more challenging Disappointment Cleaver Route on Mt. Rainier. Choose this program if you'd like to maximize your training over the course of two summit attempts on two of the most iconic peaks in Washington. This program incorporates the curriculum typically taught during our Mt. Baker/Mt. Rainier climbs as well as the curriculum included in our Mountaineering Day School and Advanced Mountaineering Day School. Training and skills sessions include anchors, self and team crevasse rescue, ice climbing, route finding, glacier travel and fixed line ascension. The first 3 days are conducted on the Easton Route of Mt. Baker. The morning of Day 4 will be reserved for transportation on your own to IMG HQ in Ashford, WA, while the afternoon half-day training at IMG HQ in Ashford, WA. Days 5-7 will be conducted as a summit attempt on Mt. Rainier.
Plan on meeting at 8:00AM at the Ranger Station in Sedro-Wooley on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following between the Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier climbs.
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May 10, 2026May 24, 2026
June 7, 2026
June 21, 2026
July 5, 2026
July 19, 2026
August 2, 2026
August 16, 2026
Spend the day with a guide to test out gear, ask questions, and get familiar with the rigors of ascending the Muir Snowfield — all with a light pack and low pressure. This program will include training on the use of full shank mountaineering boots (available for rent at IMG), carrying a pack comfortably, the rest step, pacing, pressure breathing, what to expect on a summit climb, tips and tricks to increase your efficiency, and plenty of Rainier knowledge and stories from your guide.
Meet at IMG Headquarters in Ashford at 7am. Lodging is not included.
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Sign Up Now!Scheduled Dates:
May 2 - 3, 2026May 16 - 17, 2026
May 30 - 31, 2026
June 13 - 14, 2026
June 27 - 28, 2026
July 11 - 12, 2026
July 25 - 26, 2026
August 8 - 9, 2026
A comprehensive introduction to climbing skills: knots, rope work, self-rescue, anchors, crevasse rescue. We believe this is the most comprehensive crevasse rescue course available in the U.S. The first day is conducted at Headquarters. The second day is conducted on the mountain. Participants are responsible for their own overnight lodging.
Meet at 8am at IMG Headquarters in Ashford. Lodging is not included, you are responsible for your own lodging the night of Day 1, and before or after the program.
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Sign Up Now!Mt. Rainier Climbs with Intermediate and Advanced Instruction
Scheduled Dates:
June 13 - 17, 2026June 22 - 26, 2026
July 4 - 8, 2026
July 13 - 17, 2026
The Kautz Glacier is an iconic intermediate climb that is more physically demanding and technically challenging than our novice routes - this climb is not intended for first-time climbers. If you are fit and looking to push yourself physically and technically on a climb of Mt. Rainier, this program is for you. The Kautz Glacier Climb is an excellent choice for people with a strong base of fitness who have done some previous climbing and are looking to hone their alpine skills while tackling a greater summit day challenge. The training curriculum for this trip is comprehensive, but previous cramponing practice on glacier ice is required.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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Sign Up Now!The Fuhrer Finger route is an Advanced level climb that is more physically demanding and technically challenging than our novice routes – this climb is not intended for first-time climbers. The Fuhrer Finger climb is a good choice for the climber with previous mountaineering experience looking to break into more advanced climbing. This climb will help any climber develop their skills through an advanced mountaineering training curriculum. This is a small group climb, limited to 4 climbers and 2 IMG guides. You can be assured that you'll receive the focus and attention from our premier guide staff throughout this program. This is a challenging climb that ascends the steep Fuhrer Finger Route, a direct line up the South side of the mountain. This program is far more remote than our other programs; it is normal not to encounter any other party on this route. The Fuhrer Finger itself is a chute that narrows down to a few hundred feet across, typically 40-50° in angle. Once above the "Finger," the upper mountain climbs steeply up along the Wilson Headwall (often including a short section of 60° snow and ice) to 13,500 feet before the glacier angles back to a more typical 30° slope. Hazards on this route include the potential for rock or icefall; we climb the exposed part of the chute rapidly to avoid prolonged exposure. The flexible 5-day program curriculum allows enough time to train and complete the climb comfortably, but if you have not climbed on steeper glacier or ice slopes before, we strongly recommend choosing another route as your first attempt of Mt. Rainier. If you have experience and are looking for something physically challenging, a chance to improve your technical skills and a smaller group climb, then the Fuhrer Finger route is an excellent program.
Meet at IMG HQ at 2:00PM sharp for your half-day orientation on Day 1 of your program. Lodging is not included before or after the climb, you are responsible for your own lodging following the half-day orientation on Day 1.
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Sign Up Now!Mt. Rainier Winter Expedition Training and Seminars
Our 4-day intensive Winter Expedition Prep Seminar delivers training focused on preparation for an IMG expedition to high altitude peaks. Get the best possible training necessary to participate in an expedition including ice axe arrest, cramponing, sled rigging and hauling, expedition camps, snow shelters, snow anchors, crevasse rescue and fixed ropes. This program is equally useful for those looking for a good introductory winter training seminar. IMG recommends the Winter Expedition Prep Seminar for all prospective Denali Climbers.
Meet at 8am at IMG Headquarters in Ashford. Lodging is not included before or after the program.
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Sign Up Now!Scheduled Dates:
Apr 2 - 5, 2026
Whether you are new to exploring the mountains during the winter or want to freshen up on your snow and avalanche skills, you'll find topics covered in this course tailored to the backcountry recreationist. This curriculum meets and exceeds all guidelines put forth by the American Avalanche Association's Education Committee for an Avalanche Level 1 course.
Thursday/Friday evening online video-call; Saturday/Sunday in-the field. Lodging at IMG HQ is available on Saturday night only (day 3 of itinerary).
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