Mt. Rainier Ski Traverse with IMG

Come join us for an unforgettable ski and mountain experience. It is not an exaggeration to say that Mt. Rainier offers some of the world's finest ski mountaineering terrain. You will be skiing over a varied landscape including glaciers, chutes, long ascents and descents. This program makes a south to north ski traverse of Mt. Rainier at altitudes ranging from 5,000' up to 10,000' and back down again. During the five days we climb up to Camp Muir at 10,000'; cross the Ingraham and Emmons Glaciers to Camp Schurman at 9,600' and finally around to the Carbon Glacier with a descent along the glacier moraine down to the toe of the Carbon Glacier at 4,000'. We will ski as far as possible then hike the remaining distance out to the Carbon River entrance to the Park in this five-day continuous push.

The Ski Mountaineering Traverse is designed for people with solid intermediate backcountry skiing and boarding skills. If you have concerns about your skiing ability or are looking for additional training you will want to join our ski mountaineering training program at Crystal Mountain in advance of the program. Most importantly you must be comfortable skiing with a multi-day pack for 6 to 8 hours a day under very rigorous conditions and in potentially inclement weather.

Why Choose This Program?

This program is designed specifically for the intermediate or better alpine and backcountry skier or boarder who wants an incredible adventure traversing the length of Mt. Rainier's glaciated mountain terrain.

Our Guides

The leader of this program will be chosen from among our top ski guides with a solid history on Mt. Rainier. You can count on the very best of ski guiding and instruction from our internationally renowned staff of guides. We employ a light and efficient philosophy for climbing on this program. We will pack and prepare at the start of the program to make sure the team is traveling as light and efficiently as possible in order to maximize enjoyment of the entire journey.

Training and Skiing Ability

The Ski Mountaineering Seminar is designed for people with strong intermediate/advanced backcountry touring and splitboard skills. The goal is to ski the best sections of the route, but sometimes you have to ski through less than perfect snow to get there. Ski mountaineering on Mt. Rainier is a serious endeavor and one that demands good physical fitness. Mt. Rainier is the most imposing glaciated peak in the lower 48 States and has long been a premier training ground for climbs such as Denali, Aconcagua and the Himalayas. To learn more about training for this trip, please read our suggestions on the Rainier FAQ page as well as Training Suggestions for Mt. Rainier.

Prerequisite

All participants must have excellent physical fitness and strong intermediate to advanced backcountry skiing ability in varied snow conditions.