November 22, 2019
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- Paradise in winter (Nickel Wood)
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- Mt. Rainier’s winter landscape (Nickel Wood)
Paradise at 5,400′ on Mt. Rainier may be famous for its wildflowers and hiker-friendly (if not a bit steep!) trails in the summer months, but winter on Rainier presents an entirely different scene. Paradise receives over 50 feet of snow on average, making it the perfect playground for snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and most importantly, the launching point for a 6 day winter mountaineering expedition seminar.
Who should register?
The Denali Prep Seminar is perfect for climbers seeking a primer in cold weather mountaineering skills and those with aspirations of greater climbs in the Wrangell-St. Elias or Alaska Range. The seminars climb in expedition style with the team working their way up from Paradise to Camp Muir, training along the way. Once at Camp Muir, the team will assess weather and conditions and may scout a route to the summit. Should an attempt be possible, there will be hands-on training in route finding, avalanche hazard evaluation, cold weather survival, and glacier travel. The chance of summiting Mt. Rainier in early season is not high, but the training opportunities are limitless!
Space is available on the following dates:
February 8-14, 2020
February 22-28, 2020
Topics include:
• Basic skills with ice axe and crampons
• Sled rigging and use
• Expedition camp building and maintenance
• Construction of snow caves and snow shelters
• Ascending and descending fixed ropes
• Building snow anchors and anchor systems
• Expedition glacier travel, route finding, and avalanche hazard evaluation
• Crevasse rescue practice
• Lectures on high altitude medicine
Email: office@mountainguides.com or call 360-569-2609 for details!
Heather Garland