Gain The Knowledge, Skills, & Confidence To Literally Conquer Mountains
What: Winter Mountaineering and Emergency Rescue Fundamentals Certification + Mt. Hood Summit Attempt
Length: 3 Days
Where: Mt Hood, Oregon
Date: April 8-10, 2020
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate Climbers:
Cost: $1748

This 3 day winter mountaineering course takes place on the slopes of beautiful Mt Hood or Wy’east. Mt Hood, a dormant stratovolcano is the Oregon state Highpoint and the 4th highest peak in the Cascades standing at 11,239 feet. Its snow and glacier covered faces offer dramatic views of the Pacific ocean and its sister volcanoes up and down the cascade crest.
During the course students will receive hands-on experience with winter/alpine mountaineering travel, camping, climbing, and emergency response best practices, culminating in a group Mt. Hood summit attempt on Day 3 (conditions permitting).
Designed for the beginner to intermediate climber, this course will include, overnight expedition camping, rope skills, rope team travel, glaciology, crevasse rescue, steep snow climbing instruction, in addition to a summit bid of Mt Hood itself.
Skills taught will include but not be limited to:
- Glacier travel
- Low-moderate-steep snow climbing
- Crampon and ice axe use
- Anchor building and placing protection
- Belay and lowering
- Expedition camping
- Route finding
- Trip planning
- Risk assessment
- Route finding
- Gear evaluation

Trip Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrive from Airport in Am, and rendezvous with team. Pick up student rental equipment as needed. Travel to historic Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and complete equipment check and snow school. Dinner in town or at the lodge. Spend a night in Govt Camp at mountain base.
*Students can also choose to arrive the night before and meet the team in the AM for travel to Mt Hood on Day 1.
Day 2
Early AM, Approach Illumination Rock Camp. 4hrs Establish camp.
-Steep snow climbing lessons covering easy snow to moderate technical snow and ice.
-Belay systems
-Snow and ice anchoring.
-Winter expedition camping in the alpine.
-Crevasse rescue operations practice(on the ground)
-Glacier travel practice
-Rope Handling
Day 3
-Wake up, get a alpine start on the summit, We have options to take several routes. Leuthold Couloir Route for example.
-Glacier travel, and a very small amount of technical climbing
-Return to camp and close trip experience.
-Travel Home
Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a certification of completion for Winter Mountaineering and Emergency Rescue Fundamentals.