Intro to Ski Alpinism helps achieve dreams of riding off Baker, Rainier, Shuksan or just touring to Camp Muir. This popular course takes your touring into the high alpine; teaching the fundamental skills of snow, ice, glacier, climbing techniques for ascent and glisse-descent of glaciated mountains. You learn how to be safe, self-reliant ski-mountaineers ready to climb and ski locally or in the great ranges of the world.  This course is truly an excellent foundation for any rider seeking independence in the alpine arena. Spend three days in the Coast Range of BC or the North Cascades where active glaciers, volcanic peaks, and breathtaking views create the ideal learning environment. A summit attempt on the last day of the course gives you the chance to put your newly developed skills to the test.

• Dates: March 27-29  April 16-20 , May 2-4 & 22-27
• Duration: 3 & 5 days
• Level: Intermediate
• Client Ratio: 5:1
• Cost:– 3 Day $895/ 5 Day $1095
• Included: All camp meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, and guide services
• Not Included: Airfare, transportation to trailhead, transportation within Seattle, hotel accommodations, restaurant meals,snack/lunch on the mountain, gratuities for guides, and all personal items. A detailed equipment list will be sent to all participants.

North Cascades offer best the alpine ski tours in the US with legendary descents of :

• Ruth-Icy;
• Snow King;
• Eldorado;
• Sahale
• Shuksan
• Logan
• Buckner
• Rainy Pass
• Nooksack Traverse
• Isolation Traverse

• Dates: Custom and 2020 – April  11-12, 18-19, 25-26; May 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31
• Duration: 2 Days
• Level: Advanced
• Client Ratio: 4:1
• Cost:
  • 2 Days– $695
• Included: All meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, and guide services.
• Not Included: Airfare, transportation within Seattle, ground transportation hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, gratuities for guides, and all personal items.

Please call for custom trips if your preferred date is not shown. 206-799-4092

Mount Baker Ski Descent offers one of the best ski descents in North America with 7,000′ of glaciated riding! Mount Baker’s native name is Komo Kulshan-The White Watcher, who watched over the Salish Sea. Mount Baker’s fame stems from its accessible, enormous glaciers that skiers and snowboarders gravitate to learn on and challenge themselves whether on the gentle Easton Glacier to the steep Park Headwall. For the Mount Baker Ski Descent We may approach via the Schrieber’s Meadow or Heliotrope Ridge, riders have ample opportunity to practice their glacial riding skills from the comfort of the 6,000′ base camp with views of the Twin Sisters Range, Mount Rainier, Mt. Shuksan, and the crest of the North Cascades. The reward of a 7,000′ descent after a long climb with plenty of corn for everyone!

• Dates: 2020 – May 2-3, 23-25; June 6-8
• Duration: 2 Days Express or 3 Days for more touring and Crevasse Rescue
• Level: Intermediate
• Client Ratio: 5:1
• Cost:
  • 2 Days – $695
  • 3 Days – $795
• Included: Tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, and guide services.
• Not Included: All meals while on the mountain, airfare, transportation within Seattle, ground transportation hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, gratuities for guides, and all personal items.

Dates: April Custom 2021 June 12-20
Duration: 9 Days
Level: Intermediate
Client Ratio: 5:1
Cost: $4,600 (Based on a minimum of 3 people)

• Included: Ground transportation, all meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, and guide services- Group transport; Food and accommodation; Russian entry visa support.
• Not Included: Airfare, transportation within Seattle, gratuities for guides, Personal insurance; Individual transfers; Visa consulate fees, all personal items International airport transfers, Russian entry visa fee.

Japan sits in our minds with images of sushi, samurais, zen, Toyotas and Sony. Now deep, powder skiing joins the list! Pacific storms mixed with Siberian cold makes deep, cold smoke a daily reality for the Land of the Rising Sun. We make our way to Hokkaido to the ski region of Niseko and Furano for 6 days of exploration and skiing the many ski areas, enjoying as many fresh track we can find! We have explored Hokkaido and agree Niseko and Furano need a visit, the pow is too deep to ignore.

Dates: Jan 13-20
Duration: 7 Days
Level: Intermediate
Client Ratio: 5:1
Cost: $2995
Included:

• Certified ski guides
• Avalanche safety introduction/refresher
• Off piste and Backcountry guiding
• Comfortable 4 star lodging, private bath with delicious breakfasts and dinners
• Choice of beer, sake at dinner
• Private transportation in our 4×4 van
• Round trip chartered shuttle Airport-Furano Hotel-Airport

Not Included:

• Airfare,
• gratuities for guides
• Personal insurance
• Individual transfers
• All personal items
• Meals away from lodges, breakfast in Chitose
• Lift tickets if used
• Drink purchases, equipment rental, lunches.

• Dates:
  • August 22-29; Bariloche-Huts, Chutes, Steak & IPA
  • Aug 30-September 7; Andean(Maipo) Couloirs and Offpiste Adventures
  • September 5-15 Classic Volcanoes(Villarrica, Chillan, Lonquimay, Llaima….)
  • September 5-20 The Long Version Classic plus Southern Summits(Tack on Osorno, Puyehue and Casablanca..)
• Duration: 9-13 Days
• Level: Advanced
• Client Ratio: 5:1
• Cost:
  •   9 Days – $2,665
  • 13 Days – $3,595
• Included: Ground transportation, airport transfers, all meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, guide services, accommodations and breakfast
• Not Included: Airfare, gratuities for guides, hot springs fees, Lift Tickets, Ski touring gear, extra drinks, meals in cities, personal insurance and Individual transfers.

• Dates: Nov 1-15
• Duration: 15 Days
• Level: Advanced
• Client Ratio: 4:1
• Cost:
  • 1-2 people – $4,500 Total
  • 3-6 people – $2,250 Per Person
• Included: Ground transportation, all meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, group climbing equipment, and guide services- Group transport; Food and accommodation, all airport transfers
• Not Included: Airfare, gratuities for guides, Personal insurance; Individual transfers.

• Duration:3 days
• Level: Intermediate
• Client Ratio: 3:1, 2:1 for the Fisher Chimneys
• Included:Park fees, group climbing equipment, and guide services. *(meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits and personal climbing equipment rentals available)
• Not Included:Ground transportation airfare, transportation within Seattle, hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, gratuities for guides, all meals while on the mountain, tents, stoves, cook kits, and all personal items.

Intro to Ski Touring & Split Boarding Course will teach you to avoid another day stuck in long lift lines, paying for expensive tickets and no fresh tracks. We understand why you want and need these new skills because, years ago we too felt the pull of the mountains and powder stashes beyond the boundaries of resorts. You will learn the basics of skinning technique, care and use of skins, transceiver check (group/independent), kick turns, terrain management uphill & downhill, simple & in depth transceiver search, and how to find beautiful uncrowded terrain away from the resorts!

Dates 2021:

• Evening Lectures 7:30 @ Ascent Outdoors: Jan 13 // Field Days: Jan 16-17
• Evening Lectures 7:30 @ Ascent Outdoors: Jan 27 // Field Days: Jan 30-31
• (Women’s) Evening Lectures 7:30 @ TBD
• Evening Lectures 7:30 @ Ascent Outdoors: Feb 24 // Field Days: Feb 27-28
• Duration: 3 Days
• Level: Beginner
• Client Ratio: 5:1
• Cost:
  • $350 
  • With AIARE Level 1 – $635
  • 1 Day – $200
• Included: 1 evening lecture and field instruction and fresh tracks! 
• Not Included: Transportation to field location, transceivers, shovels, probes or touring equipment. A detailed equipment list will be sent to all participants.